Billboard #1 R&B Songs Of 1998 Rankdown (COMPLETE)

[Soulsista]

Today's extra is from the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack. It peaked at #11 on the R&B airplay chart.

Same Ol' G - Ginuwine

[Soulsista]

Welcome to the Billboard #1 R&B Songs Of 1998 Rankdown!

As a reminder, here are the 11 songs you were asked to rank:

Nice & Slow - Usher
No, No, No - Destiny's Child
Let's Ride - Montell Jordan feat. Master P & Silkk The Shocker
All My Life - K-Ci & JoJo
Too Close - Next
I Get Lonely - Janet Jackson
The Boy Is Mine - Brandy & Monica
Friend Of Mine - Kelly Price
The First Night - Monica
How Deep Is Your Love - Dru Hill feat. Redman
Nobody's Supposed To Be Here - Deborah Cox


We begin this rankdown with the song that has the lowest SD. Nine perfect rankings will be handed out, and someone will lose a Top 5.

SPOILER: Click to show

{R&B Class Of '98}jenglisbe #LisaRinna Private Dancer alexcuse wyckyd • Господин Умљеновић • 312999 PREDS PRIDE B-Boy chanman .indulgecountry @gateofseattles jtd Thee Stallion beyoncelover ilikemilk Ivy Leegue™ divasummer emerald 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 mamooshka rowellfarm490 samo🦕 newpower CF15 BB🌕 Troublemaker

[Soulsista]

11. Let's Ride - Montell Jordan feat. Master P & Silkk The Shocker

He finished second in 1995, but this time Montell finds himself at the bottom with the lead single and title track from his 1998 album. Featuring Master P and Silkk The Shocker, it was a Top 5 hit on the Hot 100 and is certified platinum.


Stats
Chart Entry: February 21, 1998
Peak Date: March 28, 1998
Weeks At #1: 3
Weeks In Top 10: 13
Weeks On Chart: 29
Hot 100 Peak: #2

Points: 72
Average: 9.33
Standard Deviation: 1.840 (Lowest)

wyckyd - 4
jtd Thee Stallion - 6
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 6
312999 - 7
chanman - 8
mamooshka - 8

jenglisbe - 9
#LisaRinna - 9
PREDS PRIDE - 9
.indulgecountry - 9
BB🌕 - 9
Troublemaker - 9
Private Dancer - 10
B-Boy - 10
singingrulebritannia - 10
Ivy Leegue™ - 10
samo🦕 - 10
CF15 - 10

Soulsista - 11
alexcuse - 11
• Господин Умљеновић • - 11
beyoncelover - 11
ilikemilk - 11
divasummer - 11
emerald - 11
rowellfarm490 - 11
newpower - 11


Three more Top 5s will be lost with the next reveal. Three people will get a perfect ranking.

[🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲]

Just knew that people would tank this, but this is such a guilty pleasure. 😜

[Soulsista]

10. How Deep Is Your Love - Dru Hill feat. Redman

"How Deep Is Your Love" was the lead single from Dru Hill's sophomore album Enter The Dru. Co-written and co-produced by Warryn Campbell, it's their most successful single, reaching the Top 5 on the Hot 100.

The song was also featured in the movie Rush Hour.




Stats
Chart Entry: October 3, 1998
Peak Date: October 17, 1998
Weeks At #1: 3
Weeks In Top 10: 12
Weeks On Chart: 22
Hot 100 Peak: #3

Points: 91
Average: 8.63
Standard Deviation: 2.514 (6th highest/lowest)

wyckyd - 2
alexcuse - 3
PREDS PRIDE - 3

312999 - 6
• Господин Умљеновић • - 7
Soulsista - 8
singingrulebritannia - 8
divasummer - 8
Private Dancer - 9
B-Boy - 9
chanman - 9
beyoncelover - 9
ilikemilk - 9
emerald - 9
mamooshka - 9
samo🦕 - 9
CF15 - 9
#LisaRinna - 10
rowellfarm490 - 10
newpower - 10

jenglisbe - 11
.indulgecountry - 11
jtd Thee Stallion - 11
Ivy Leegue™ - 11
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 11
BB🌕 - 11
Troublemaker - 11


Someone will be losing their #1 with the next reveal. Four people get a perfect ranking.

[Soulsista]

9. Friend Of Mine - Kelly Price

Born in the Far Rockaway neighborhood of Queens, Kelly Price spent years as a backup singer for Mariah Carey. She then made uncredited appearances on "Mo Money Mo Problems" by The Notorious B.I.G. and "Feel So Good" by Mase which led her to pursue a solo career. The result was her debut album Soul Of a Woman. The lead single "Friend Of Mine" peaked inside the Top 20 on the Hot 100 and helped Kelly win a Soul Train Music Award for Best New Artist. A remix was made Ronald Isley and Robert (but we don't talk about that anymore).

Apologies to wyckyd...


Stats
Chart Entry: July 11, 1998
Peak Date: August 1, 1998
Weeks At #1: 5
Weeks In Top 10: 16
Weeks On Chart: 29
Hot 100 Peak: #12

Points: 106
Average: 8.07
Standard Deviation: 2.433 (4th lowest)

wyckyd - 1
.indulgecountry - 3
mamooshka - 5
BB🌕 - 5

Private Dancer - 6
singingrulebritannia - 7
emerald - 7
Troublemaker - 7
jenglisbe - 8
#LisaRinna - 8
B-Boy - 8
jtd Thee Stallion - 8
rowellfarm490 - 8
samo🦕 - 8
Soulsista - 9
Ivy Leegue™ - 9
divasummer - 9
newpower - 9
alexcuse - 10
• Господин Умљеновић • - 10
PREDS PRIDE - 10
beyoncelover - 10
ilikemilk - 10
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 10

312999 - 11
chanman - 11
CF15 - 11


Next: another #1 goes down, along with five perfect rankings.

[Soulsista]

8. Nice & Slow - Usher

"Nice & Slow" was the second release from his album My Way. It debuted atop the R&B chart and also topped the Hot 100, and features background vocals by Jagged Edge.

Apologies to 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲...


Stats
Chart Entry: January 24, 1998
Peak Date: January 24, 1998
Weeks At #1: 8
Weeks In Top 10: 14
Weeks On Chart: 33
Hot 100 Peak: #1 (2 weeks)

Points: 149
Average: 6.48
Standard Deviation: 2.440 (5th lowest)

🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 1
ilikemilk - 2
#LisaRinna - 3
chanman - 3
B-Boy - 4
Ivy Leegue™ - 4
312999 - 5
Troublemaker - 5

singingrulebritannia - 6
beyoncelover - 6
newpower - 6
Soulsista - 7
PREDS PRIDE - 7
mamooshka - 7
samo🦕 - 7
CF15 - 7
BB🌕 - 7
Private Dancer - 8
alexcuse - 8
• Господин Умљеновић • - 8
.indulgecountry - 8
emerald - 8
wyckyd - 9
rowellfarm490 - 9
jenglisbe - 10
jtd Thee Stallion - 10
divasummer - 10


The next reveal has the highest SD. Four people will lose their #1, six people will lose their #11, and four people will get a perfect ranking.

[samo🦕]

the way i've missed a perfect ranking by 1 four times in a row

this had better be my #11

[Soulsista]

7. All My Life - K-Ci & JoJo

After Jodeci went their separate ways, brothers K-Ci and JoJo continued as a duo. Their biggest came with the release of "All My Life". The third single from their album Love Always was a Hot 100 charttopper and also hit #1 in New Zealand and The Netherlands. It received Grammy nominations for Best R&B Vocal Performance By a Duo Or Group and Best R&B Song.

Apologies to alexcuse, 312999, chanman and ilikemilk...


Stats
Chart Entry: March 28, 1998
Peak Date: April 4, 1998
Weeks At #1: 2
Weeks In Top 10: 12
Weeks On Chart: 40
Hot 100 Peak: #1 (3 weeks)

Points: 156
Average: 6.22
Standard Deviation: 3.683 (Highest)

alexcuse - 1
312999 - 1
chanman - 1
ilikemilk - 1
jenglisbe - 2
divasummer - 2
beyoncelover - 3
chartfanatic - 3
emerald - 4
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 4
jtd Thee Stallion - 5
rowellfarm490 - 5

• Господин Умљеновић • - 6
#LisaRinna - 7
wyckyd - 7
.indulgecountry - 7
Ivy Leegue™ - 7
newpower - 8
Troublemaker - 8
Soulsista - 10
BB🌕 - 10

Private Dancer - 11
PREDS PRIDE - 11
B-Boy - 11
singingrulebritannia - 11
mamooshka - 11
samo🦕 - 11


The last song to miss the Top 5 has two #1s and three perfect rankings.

[Soulsista]

6. No, No, No - Destiny's Child

"No, No, No" was the debut single for the Houston quartet consisting of Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland, LeToya Luckett, and LaTavia Roberson. It peaked inside the Top 5 on the Hot 100, fueled in large part by the remix titled "No, No, No Part 2" featuring Wyclef Jean. The remix samples "Strange Games & Things" by The Love Unlimited Orchestra.



Apologies to B-Boy and jtd Thee Stallion...


Stats
Chart Entry: November 29, 1997
Peak Date: March 21, 1998
Weeks At #1: 1
Weeks In Top 10: 17
Weeks On Chart: 39
Hot 100 Peak: #3

Points: 169
Average: 5.74
Standard Deviation: 2.521 (5th highest)

B-Boy - 1
jtd Thee Stallion - 1
jenglisbe - 3
Private Dancer - 3
mamooshka - 3
#LisaRinna - 4
divasummer - 4
CF15 - 4
Soulsista - 5
• Господин Умљеновић • - 5
PREDS PRIDE - 5
chanman - 5
.indulgecountry - 5
Ivy Leegue™ - 5

alexcuse - 6
samo🦕 - 6
BB🌕 - 6
beyoncelover - 7
rowellfarm490 - 7
newpower - 7
312999 - 8
ilikemilk - 8
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 8
singingrulebritannia - 9
wyckyd - 10
emerald - 10
Troublemaker - 10

[Soulsista]

The Top 5:

Too Close - Next
I Get Lonely - Janet Jackson
The Boy Is Mine - Brandy & Monica
The First Night - Monica
Nobody's Supposed To Be Here - Deborah Cox


Will we see Janet take the crown again? Can Monica claim the Top 2 spots? Or can Next or Deborah pull an upset?

Plus, there are two last place ranks still out there, where will they land?

Find out tomorrow!

SPOILER: Click to show

{R&B Class Of '98}jenglisbe #LisaRinna Private Dancer alexcuse wyckyd • Господин Умљеновић • 312999 PREDS PRIDE B-Boy chanman .indulgecountry @gateofseattles jtd Thee Stallion beyoncelover ilikemilk Ivy Leegue™ divasummer emerald 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 mamooshka rowellfarm490 samo🦕 newpower CF15 BB🌕 Troublemaker

[PREDS PRIDE]

thank god I wasn't alone in ranking all my life last. had a feeling it might do well for a sec.

1, 2, 4, 6, 8

[ilikemilk]

Oct 16, 2023 12:06:53 GMT -5 PREDS PRIDE said:

thank god I wasn't alone in ranking all my life last. had a feeling it might do well for a sec.

1, 2, 4, 6, 8

And there is me on the other end saying thank god I was not alone in ranking it 1, I thought it would do worse for a sec.

But I just love this song, it makes me feel like I have hope in life and gives me optimistic energy. 

[jenglisbe]

I've always thought of "All My Life" as a classic and am surprised to see it with so many #11 rankings. I don't know if an overall placement of 7 is all that low here because there are so many classics in this group, but still.

[Ivy Leegue™]

All My Life was rated so low because Pulse hates love. It's a beautiful song, I just preferred other songs. Not surprised my high school sex jam Let's Ride is out so early too, but actually shocked that Nice and Slow didn't make Top 5. Isn't that song considered a classic?! Fun fact: the first time I ever heard Ed Sheeran perform live back in 2012, before his debut album dropped, he was covering Nice and Slow. Been a fan ever since.

[Troublemaker]

Oct 16, 2023 14:04:30 GMT -5 jenglisbe said:

I've always thought of "All My Life" as a classic and am surprised to see it with so many #11 rankings. I don't know if an overall placement of 7 is all that low here because there are so many classics in this group, but still.

For me that song suffers from overexposure. In the 2000s no wedding reception was complete without that song being played. 

[Soulsista]

Today's extra is another hit from the Dr. Dolittle soundtrack. It topped the R&B airplay chart for 8 weeks and peaked at #6 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart, and received a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. It charted on the Hot 100 after airplay-only songs were allowed to chart, and peaked at #21, but of course that peak isn't indicative of how big it was.

Are You That Somebody? - Aaliyah

[#LisaRinna]

Thicker than blood
Wherever there was me, there was you
My all was your all
But that wasn't enough for you
You had to see
And tried to walk a mile in my shoes
In my head, In my bed
Betrayed by my best friend

[alexcuse]

7 #11's for Dru Hill and 6 #11's for K-Ci & JoJo? You guys suck!!!!! Lol

[Soulsista]

Welcome back!

Leaving us now is the song that has the 2nd highest SD. Two people will lose their #1, someone else will lose their #11.

SPOILER: Click to show

{R&B Class Of '98}jenglisbe #LisaRinna Private Dancer alexcuse wyckyd • Господин Умљеновић • 312999 PREDS PRIDE B-Boy chanman .indulgecountry @gateofseattles jtd Thee Stallion beyoncelover ilikemilk Ivy Leegue™ divasummer emerald 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 mamooshka rowellfarm490 samo🦕 newpower CF15 BB🌕 Troublemaker

[Soulsista]

5. Nobody's Supposed To Be Here - Deborah Cox

Toronto native Deborah Cox released "Nobody's Supposed To Be Here" as the lead single from her sophomore album One Wish. Co-written by Montell Jordan, it's her biggest hit, reaching the Top 5 on the Hot 100 and spending a record-setting 14 weeks atop the R&B chart. It won a Soul Train Award for Best Female R&B/Soul Single.

The song also topped the dance chart thanks to a remix by Hex Hector.



Apologies to jenglisbe and samo🦕...


Stats
Chart Entry: October 3, 1998
Peak Date: November 7, 1998
Weeks At #1: 14
Weeks In Top 10: 23
Weeks On Chart: 33
Hot 100 Peak: #2

Points: 187
Average: 5.07
Standard Deviation: 2.841 (2nd highest)

jenglisbe - 1
samo🦕 - 1
.indulgecountry - 2
newpower - 2
Troublemaker - 2
• Господин Умљеновић • - 3
B-Boy - 3
jtd Thee Stallion - 3
Ivy Leegue™ - 3
divasummer - 3
rowellfarm490 - 3
Private Dancer - 4
singingrulebritannia - 5
beyoncelover - 5
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 5

Soulsista - 6
wyckyd - 6
chanman - 6
ilikemilk - 6
emerald - 6
CF15 - 6
PREDS PRIDE - 8
BB🌕 - 8
alexcuse - 9
312999 - 10
mamooshka - 10

#LisaRinna - 11


The next reveal has the 3rd lowest SD. No #1s, but seven people will lose their #2 and five more will lose a bottom 5.

[Soulsista]

4. The First Night - Monica

Monica's follow-up to "The Boy Is Mine" was this ditty produced by Jermaine Dupri. "The First Night" topped the Hot 100 and dance charts and samples the Diana Ross classic "Love Hangover".


Stats
Chart Entry: August 15, 1998
Peak Date: September 5, 1998
Weeks At #1: 6
Weeks In Top 10: 15
Weeks On Chart: 26
Hot 100 Peak: #1 (5 weeks)

Points: 202
Average: 4.52
Standard Deviation: 2.260 (3rd lowest)

Soulsista - 2
#LisaRinna - 2
Private Dancer - 2
alexcuse - 2
B-Boy - 2
emerald - 2
mamooshka - 2
wyckyd - 3
312999 - 3
ilikemilk - 3
• Господин Умљеновић • - 4
PREDS PRIDE - 4
singingrulebritannia - 4
beyoncelover - 4
samo🦕 - 4
BB🌕 - 4
divasummer - 5
newpower - 5

jenglisbe - 6
.indulgecountry - 6
rowellfarm490 - 6
Troublemaker - 6
chanman - 7
Ivy Leegue™ - 8
CF15 - 8
jtd Thee Stallion - 9
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 9


Taking the bronze is a song with two #1s...and the final last place ranking to go down.

[Soulsista]

3. Too Close - Next

"Too Close" was the second single released by this trio from Minneapolis. Built on a sample of Kurtis Blow's "Christmas Rappin'", it topped the Hot 100 and was named Billboard's top pop and R&B single for 1998. It was later covered by British boy band Blue.

Apologies to mamooshka and CF15...


Stats
Chart Entry: February 14, 1998
Peak Date: May 2, 1998
Weeks At #1: 3
Weeks In Top 10: 25
Weeks On Chart: 60
Hot 100 Peak: #1 (5 weeks)

Points: 206
Average: 4.37
Standard Deviation: 2.691 (4th highest)

mamooshka - 1
CF15 - 1
312999 - 2
PREDS PRIDE - 2
chanman - 2
jtd Thee Stallion - 2
beyoncelover - 2
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 2
Soulsista - 3
singingrulebritannia - 3
samo🦕 - 3
BB🌕 - 3
Troublemaker - 3
ilikemilk - 4
rowellfarm490 - 4
newpower - 4
#LisaRinna - 5
Private Dancer - 5
B-Boy - 5
emerald - 5

Ivy Leegue™ - 6
jenglisbe - 7
alexcuse - 7
divasummer - 7
• Господин Умљеновић • - 9
.indulgecountry - 10

wyckyd - 11

[Soulsista]

vs.




Who will take the gold, Janet or Brandy and Monica? The final 2 will be revealed shortly!

SPOILER: Click to show

{R&B Class Of '98}jenglisbe #LisaRinna Private Dancer alexcuse wyckyd • Господин Умљеновић • 312999 PREDS PRIDE B-Boy chanman .indulgecountry @gateofseattles jtd Thee Stallion beyoncelover ilikemilk Ivy Leegue™ divasummer emerald 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 mamooshka rowellfarm490 samo🦕 newpower CF15 BB🌕 Troublemaker

[PREDS PRIDE]

1 vs 6, would’ve loved for too close to be in the top 2 though

[Soulsista]

But first, an extra. This song debuted atop the Hot 100 and also hit #1 on the rap chart and peaked at #2 for R&B (though it did top the R&B airplay chart for 9 weeks). It won Grammys for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B song, and helped her win for Best New Artist.

Doo Wop (That Thing) - Lauryn Hill

[Soulsista]

Here we go, the final 2...



2. I Get Lonely - Janet Jackson

"I Get Lonely" was the third release from Janet's album The Velvet Rope. It hit the Top 5 on the Hot 100 and was her 18th consecutive Top 10 hit, the most by a female artist. It also topped the dance chart and received a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Janet later sampled it in "Get It Out Me" from 20 Y.O. and "Dammn Baby" from Unbreakable.

The TNT remix features Blackstreet.




Stats
Chart Entry: May 16, 1998
Peak Date: May 23, 1998
Weeks At #1: 2
Weeks In Top 10: 11
Weeks On Chart: 33
Hot 100 Peak: #3

Points: 215
Average: 4.04
Standard Deviation: 2.738 (3rd highest)

Soulsista - 1
#LisaRinna - 1
singingrulebritannia - 1
Ivy Leegue™ - 1
rowellfarm490 - 1
newpower - 1
BB🌕 - 1
Troublemaker - 1
• Господин Умљеновић • - 2
samo🦕 - 2
emerald - 3
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 3
jenglisbe - 4
alexcuse - 4
.indulgecountry - 4
jtd Thee Stallion - 4
wyckyd - 5
CF15 - 5

PREDS PRIDE - 6
B-Boy - 6
divasummer - 6
mamooshka - 6
Private Dancer - 7
ilikemilk - 7
beyoncelover - 8
312999 - 9
chanman - 10

---

And now, the #1...



1. The Boy Is Mine - Brandy & Monica

"The Boy Is Mine" was the lead single from Monica's sophomore album of the same name and Brandy's sophomore album Never Say Never. Inspired in part by the Michael Jackson/Paul McCartney duet "The Girl Is Mine", it was one of the biggest hits of 1998, topping the Hot 100 and dance charts and also hitting #1 in Canada, The Netherlands, and New Zealand. It won a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance By a Duo Or Group and was nominated for Best R&B Song and Record Of The Year. Brandy and Monica tried to recapture that magic in their 2012 duet "It All Belongs To Me", but it didn't work the second time around.

Congrats to • Господин Умљеновић • for scoring a perfect Top 2!


Stats
Chart Entry: May 30, 1998
Peak Date: June 6, 1998
Weeks At #1: 8
Weeks In Top 10: 15
Weeks On Chart: 31
Hot 100 Peak: #1 (13 weeks)

Points: 229
Average: 3.52
Standard Deviation: 2.225 (2nd lowest)

Private Dancer - 1
• Господин Умљеновић • - 1
PREDS PRIDE - 1
.indulgecountry - 1
beyoncelover - 1
divasummer - 1
emerald - 1
singingrulebritannia - 2
Ivy Leegue™ - 2
rowellfarm490 - 2
chartfanatic - 2
BB🌕 - 2
newpower - 3

Soulsista - 4
312999 - 4
chanman - 4
Troublemaker - 4
mamooshka - 4
jenglisbe - 5
alexcuse - 5
ilikemilk - 5
samo🦕 - 5

#LisaRinna - 6
B-Boy - 7
jtd Thee Stallion - 7
🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 - 7
wyckyd - 8


And that concludes the Billboard #1 R&B Songs Of 1998 Rankdown! Thanks again to everyone who participated.

Next: we're gonna party like it's 1999!

[PREDS PRIDE]

love it when the right song wins! thanks Soulsista for hosting!

[B-Boy]

I thought Deborah Cox was going to take the #1 spot. lol. But then again "The Boy Is Mine" was a huge record that year so it deserved it.

[Soulsista]

Perfect Rankings:

• Господин Умљеновић • - 5
beyoncelover / samo🦕 - 4
Soulsista / alexcuse / divasummer / emerald / newpower / .indulgecountry / BB🌕 / singingrulebritannia - 3
rowellfarm490 / #LisaRinna / Ivy Leegue™ / Private Dancer / PREDS PRIDE - 2
ilikemilk / wyckyd / 🇯🇲 dollybaby 🇯🇲 / Troublemaker - 1
jenglisbe / chanman / B-Boy / 312999 / CF15 / jtd Thee Stallion / mamooshka - 0

---

I'll leave you with one final extra. Her follow-up to "The Boy Is Mine" peaked at #4 on the R&B airplay chart and features Mase.

Top Of The World - Brandy