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UB 90’s Special: Top 50 Essential Ballads of The 90s!

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If you ask many, you will get no argument, that the 90’s provided some of the best music of our lifetime! In celebration of our “Love 90’s R&B Interview SeriesUrbanBridgez.com is counting down our essential list of music from that era. Today we kick it off with “The Top 50 Essential Ballads of The 90’s!”

The list was compiled by the UBGteam and members of the UBG Forum. So many songs and so little room, we decided to choose singles that were released and R&B, meaning many pop songs are omitted from the list. Check out our list below, in no certain order and take a trip down memory lane when music was memorable and left a mark! Let us know what you think! Enjoy!

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[In Case You Missed It—->Faith Evans Kicked off Our “Love The 90’s R&B Interview Series!”]

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“Soon As I Get Home” – Faith Evans (1995 – #3 Billboard R&B)

[audio:https://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/soon.mp3|titles=Soon As I Get Home]
“Weak” – SWV (1993 – #1 Billboard R&B/Hot 100 *Platinum*)
“You Put A Move On My Heart” – Tamia (1994 – #16 Billboard R&B)

[audio:https://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/put.mp3|titles=You Put A Move on My Heart]
“In My Bed” – Dru Hill (1997 – #1 Billboard R&B *Platinum*)
“This Lil Game We Play” – Subway & 702 (1995 – #4 Billboard R&B)
“Breaking My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)” – Mint Condition (1992 – #3 Billboard R&B)

[audio:https://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/breaking.mp3|titles=Breaking My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)]
“Butta Love” – NEXT (1994 – #4 Billboard R&B)
“Another Sad Love Song” – Toni Braxton (1993 – #2 Billboard R&B)

[audio:https://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/sad.mp3|titles=Another Sad Love Song]
“They Don’t Know” – Jon B (1998 – #2 Billboard R&B)

[audio:https://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/dont.mp3|titles=They Don’t Know]
“If I Ever Fall In Love” – Shai (1992 – #1 Billboard &B/#2 Hot 100)
“Stroke You Up” – Changing Faces (1994 – #2 Billboard R&B/#3 Hot 100)
“(At Your Best) You Are Love” Aaliyah (1992 – #2 Billboard R&B *Gold*
“Before You Walk Out of My Life” – Monica (1995 – #1 Billboard R&B *Platinum*)
[audio:https://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/before.mp3|titles=Before You Walk Out of My Life]
“Red Light Special” – TLC (1994 – #2 Billboard R&B/#3 Hot 100 *Gold*)
“All I Do Is Think of You” – TROOP (1990 – #1 Billboard R&B)
“Brokenhearted” – Brandy & Wanya (1995 – #2 Billboard R&B)

[audio:https://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/broken.mp3|titles=Brokenhearted]
“Can We Talk” – Tevin Campbell (1993 – #1 Billboard R&B)
“So Anxious” – Ginuwine (1999 – #2 Billboard R&B)

[audio:https://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/so.mp3|titles=So Anxious]
“Bump N’ Grind” – R. Kelly (1994 – #1 Billboard R&B/Hot 100)
“I Miss You” – Aaron Hall (1994 – #2 Billboard R&B)
“On Bended Knee” – Boyz II Men (1994 – #1 Hot 100 Billboard/#2 R&B)
“Cupid” – 112 (1197 – #2 Billboard R&B)

[audio:https://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/cupid.mp3|titles=Cupid]
“Friend of Mine” – Kelly Price featuring Ronald Isley and R. Kelly (1998 – #1 Billboard R&B)
“Giving Him Something He Can Feel” – En Vogue (1992 – #1 Billboard R&B)
“Spend My Life Without You” – Eric Benet’ & Tamia (1999 – #1 Billboard R&B)
“Anytime” – Brian McKnight (1997 – #1 Billboard R&B)

[audio:https://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/anytime.mp3|titles=Anytime]
“Fortunate” – Maxwell (1999 – #1 Billboard R&B/#4 Hot 100 *Gold*)
“Understanding” – Xscape (1993 – #1 Billboard R&B *Gold*
“Nobody” – Keith Sweat feat. Athena Cage (1996 – #1 Billboard R&B/#3 Hot 100)
[audio:https://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/nobody.mp3|titles=Nobody]
“Nice and Slow” – Usher (1997 – #1 Billboard R&B/Hot 100 *Platinum*)
“Sweet Lady” – Tyrese (1999 – #9 Billboard R&B)

[audio:https://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/lady.mp3|titles=Sweet Lady]
“He’s Mine” – Mokenstef (1995 – #7 Billboard R&B)
“My Love is The Ish” – Something For The People (1997 – #2 Billboard R&B/#4 Hot 100)

[audio:https://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/ish.mp3|titles=My Love is The Shhh]
“Tender Kisses” – Tracie Spencer (1991 – #1 Billboard R&B)
“Knockin The Boots” – H-Town (1993 – #1 Billboard R&B/#3 Hot 100)
“Before I Let You Go” – BLACKstreet (1994 – #2 Billboard R&B)

[audio:https://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/before1.mp3|titles=Before I Let You Go]
“Get It Together” – 702 (1997 – #3 Billboard R&B)
“I Like The Way (The Kissing Game) – Hi-Five (1991 – #1 Hot 100/Billboard R&B)

[audio:https://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/like.mp3|titles=I Like The Way (The Kissing Game)]
“Lady” – D’Angelo (1992 – #2 Billboard R&B)
“Nobody’s Suppose To Be Here” Deborah Cox (1998 – #1 Billboard R&B/#2 Hot 100)
“Anytime, Any Place – Janet Jackson (1994 – #1 Billboard R&B/#2 Hot 100 *Gold*)
“Exhale (Shoop, Shoop)” – Whitney Houston (1995 – #1 Billboard R&B/Hot 100 *Gold*)
“Ex-Factor” – Laryn Hill (1999 – #7 Billboard R&B)
“I Belong to You (Everytime I See Your Face) – Rome (1997 #2 Billboard R&B/#7 Hot 100 *Gold*)
“My, My, My”- Johnny Gill (1990 – #1 Billboard R&B)

[audio:https://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/mymy.mp3|titles=My, My, My]
“Let’s Chill” – GUY (1991 – #3 Billboard R&B)
“Not Gon’ Dry” – Mary J. Blige (1996 – #1 Billboard R&B/#2 Hot 100)
“How Can I Ease The Pain” – Lisa Fischer (1991 – #1 Billboard R&B)
[audio:https://urbanbridgez.com/ubgblog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/pain.mp3|titles=How Can I Ease The Pain]
“Anniversary” – Tony, Toni, Tone’ (1993 – #2 Billboard R&B)
“Stay” – Jodeci (1991 – #1 Billboard R&B)
Notable Mentions
“Pink Cashmere” – Prince
“Baby-Baby-Baby” – TLC
“Turn Down The Lights” – Shanice
“Spread My Wings” – TROOP
“I Wanna Know” – JOE
“I’m Still Waiting” – Jodeci
“Body & Soul” – Anita Baker
“Somebody Loves You Baby (You Know Who It Is) – Patti LaBelle
“No Ordinary Love” – Sade
“Everytime I Close My Eyes” – Babyface
“Practice What You Preach” – Barry White
“All the Things Your Man (Won’t Do) – JOE
“Quality Time” – Hi-Five
“It Never Rains (In Southern Calafornia) – Tony, Toni Tone’
“Whatever You Want” – Tony, Toni, Tone’
“Dreamin” – Vanessa Williams
“Happily Ever After” Case
“Can I Stay With You” – Karyn White
“I Can’t Tell You Why” – Brownstone
“All The Man I Need” – Whitney Houston
“ABC-123” LeVert
“When Will I See You Smile Again” – Bell Biv DeVoe
“Loves Taken Over” – Chante’ Moore
“I’m Still Wearing Your Name” – Ann Nesby
“Never Lie” – Immature
“Comforter” – Shai
“Luv U 4 Life” – Jodeci
“Taking Everything” – Gerald LeVert
“Feenin” – Jodeci
“Do You Want To” – Xscape
“I’m Still In Love With You” – New Edition
“Gotta Be” – Jagged Edge
“Love Makes Things Happen” – Pebbles & Babyface
“Always in My Heart” – Tevin Campbell

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6 Comments

    1. DAMN ALL THE GOOD MUSIC CAME FROM THE 1990S DECADE. IM JAMMIN AT MY DESK RIGHT NOW LOL

  1. this makes me happy to see so many of my fav songs on here but sad that we have the trash we have now on the radio and nothing close to these gems

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