In the 90s I did not like RnB. At least the 90s variety.
Too polished, too lacking in tunes, too full of fools dripping in gold wibbling on about crappy nightclubs I’d never go near even if I was dripping in wealth myself, too well liked (I suspected) by footballers.
Well tonight I was messing about on Spotify and listened to Creep by TLC and boy, I was just plain flat out wrong. This song is sexy as hell, the lyrics are as good as I Heard It Through The Grapevine, it’s funky, it might damn well be the actual best tune of the 90s.
Where does a person go next for “actually good 90s slow jam RnB type of things?” Anyone here into that?
(By the way, Bump and Grind by R Kelly is still shite)
This is the absolute shit:
Never heard this at all. But they are smoking FAGS, INDOORS! None more 90s…
Does this count?
I forgot all about this! Yes! Indeed! This is brilliant!
This is also completely massive:
I think I need to hear this without the video to distract me to be honest. Crap looking nightclub? Check. From a crap looking film? Check.
The video does lack shots of people dripping in gold drinking Cristal from massive magnums but apart from that it looks like exactly what I spent the 90s avoiding. So spotify I think…
Never actually watched the video before, but just had a look and it’s all footage from the terrible movie Romeo Must Die.
Hey, I can’t wait for someone over the age of 50 to splutter that this isn’t RnB.
While we’re waiting, let’s have No Scrubs.
Oddly enough, this one I actually liked even in the 90s which is why I gave Creep a go tonight…
They never got better than this, although this song from the same album comes close – Waterfalls:
Wouldn’t dream of it.
Somewhere in the world there are a million playlists titled ‘Smoove Jamz!!!’. This one is on all of them:
Blackstreet – No Diggity
This is FANTASTIC.
Sampling Grandma’s Hands for maximum effect…
No Diggity is widely acknowledged to be the pinnacle of all human achievement.
Not here it isn’t. Horrible.
BZZZZZ
and it’s over to the other team. Can you pick up some bonus points with a correct answer?
Was never a big fan of 90s R&B, but this is a flipping awesome record.
Wonderful tune.
The 80’s were Cameo’s heyday, but this from the 90’s still fizzes.
No idea if its jam, marmalade or marmite, but it’s good shit.
http://youtu.be/cTGr5EQAo7g
This has made me laugh like a drain! It’s just fantastic! Thank you for this.
Mary J Blige – Real Love:
Before he punched alien invaders or taught us about the dangers of concussions in sports, WIll Smith made some pretty good records with DJ Jazzy Jeff:
Summertime
…and a few years later, Jazzy Jeff produced this gorgeous tune – Jill Scott’s A Long Walk:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSYMKUtNuw8
Maxwell – Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder)
That whole album is one long smooth jam! It’s one of those records that demands to be heard all the way through…
Sade (criminally under-rated) – No Ordinary Love
http://youtu.be/lRl9Av95Uck
Michael was still great (just) – Black Or White
http://youtu.be/GXGtgA87jPA
Lisa Stanfield – All Around The World
Absolutely superb tune.
http://youtu.be/iirDzMk5ysI
I know it’s not 90s, but I absolutely love the Sugababes’ Richard X-fuelled version of this.
Erykah Badu – On And On
Not the 90s, but tigger has already rode roughshod over the OP, so we are where we are:
Absolutely seminal:
See also Brown Sugar:
A stone cold classic:
T.U.N.E.
January 2000. But I’ll look the other way if you will
http://youtu.be/PA_NP0k-G3o
There’s no point denying it:
Angie Stone – No More Rain In This Cloud
This might be my least favourite thread ever.
*Cackles maniacally*
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAXxkNaRkp8
What, worse than the ones involving Scottish independence/The Labour Party/The Grauniad/Immigration/The Daily Mail that quickly descend into personal abuse, flouncing and splintered furniture?
Dis be jus some wilin jams. Get wit da program yo.
That’s EXACTLY what a massive racist would say.
Ooft, I love this type of music. And I have much love for TLC. crazysexycool is a classic. This track, the very last one on the album if I remember, has got it going on.
I was reading down the thread, thinking “I’m going to post the last song on Crazysexycool because it’s a belter”, and you beat me to it. Great minds.
TLCs follow up, fan mail, contained this belter. Its just made me feel a bit emotional when I played it – first time for ages. I had a 10 year old daughter, who’s all grown up now and this was our much preferred “girl power” music. We bloody loved them.
Gosh, they were a damn fine band
I’m all over this thread, there will be more
http://youtu.be/g2gy1Evb1Kg ❤️
With a nod to Michael McDonald, this is what it’s all about. I’m struggling to think of a sexier genre of music. I’ll be on an R&B tip all day now.
This is my karaoke tune. Everyone loves Regulate.
True Dat
Last on from me – for now….
This guy could be the new Michael Jackson. Perhaps not as crazy but definitely sexier and every bit as cool.
There’s a remix where Kanye raps the intro and its blooming fantastic. But I can’t find a link. You may be relieved.
NeYo’s the man!
If you had to take one R Kelly track to a desert island it would surely be this. It’s the freakin’ weekend. Well Sunday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6y_4_b6RS8
This only just qualifies. But I like it.
Wot, not Beyonce etc? Think this is ’99…
The most R&B the Wu ever got:
This one. Really love this record.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Var4AQWRL2o
Swedish 90s RnB from Masayah – Why (that’s the title, not a slur on Swedish 90s RnB…)
Smooooooth!
Her albums have often been hit and miss – but Me’ Shell NdegeOcello frequently drops wonderful stuff into obscure film soundtracks.
I can’t agree. Peace Beyond Passion is brilliant throughout.
God Shiva
Another Swedish classic (who’s gonna post them if I don’t?) is Tears Never Dry from Stephen Simmonds:
The weird and wonderful Addis Black Widow…
Here’s Goes Around Comes Around:
And the groovy Innocent:
Not Swedish, but one of my favourites: Skee-Lo – I Wish:
I still have the 12″ of this one upstairs.
Had the 12″ of this. Boss.
Not sure you’re all going to like this one, but it was a huge hit, and I think it’s fantastic, if a bit cheesy. The singing is absolutely top drawer.
I once saw them perform this to a packed, rapt crowd at Notting Hill Carnival. They were never my cup of tea, but it was clear the crowd absolutely adored them, and the song gained something from its reception.
Shading into the 00’s, but I don’t care
TUUUUUUUUUNE!
Best drum sound evah.
Where 90s R&B went next….
This is nearly as good as Regulate.
I’m a lyrical Gangsta:
The Afghan Whigs did a mighty cover of Creep around the time of Black Love
Not sure on your opinions of Bobby Brown, but leaving his personal issues out of it, this is a solid tune. Accompanied many an early morning for me putting pants on the shelves at M&S…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEhiFzU_B5g
Not RnB but as No Diggity’s already taken and being as how it’s sunny and bright, thought this one’s well worth a play, reminds me of ’91. The female vocalist is RnB for sure …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig5Xi-S0Fjo
A message from our sponsors -“Stay Comatose”:
maybe a bit more hip hop but still a tune…
I was literally thinking about this one last week. It is indeed a tune.
Let’s stretch the definition of RnB by including Massive Attack! I stick to the truly soulful ones:
Unfinished Sympathy
Protection
Teardrop
All are remarkable videos, too.
I might spotify this stuff and post a link once the child is down and the kitchen is cleaned…
I hadn’t heard this in decades when it suddenly popped up on my ipod from some 90’s compilation I’d loaded. I absolutely love it now.
Return of the Mack
Lauryn Hill – Ex-Factor
Right, I hope this works. Spotify list of this stuff, in the order it’s been posted (apart from the ones I couldn’t find). I have never posted a spotify list anywhere in my life so please bear with me here…
Fuck. That didn’t work. Trying again
That’s the bunny!
Nice work Gangle! That’s tomorrow morning’s listening sorted.