In the 1990s, the rise of hip-hop led to the rise of R&B. At this point, R&B blended the beats and rhythms of hip-hop with soul vocals. 90s R&B artists created timeless ballads that guided millennials through their first experience with love. Love may hurt sometimes, and these R&B hits taught us how to really feel it.

“Always Be My Baby” by Mariah Carey

This song will make it hard not to think of a former lover. Even if you don’t have someone to miss, and many teenagers didn’t, this track almost made you wish you had someone to miss. Released in 1995, “Always Be My Baby” fell right in the middle of Mariah Carey‘s dominance on the charts in the 90s. She earned an incredible 14 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 during the decade. “Always Be My Baby” topped the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Chart in February 1996. Her fifth album, Daydream, generated three No. 1 hits out of five singles released. She’s still among the most decorated artists of all time.

“Every Time I Close My Eyes” by Babyface

For this 1997 single, Babyface brought together some of the best musicians in mainstream music. Famous saxophonist Kenny G provides soprano saxophone, while Mariah Carey provides additional vocals. On the drums, we hear the “Queen Of Percussion”, the one and only Sheila E. When you bring together these world-class artists, the result is a hit single. “Every Time I Close My Eyes” peaked at No. 5 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in early 1997.

“All My Life” by K-Ci & JoJo

This one has millennials singing along to “All my life, I’ve prayed for someone like you” when we hadn’t even been on Earth for more than two decades. We weren’t really waiting that long, but it felt like it. That’s the power of 90s R&B ballads like this. They could make anyone feel like they’ve been praying all their lives for a love like this. Soul and passion in R&B peaked with this. It earned the duo three Grammy nominations. Released in March 1998, “All My Life” peaked at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of the most successful R&B singles of the latter half of the decade.

Photo by Paul Bergen/Redferns

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Britney Spears has long been the prototype pop star for many. When looking at the modern superstars today, all of them emulate what she did to some degree. Whether it’s the dancing, the singing, or just the general look and aura of her, she was the blueprint for a lot of artists.

But Spears didn’t become this influential out of nowhere. Even she admired other pop and R&B stars to become the seismic force in pop culture she became. For her, that person was always Janet Jackson. On an Instagram post, she paid tribute to The Velvet Rope legend.

In the caption, she recalled being a young teenager, watching her music videos in awe. For Britney Spears, it was an experience she could hardly understand. But she knew she wanted to experience her magnetism over and over again.

“At 13 years old, if a Janet Jackson video came on the TV, my mouth dropped open,” she wrote. “I kept repeating in my head, ‘No, no. Please come back, I wanna see that again. Where the hell did that come from?’ It was her ability to be incredibly mysterious, so dark with a vibe that sucked you in immediately, and then this haunting, simple, angelic tone.”

Britney Spears Honors Janet Jackson With a Post on Instagram

Then, Spears admired her stylistic choices as a vocalist and as an entertainer. “[Janet Jackson’s] not trying to be sexy, she just is,” she continued. “She can’t help it. She has always been god to me. She’s not just a singer, she is an entertainer in people’s eyes. Not only do adults feel her presence in such a spellbound way, she’s able to captivate the hearts of children as well! I was so young, and she spoke to my heart and soul like no one else.”

Then, at the end of her tribute, Britney Spears even admitted that she was kind of rambling. Still, she felt the need to give flowers to an artist that means so much to her. “I have no idea why I’m writing this, but I do believe people like her are here for a reason … Just her smile alone changed the world forever … She’s my girl crush this month,” she concluded.

Janet Jackson’s impact on Britney Spears is especially evident when looking back at some of her forays into R&B. Her Neptunes-produced “I’m a Slave 4 U” nods to a lot of the same whispery, sensual qualities that made Jackson such an alluring presence throughout her career.

Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

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R&B is finally regaining its presence in the mainstream. With rising acts like Kehlani and Leon Thomas and established artists like Chris Brown, it has quietly become a part of pop culture as it did in decades past. It’s no longer just a launching pad for artists to go pop or an extra skill for rappers like Drake to wield. Hopefully, in time, we’ll go back to having the energy Jodeci and Usher once brought to the table.

But in the background, artists in the underground kept R&B alive and fresh for die-hard fans of the genre. Moreover, some of them have been holding down the fort for years while pop culture lagged behind. So, we’ve spotlighted three underground R&B singers who have been integral to the genre’s spirit for years and still thrive today.

Three Underground R&B Singers That Have Quietly Made Great Careers for Themselves

Liv.e

The neo-soul label tends to get tossed around a ton very loosely. Frankly, anyone even vaguely earthy and not mainstream contemporary might get the claim. But not many of them capture the true essence of artists like Erykah Badu or D’Angelo. Typically, they’re derivative copies that don’t bring anything fresh to R&B.

That’s what makes Liv.e’s music especially potent. The Dallas born crooner takes the funk and grooviness and applies it to the modern world. She’ll take the universal aspects of love and relationships and juxtapose it with social quirks and problems of today. For instance, her album with Karriem Riggins as GENA saw her go from lovesick to needing an emergency therapy session due to her anger. There’s a nuttiness to her songwriting that differentiates her from anyone working in R&B today.

Phonte

You could easily argue Phonte is just as good of a singer as he is a rapper, if not better. Naturally, underground hip-hop fans adore his work with Big Pooh as Little Brother, rapping on classic 9th Wonder beats. But it’s his work with Nicolay as Foreign Exchange that has made for some of my favorite R&B songs of the 2000s and 2010s.

Additionally, Phonte doesn’t let the traditions of R&B forsake the mature songwriting and sense of humor that make him such a distinct artist. Records like Leave It All Behind shows Phonte singing about the trials and tribulations of long-term, committed relationships. Sometimes, those moments will lead him to having to sleep on the couch or having to quell anxieties amidst the mundanities of a healthy love life.

Other times, you’ll get songs like “Beverly Hills” where Phonte croons about a sweet West Hollywood romance while Devin Morrison prods at the annoying artificiality of LA socialites and how that manifests in some truly horrid dates. You’re unlikely to get any R&B artist provide such a fresh perspective in R&B as a whole, let alone the underground. The fact he’s been able to do it for decades is a testament to the good will and discography he’s built.

JMSN

Save for some viral moments on X with his music video for “Soft Spot“, JMSN has been operating in R&B’s underground for decades now. When he wasn’t producing for rappers like Kendrick Lamar, he wielded a wild falsetto and fused rock and funk with a gorgeous old soul.

Take “Talk is Cheap”, an old-fashioned sex jam that would’ve thrived in the 70s performing in smoky bars. In a sense, you could say he was born in the wrong generation. But I’d argue he’s simply suggesting we go back to a time when R&B was loved and adored and expand on its roots.

Photo by Todd Williamson/WireImage

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Anyone would think suffering a heart attack would mean taking a long time away to recover. However, for R&B singer Angela Northern, it took only days to be cleared to sing again after a medical emergency onstage. During a performance at a B.B. King’s Blues Club in Memphis, she revealed that she had “100% blockage” in one of her arteries. As a result, she needed a stent immediately. Thankfully, she’s no longer in the ICU after such a massive health scare.

“Fortunately, I was surrounded by friends and loved ones who immediately went into action and I received life saving medical assistance,” Angela Northern wrote on Facebook on October 10, 2026. “Sooooo many things could have gone soooo much worse, but I’m sooo grateful that they didn’t. I love all of you guys that helped me in the middle of it as well as those who checked on me afterwards. Full recovery is in view!”

Naturally, you would think that full recovery would take quite some time. After all, the body needs some time to adjust after such a traumatizing experience. However, mere days after the emergency, she revealed she’s hitting the road once again to perform. After clearance from her doctors, Northern will go back to B.B. King’s and then play a festival in Brownsville, Tennessee.

R&B Singer Angela Northern Brushes Off Heart Attack in Order to Get Back on Stage

“I am at home, and I’m very grateful,” she shared in a video on Facebook. “I’m so grateful to God for giving me a way to come through this ordeal practically unscathed. I drove myself home from Memphis. The doctors cleared me to perform this Friday and Saturday. I’ll be at BB Kings this Friday and Saturday again. We are going to try it one more time and see what happens. Also, Saturday, I’ll be in Brownsville, Tennessee at a fall fest.”

Naturally, fans and supporters were overjoyed to see Angela Northern make such a tremendous recovery, especially in such a short time. “Thanks be to God for giving you another opportunity to be a blessing to many with your beautiful personality. May your experience be a testimony to to many!” one person replied to Angela Northern.

Photo by John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images

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As Chilli of TLC continues the group’s tour as a one-woman show, she just gave an update on her group member T-Boz. During an October 9th concert in Las Vegas, she revealed that the singer born Tionne Watkins is slowly recovering from her sickle cell crisis.

“Some of you may not know that my group member T-Boz has sickle cell disease,” she shared with the audience (via TMZ). “Sometimes, you have a crisis, and she did this time. She’s taking the very necessary time she needs to get back to 100 percent. I’m going to continue to hold it down for my sister. Tonight, I’m gonna ask each and every one of you to help me hold it down for her.”

TLC has been on tour alongside Salt-N-Pepa and En Vogue for the ‘It’s Iconic’ tour. As of today, there are two stops left on the tour. They will perform at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California on October 10th. Then, they’ll wrap up in Concord, California at the Toyota Pavilion on October 11th.

Fans noticed T-Boz’s absence on the group’s August 28th performance in Connecticut. On September 3rd, their manager Bill Diggins revealed that her sickle cell crisis required hospitalization. Thankfully, her condition wasn’t considered life-threatening at the time. All parties were insistent on keeping the shows going for all the fans who paid for tickets.

TLC Wraps Up Tour Without T-Boz As She Recovers From Sickle Cell Crisis

“When she experiences a sickle cell crisis, the recovery period can vary and may take days or weeks,” Diggins shared in a statement. “Her health and recovery remain our highest priority. Tionne looks forward to returning to the tour when she is fully recovered and medically cleared to perform.”

It’s not yet known if she’ll be able to make either one of the last dates on the TLC tour.

T-Boz has grappled with sickle cell anemia since birth. The 56-year-old singer was even told by her doctors as a kid that they weren’t sure she would live very long. However, now she’s lived over 25 years past her expected age and toured the world in the process.

“I was told at 7 years old I would never live past 30,” she said on Good Morning America. “I would be disabled my whole life and never have kids. But I traveled the world in TLC. I’ve worked with Michael Jackson.”

Photo by Alyssa Greenberg/WWD via Getty Images

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The core problem in every single relationship is keeping the spark alive. After the honeymoon phase passes, arguments start, there are fewer date nights, and then the physical connection wanes. If you’re not careful, the emotional side of the relationship lessens, and it’ll feel like you’re just with a glorified roommate. Eventually, you can lose sight of what made you fall for your partner in the first place. Then, the romance is gone completely.

So how do you reclaim the love you once had? What’s a good way to give it another honest shot before you have to call it off? R&B, the genre of love, will provide a lot of the lessons you can learn from in order to get your love life back on track. We picked out three classic R&B songs for anyone struggling with the romance in their relationships. With these songs, you’ll either feel that spark again, or you’ll pick up the values from them to see if you can recapture the magic in your relationship.

Three Classic R&B Songs To Rekindle a Dying Romance in a Relationship

“Find a Way” by Dwele

For Dwele, he had to fight from underneath to get the love of his life back. He laments the youthful arrogance he had in his old relationship, not maintaining the spark like he was supposed to. But with age, he eventually learned, and he spends the bulk of “Find a Way” trying to prove the lessons and knowledge he acquired. Hopefully, you won’t have to reach a point of breaking up like Dwele in order to reach that point.

“I Want You” by Marvin Gaye

Yearning has never felt this steamy and irresistible. Marvin Gaye doesn’t even get particularly explicit on “I Want You”. Instead, it’s all suggestive; he just wants you to want him too. It could be purely romantic or just a sensual attraction. Either way, it stirs something primal in us, to be desired in such a strong way. So if you don’t feel any heat when getting down with your lover to this song, the romance might be fizzled out.

“Cater 2 U” by Destiny’s Child

What ever happened to wanting to give your partner the world? Why did we stop caring about making things easier for the person we love? Sure, life can be cruel and stressful, but it shouldn’t make us go insular either.

You probably don’t need to go full subservient to your partner as Destiny’s Child does on “Cater 2 U”. But it is worth trying to get a little more active and involved in your relationship to keep that romance alive. That way, it doesn’t feel like you’re not trying, and resentment starts to grow. Cater to the person you love every once in a while.

Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

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Slowly but surely, new generations are falling in love with Prince. Naturally, they’ve started with the greatest song of his, “Purple Rain”. Viral memes and edits see fans clip the stunning, heartbreaking bridge to really capture the peak emotional moments in life. It also certainly helped that Stranger Things gave it a significant boost to unsuspecting fans during its finale. Now, a new legion of Prince fans were born.

However, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of albums he released in his lifetime. It’s even wilder when you consider that Prince’s prime lasted for years. Where does one even start? Noisey has picked four songs from the Purple One for anyone who fell in love with “Purple Rain” and wants more.

But we’re not here to regurgitate easy singles fans could find and fall in love with. Instead, we want to branch out a little further to grab a full scope of his illustrious career.

Four Prince Songs to Play if You Absolutely Loved ‘Purple Rain’

“Somebody’s Somebody”

All Prince wanted to do was release music all the time. It’s why he frequently got into beef with his record label; they wanted to milk his music a little more, while he was already over it and onto the next idea. It’s why, the moment he had the opportunity, he released a staggering triple album with a runtime of over three hours. Mind you, he had already released an album and a soundtrack earlier that year in 1996.

While many artists would seemingly run out of great ideas, Prince still had some of his best work that year. Take “Somebody’s Somebody”, where loneliness eats away at him, and he sings like he’s bound to burst out of his skin if someone doesn’t hold him. “This big old world can be so empty, living in it all alone/I realize, in its best disguise, a pretty house don’t make a home,” he croons.

“17 Days”

Purple Rain as an album was as close to perfect as an album could truly get. It’s so good that even a record like “17 Days”, one of Prince’s best songs, could be left off the album as a B-side to “When Doves Cry“.

It’s one of his loneliest records, where every day feels like an eternity, and the other woman in his life has probably already moved on. When she doesn’t answer his calls, he laments that it’s probably because there’s another man taking his place. It’s this kind of loneliness that keyboardist Lisa Coleman of The Revolution said Prince felt quite frequently the more he became successful.

“He was like a deer in headlights, a very vulnerable person. Those big brown eyes would kill you. But he struggled with his success,” Coleman told The Guardian. “One of the reasons he stayed in Minnesota all his life is that it allowed him a little bit of freedom. It was hard after Purple Rain, because it was limos and planes and thousands of people, all the time. I think it was hard for him to decide when he could just be Prince, the guy, and when he had to become Prince the superstar. He gave himself so thoroughly to it.”

“Strollin'”

“Strollin'” is the kind of song you’d imagine in a montage for what a perfect date looks like. Rather than lean into the massive pomp and circumstances of his sexier songs, Prince plays the dynamic out like a schoolyard crush. He suggests they could take a beautiful daytime drive, rent roller skates, and eat ice cream while they gawk at dirty magazines. After all, there’s one life to live. Why not thrive in it with the person you love most?

“Somewhere Here On Earth”

It’s a shame that even some Prince fans tend to dismiss his work once he heads into the 2000s. Sure, culture had shifted significantly. Hip-hop’s dominance was fully underway, and his brand of maximalism took a slight back seat to the excess of the Bush administration. But he was still a master craftsman first and foremost.

Those skills are especially present on the tender ballad “Somewhere Here On Earth”, where Prince struggles with long distance, even in a time when that idea was easier than ever. “In this digital age, you could just page me/I know it’s the rage, but it just don’t engage me/Like the face-to-face,” he swoons.

Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns

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