When it comes to making love songs, arguably no other genre has mastered that craft to the degree of R&B.
Its smooth melodic mix of jazz, blues and gospel rhythms, coupled with emotion-packing vocals, dates back to the ‘40s. Since then, the genre has undergone various iterations in its ongoing evolution — soul, funk, hip-hop, neo-soul, contemporary and alternative — while heavily influencing other genres along the way, such as rock n’ roll, country and pop.
Lyrical themes have run the gamut as well, from freedom, protest and pride to joy, pain and simply surviving. But when it comes to the subject of love in particular, R&B brims with colorful and insightful takes on every phase of that rollercoaster emotion: first encounter, between the sheets, courtship, break-up, make-up, marriage, divorce … then taking aim once again with the aid of Cupid’s arrow.
So in celebration of love and Valentine’s Day — and also in recognition of Black History Month — Billboard has compiled a chart-based tally of the Top 50 R&B Songs of All Time. Going back 60 years, the list encompasses the genre’s rich legacy of legendary solo singers and groups, as well as their contemporary counterparts delivering slow-burning ballads, bouncy bops and midtempo paeons to love. All of which are connected by one throughline: Love never goes out of style. And neither do these timeless gems.
Billboard’s Top 50 R&B Love Songs of All Time is based on weekly performance on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart from Jan. 30, 1965, (then the Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart) through Feb. 1, 2025. The tally is comprised of songs whose main theme revolves around romantic love versus love of self and others, heartbreak or strictly physical attraction. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at lower spots earning the least. Due to changes in chart methodology over the years, eras are weighted differently to account for chart turnover rates during various periods.
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Miguel, “Adorn”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (4 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: Sept. 22, 2012
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Jon B, “They Don’t Know”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 2
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: June 20, 1998
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Johnny Gill, “My, My, My”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (2 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: July 14, 1990
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Levert, “My Forever Love”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 2
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: December 19, 1987
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Mary J. Blige, “Real Love”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (2 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: October 17, 1992
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The Originals, “Baby, I’m For Real”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (5 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: November 8, 1969
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Barry White, “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (3 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: September 7, 1974
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Bettye Swann, “Make Me Yours”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (2 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: July 22, 1967
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Eric Benét & Tamia, “Spend My Life With You”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (2 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: September 18, 1999
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Surface, “You Are My Everything”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (2 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: November 4, 1989
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Luther Ingram, “(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don’t Want to Be Right”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (4 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: July 8, 1972
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Rihanna, “Diamonds”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (14 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: October 20, 2012
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Boyz II Men, “I’ll Make Love to You”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (9 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: August 20, 1994
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Aretha Franklin, “Something He Can Feel”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (4 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: June 26, 1976
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Ashford & Simpson, “Solid”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (3 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: December 1, 1984
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Jermaine Jackson, “Let’s Get Serious”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (6 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: May 17, 1980
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Emotions, “Best of My Love”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (4 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: June 25, 1977
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John Legend, “All of Me”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (3 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: May 17, 2014
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Gladys Knight & the Pips, “Midnight Train to Georgia”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (4 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: October 20, 1973
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Al B. Sure!, “Nite and Day”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (3 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: April 30, 1988
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Jodeci, “Forever My Lady”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (2 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: November 9, 1991
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Joe, “I Wanna Know”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 2
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: April 15, 2000
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Erykah Badu & Common, “Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (4 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: December 28, 2002
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Anita Baker, “Giving You the Best That I Got”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (2 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: November 12, 1988
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Sisqo, “Incomplete”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (5 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: August 5, 2000
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Luther Vandross, “Here and Now”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (2 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: December 2, 1989
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Patti LaBelle, “If Only You Knew”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (4 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: January 28, 1984
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Usher, “There Goes My Baby”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (4 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: August 14, 2010
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Silk Sonic, “Leave the Door Open”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (8 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: April 17, 2021
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Alicia Keys, “Un-Thinkable (I’m Ready)”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (12 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: May 22, 2010
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Stevie Wonder, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (6 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: August 1, 1970
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Four Tops, “I Can’t Help Myself”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (9 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: June 5, 1965
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Marvin Gaye, “Let’s Get It On”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (6 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: August 18, 1973
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Babyface, “Tender Lover”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (2 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: December 30, 1989
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Ginuwine, “Differences”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (4 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: October 6, 2001
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Fantasia, “When I See U”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (8 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: June 7, 2007
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Jagged Edge, “Let’s Get Married”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (3 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: July 15, 2000
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Alicia Keys, “If I Ain’t Got You”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (6 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: May 1, 2004
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Diana Ross & Lionel Richie, “Endless Love”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (7 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: August 22, 1981
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Ray Charles, “I Can’t Stop Loving You”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (10 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: May 26, 1962
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Keyshia Cole, “Heaven Sent”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (9 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: June 21, 2008
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Mario, “Let Me Love You”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (11 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: January 1, 2005
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Maxwell, “Fortunate”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (8 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: May 15, 1999
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Mariah Carey, “We Belong Together”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (14 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: June 4, 2005
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Al Green, “Let’s Stay Together”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (9 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: January 8, 1972
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Whitney Houston, “I Will Always Love You”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (11 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: December 5, 1992
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SZA, “Snooze”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 2
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: September 9, 2023
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Marvin Gaye, “Sexual Healing”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (10 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: November 6, 1982
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Miguel, “Sure Thing”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (1 week)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: May 28, 2011
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Mary J. Blige, “Be Without You”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Position: No. 1 (15 weeks)
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Peak Date: January 7, 2006
