Location Lyrics by Khalid

Location is the 8th track on my playlist, The Best R&B Ever. Khalid’s voice has a unique baritenor timbre. I love the way his vocals blend with the band sound and the subtle call and response, background vocals. I included this song on the playlist because the arrangement has a good vibe with a good degree of musical complexity.

Meet the Artist
Khalid

Buy the Album
American Teen

Composer(s)
Khalid Robinson
Joshua Scruggs
Samuel David Jiminez
Taz Taylor
Olatunji Ige
Alfredo González

Send me your location, let’s
Focus on communicating, ’cause
I just need the time and place to come through
(A chance to come through)
Send me your location, let’s
Ride the vibrations
I don’t need nothing else but you

At times I wonder why I fool with you
But this is new to me, this is new to you
Initially, I didn’t wanna fall for you
Gather my attention it was all for you, so don’t
Take advantage, don’t leave my heart damaged
To understand that things go a little bit better when you plan it

Oh, so won’t you send me your location, let’s
Focus on communicating, ’cause
I just need the time and place to come through
Send me your location, let’s
Ride the vibrations
I don’t need nothing else but you

I don’t wanna fall in love off of subtweets so
Let’s get personal
I got a lot of cool spots that we can go
Tell me what’s the move and I got you
I’m only acting like this ’cause I like you
Just give me the vibe to slide then, oh
I might make you mine by the night, then

Send me your location, let’s
Focus on communicating, ’cause
I just need the time and place to come through
(A chance to come through)
Send me your location, let’s
Ride the vibrations
I don’t need nothing else but you (I don’t need nothing else but you)

Ride, ride, ride, come and vibe with me tonight
I don’t need nothing else but you
(I don’t need nothing else but you)

Ride, ride, ride, come and vibe with me tonight
I don’t need nothing else but you
Nothing else but you

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Before I Let Go Lyrics by Frankie Beverly & Maze

Before I Let Go is the 7th track on my playlist, The Best R&B Ever. I included this song on the playlist because it makes me think about summertime, family, and fun. It’s upbeat R&B that makes you want to dance. Ironically, this is a breakup song. Nevertheless, it makes you feel good. I guess Frankie Beverly came to the conclusion that he was doing the right thing in letting her go, because he had fun with this track from start to finish.

Meet the Artist
Frankie Beverly & Maze

Buy the Album
Anthology

Maze - Anthology Album

Composer(s)
Etta Maples
Frankie Beverly Martha Johns

Whoa, whoa

You made me happy this you can bet
You stood right beside me, yeah, and I won’t forget
And I really love you, you should know
I wanna make sure I’m right, girl
Before I let go

We’ve had our good times that’s not the same, no
We’re hurting each other, girl, it’s a shame
I won’t be foolish, no, I wanna know
I wanna make sure I’m right, girl, oh
Before I let go, yeah

You know I think the sun rises and shines on you
You know there’s nothing, nothing
Nothing that I would not do, oh, no
Before I let you go

I would never, never, never, never
Never, never, never, never let you go
Before I know

We were so close, our love was strong
I can’t understand it, no
Where did we go wrong?
I won’t be hasty, girl, I’ve got to know
I gotta make sure I’m right
Before I let go

I wanna know
I can’t, I can’t let you go
I can’t let you go
Before I know
Come on, ya’ll
Come on, ya’ll

I wanna know, I wanna know, I wanna know
Before I let you go
I’ve gotta know
Come on ya’ll
Come on
I can’t let you go
Go, go, go, go, girl
Come on, ya’ll

Move on in real close so we can celebrate
The way we feel about each other’s loving
(Wanna tell you words, words of love)
(Words that make you wanna)
So come closer, love

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Come and See Me & Location Mashup by Kiana Ledé (feat. Maurice Moore)

The Come and See Me & Location Mashup is the 6th track on my playlist, The Best R&B Ever. Like the 5th track, it features two powerful and rich R&B voices that blend together really well. However, unlike the effortless blending of legendary voices in the 5th track, this creative mashup features a high level of individual talent, with two young artists sharing the spotlight together.

I included this song on the playlist because the mashup of Khalid’s Location and Come and See Me by PARTYNEXTDOOR 3 featuring Drake is super duper creative. The seamless transition between the two tracks actually sounds like one song.

Artist
Kiana Ledé
Maurice Moore

Album
Come and See Me & Location Mashup (feat. Maurice Moore)

Composer(s)
Location
Khalid Robinson
Joshua Scruggs
Samuel David Jiminez
Taz Taylor
Olatunji Ige
Alfredo González

Come and See Me
Aubrey Graham
Jahron Brathwaite
Noah Shebib

It doesn’t make sense now
Shit just got real, things are gettin’ intense now, yeah
I hear you talkin’ ’bout we a lot, oh, you speak French now?
You’re givin’ me the signs and I gotta take a hint right now, ooh

I hit you up, like do you wanna hang right now, baby?
On the East side and you know I’m with the gang right now
You say, do I own a watch? Do I know what time it is right now?
It’s after 2 a.m. and that’s asking a lot of you right now, yeah, yeah

All you ever say is come and see me for once
Come and see me for once
You’ll never come to me, naw
You will never come to me
All she ever say is come and see me for once
Come and she me for once
You don’t ever come to me
You’ll never come to me, yeah

So baby, just send me your location, let’s
Focus on communicating
‘Cause I just need a time and place to come through
Place to come through
Send me your location, let’s
Ride the vibrations
‘Cause I don’t need nothing else but you

I don’t wanna fall in love off of subtweets, oh
Let’s get personal
I got a lot of cool spots that we can go
Tell me what’s the move and I got you, girl

Come and see me for once
Come and see me for once
You don’t come to me
You ain’t never come to me

No, girl, just send me your location, let’s
Ride the vibrations
‘Cause I don’t need no one else but you

Ooh, yeah
Come and see me for once

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The Closer I Get to You Lyrics by Luther Vandross

The Closer I Get to You is the 5th track on my playlist, The Best R&B Ever. It features two of the most powerful and rich voices in the history of R&B. I can see this beautiful song being the featured track on a wedding playlist. The lyrics are perfect for a marriage ceremony or the main dance during the reception. The harmony of this duet symbolize the coming together of two people and the effortless blending of their lives. The vocals of this track are as smooth as silk. It’s the perfect example between people that can sing versus people that can sang. I included this song on the playlist because the harmony between Luther Vandross and Beyoncé is perfect, especially around the 4:00 minute mark.

Meet the Artist
Luther Vandross
Beyoncé

Buy the Album
Dance with My Father
Dangerously in Love

Composer(s)
Reggie Lucas
James Mtume

The closer I get to you
The more you make me see
By giving me all you’ve got (Tell me more)
Ooh, yeah, your love has captured me, yeah

Over and over again
I tried to tell myself that we
Could never be more than friends
But all the while inside, I knew it was real
The way you make me feel

Lying here next to you, oh honey
Time just seems to fly, yeah
Needing you more and more (More and more)
Let’s give love a try (Let’s give love a try)
I wanna try, love

Sweeter and sweeter love grows
And heaven’s there for those
Who fool the tricks of time
With hearts of love we’ll find
True love in a special way, way

The closer I get
The closer I get to you, baby
The more you make me see
(The more you make me see)
By giving me what you’ve got
Your love captured me

Ooh, over and over again
I try to tell myself that we
Could never be more than friends
And all the while inside I knew this was real
Got to be, got to be real
The way you make me feel
(You know, you know, you know)
My baby, my baby, my baby
My love (My love, my love, my love)
Ooh

(Come closer, love)
Come a little closer so that
We can see into the eyes of love
I wanna see into those eyes of love

(Come closer, love)
Just a little closer let me speak to you
I wanna softly tell you something
Here I am and here’s my love
I just want you too

(Come closer, love)
Come a little closet let me whisper in your ear
‘Cause I wanna tell you something
I wanna whisper in your ear so soft
So come closer, love

Move on in real close so we can celebrate
The way we feel about each other’s loving
(Wanna tell you words, words of love)
(Words that make you wanna)
So come closer, love

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Heaven And Earth Lyrics by Kenny Lattimore

Heaven And Earth is the 4th track on my playlist, The Best R&B Ever. This is a beautiful song that I can see on a wedding playlist, but its lyrics have purpose and meaning through all phases of the marriage. I included this song on the playlist because, underneath my calloused exterior, I am a sentimental, romantic at heart.

Meet the Artist
Kenny Lattimore

Buy the Album
From The Soul Of Man

Composer(s)
Herb Middleton
Kenny Lerum

Some say love’s complicated
Some say love wants too much
But when you find that someone
Too much is never enough
How much it means to me

Cause every joy my heart has ever dreamed of
Has come from loving you
And nothing that’s asked of me is too hard or too tough
No fire I wouldn’t run through for you

I’ll move heaven and earth
The moon in the sky
Cross mountains and rivers to be with you
Risk everything I possess for your happiness
The only thing that comes first
On heaven and earth

Some say I’m sentimental
That true love’s only a myth
But I, I say love is special
Cause I’m blessed to have you to share it with
And every day there’s no greater purpose
Than keeping you satisfied
And nothing you ask of me is too hard or too tough
No battle I would not fight
I’d give up my life

I’ll move heaven and earth
The moon in the sky
Cross mountains and rivers to be with you
Risk everything I possess for your happiness
The only thing that comes first
On heaven and earth

I’ll move heaven and earth
The moon in the sky
Cross mountains and rivers to be with you
Risk everything I possess for your happiness
The only thing that comes first
On heaven and earth

And how I feel is not temporary
It’ll last until the day that I die
A love this good is not ordinary
It comes only once in your life

I’ll move heaven and earth
The moon in the sky
Cross mountains and rivers to be with you
Risk everything I possess for your happiness
The only thing that comes first
On heaven and earth (x4)

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Special Lyrics by Avant

Special is the 3rd track on my The Best R&B Ever playlist. I included this song because of the melody. And for some reason, it reminds me of the years that I spent on active duty.

Meet the Artist
Avant

Buy the Album
The VIII

Composer(s)
Avant
Travis Sayles

If I could take away all the pain you ever been through
I’m hoping that I would be the one you would wanna run to
Cause there is no doubt in my mind that you’re the one for me
Now I got to get the whole world to see
How much it means to me

We didn’t get married (But it feels so special, Yes it feels so special)
This ain’t a baby (But it feels so special, Yes it feels so special)
Didn’t hit the lottery (But it feels so special, Yes it feels so special)
That’s what you mean to me (Cause you are so special, Yes you are so special)

You’re like a diamond in a cave that’s never been seen
And you’re the most beautiful place I go to when I dream (When I dream)
And if the world turned on you I would be there to pull you through
Cause can’t nobody ever take your place (Yeaaah)

We didn’t get married (But it feels so special, Yes it feels so special)
This ain’t a baby (But it feels so special, Yes it feels so special)
Didn’t hit the lottery (But it feels so special, Yes it feels so special)
That’s what you mean to me (Cause you are so special, Yes you are so special)

You’re all to me, the perfect sea and I can’t be without your love
Girl you take me there now I can reach the stars
There’s no doubt about it you got my heart now and I’m all yours
And I’m ready to be all that you asked for

We didn’t get married (But it feels so special, Yes it feels so special)
This ain’t a baby (But it feels so special, Yes it feels so special)
Didn’t hit the lottery (But it feels so special, Yes it feels so special)
That’s what you mean to me (Cause you are so special, Yes you are so special)

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Playlist: The Best R&B Ever

Vote for your favorites. Or add your favorite, if you don’t see it here.

The Best R&B Ever is a list of R&B songs that I consider to be the greatest of all time. The list is not in any specific order. However, my goal is to collaboratively create a playlist of R&B tracks that provide hours of listing pleasure. R&B is a genre of music that is being forgotten. It is being lumped together with Hip-hop, but R&B is the origin of many genres of music. With that being said, I believe we need to preserve the genre. We do that by paying respects to the many artists and composers that have given us this amazing music. So, make sure you like, comment, and share. I will rank the playlist in fan favorite order, according to the number of total votes, once we get to 100 songs.

There are two lists below. The first one is my list of 100. I have already published a few, but more are coming soon. My goal is to post at least one song every couple of days. Please, take some time to review the list. Visit the individual post of each song. And make sure to like the post, if you want to vote for that song. Also, feel free to share the songs that you love to your social media. Ask your friends and family to vote.

The second list is a fan list. I would love to get another 100 suggestions from you. The voting will be the same. Visit the individual post of each song. And make sure to like the post, if you want to vote for that song. Also, feel free to share the songs that you love to your social media. Ask your friends and family to vote.

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My Top 100 (Vote for Your Favorites)

*To Vote: Click on Song Title and “Like” the blog post. Voting also takes place on my social media accounts.

#Song Title AlbumArtist/GroupVotesTotal Votes
1
2AlwaysAlwaysPebbles1
3SpecialThe VIIAvant0
4Heaven And EarthFrom the Soul of ManKenny Lattimore0
5The Closer I Get to YouDance With My FatherLuther Vandross0
6Come and See Me & Location MashupCome and See Me & Location – SingleKiana Ledé1
7Before I Let GoAnthologyFrankie Beverly & Maze0
8LocationAmerican TeenKhalid1
9Love You GentlyHere I StandUsher0
10Love In This Club, Part IIHere I StandUsher1
11BeyondGood ThingLeon Bridges
12My Heart Belongs to UDiary of a Mad BandJodeci1
13
14
15

Fan Picks ( for Your Favorites)

*To Vote: Click on Song Title and “Like” the blog post. Voting also takes place on my social media accounts.

#Song Title AlbumArtist/GroupVotesTotal Votes
1We’re waiting to hear from you!Who do you think?
2We’re waiting to hear from you!Who do you think?
3We’re waiting to hear from you!Who do you think?
4We’re waiting to hear from you!Who do you think?
5We’re waiting to hear from you!Who do you think?
6We’re waiting to hear from you!Who do you think?
7We’re waiting to hear from you!Who do you think?
8We’re waiting to hear from you!Who do you think?
9We’re waiting to hear from you!Who do you think?
10We’re waiting to hear from you!Who do you think?
11We’re waiting to hear from you!Who do you think?
12We’re waiting to hear from you!Who do you think?
13We’re waiting to hear from you!Who do you think?
14We’re waiting to hear from you!Who do you think?
15We’re waiting to hear from you!Who do you think?
Who do you think?

Comment

Who are we missing?

R&B has had many, many talented artists, and we don’t want to leave anyone out. Who do you think should be included on this list?

  • From the 1950s
  • From the 1960s
  • From the 1970s
  • From the 1980s
  • From the 1990s
  • From the 2000s
  • From the 2010s
  • And the 2020s

Use the hashtag #thebestRnBever on Twitter or send a message from the contact form.

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Stroke of Genius

Stroke of Genius was originally released on October 26, 2003. Awesome and (They Long to Be) Close to You featuring Tamia are among my top picks from this album.

Meet the Artist
Gerald Levert

Buy the Album
Stroke of Genius

Release Date
October 26, 2003

TracksPlaylists
11st Stroke
2Knock Knock Knock
3Long Hot Summer
4Awesome
5Stroke of Genius
6(They Long to Be) Close to You (feat. Tamia)
7I Got a Girl
8U Got That Love (Call It a Night)
9Wear It Out
10Good Morning
11Keep It Warm
12Didn’t We
13To My Grave
14Let It Be
15The Visit (Interlude)
16Eyes and Ears
17Rest of My Life
18You Got That Love Again
19Won’t Get Up
20Last Stroke
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Bahja Rodriguez

Solo, Female Vocalist

ABOUT

Active: 2009 to Present
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Genre: R&B/Soul

Bahja (pronounced Bae-juh) Rodriguez got her start with the group OMG Girlz in 2009. She was just 12 years old. The group toured and released several singles, but separated in 2015. Bae launched her solo career soon after, with the release of the singles Jealous Type, Lipstick, and Next One.

Email her management team at management@bahjarodriguez.co & follow her on:

Albums
Is This Love?
Take 3
It Gets Better

Top Singles
Necessary

Jealous Type

My Life

Know Better

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Albums

2019
2018
2015

Always Lyrics by Pebbles

Always was Pebbles’s sophomore album, which peaked at #12 on Billboard’s Hot R&B Albums list. It stayed on the charts for 52 weeks. Its album titled track, “Always” was on the charts for 16 weeks and peaked at #13.

Pebbles - Always

Meet the Artist
Pebbles

Buy the Album
Always

Composer(s)
Pebbles
Danny Sembello

Cherrelle?

Yes, Pebbs?

Have you ever loved someone so much
That you could feel it deep down in your soul?

Girls, I truly have

Well, this is how I feel about the one I love
Let’s sing it together
Always

Boy
I never knew a love like you before
You came into my life and gave me more
You are my friend
Also, my man
And I’ll love you always

You
You just don’t know
What you’ve done for me
You gave me love and now I’m complete

You are the sun (You are the sun)
The only one (The only one)
And I’ll love you always

Baby, don’t leave me
Don’t ever desert me
I’ll promise my life to you
And I’ll love you always (Love you always)

Baby, don’t leave me
Don’t ever desert me (Always)
I’ll promise my life to you
And I’ll love you always (I love you always)

I
Wish I had known that you’d come for me
I was a soul that was lost and incomplete
You are my friend (You are my friend)
And now you’re my man (My man)
And I want you always

I
I just don’t know what came over me (Over me, boy)
You touched my soul and let me feel free

Always be there
And baby, don’t be scared
Cause I’ll love ya always
Baby, always

Baby, don’t leave me
Don’t ever desert me
I promise my life to you
And I love you always (Love you always)

Baby, don’t leave me
Don’t ever desert me
I promise my life to you
And I love you always

My friend
You’re my man
I do, I do, I do
I do love you

You, you should know now that I’d never leave you
When I’ve searched the land and now I’ve found you

(You are my girl) You are my man
(I am you man) My only man
And I’ll love you always
Always

Baby, don’t leave me
Don’t ever desert me
I promise my love to you
And I love you always (Love you always)

Baby, don’t leave me
Don’t ever desert me
I promise my love to you
And I love you always

Baby, don’t leave me
Don’t ever desert me
I promise my love to you
And I love you always (Love you always)

Baby, don’t leave me
Don’t ever desert me
I promise my love to you
And I love you always

Baby, don’t ever leave
Don’t ever leave me, please
I promise unselfishly
To love you always

Baby, don’t ever go
Don’t ever leave me, no
All the things that we’ve been through
Still love you

Baby, don’t you ever go
Don’t you ever go
Never leave you, no

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