Billboard’s Top 75 R&B Artists of All Time, Compiled by Gemini

Billboard’s Top 75 R&B Artists of All Time: Updated 2025

Rank Artist Decades Record Labels Greatest Hits
1 Stevie Wonder 1960s, 1970s, 1980s Tamla, Motown Superstition, Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours
2 Aretha Franklin 1960s, 1970s, 1980s Columbia, Atlantic, Arista Respect, (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
3 Michael Jackson 1970s, 1980s, 1990s Motown, Epic Billie Jean, Thriller, Beat It
4 Beyoncé 2000s, 2010s, 2020s Columbia, Parkwood Crazy in Love, Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)
5 Whitney Houston 1980s, 1990s Arista I Will Always Love You, Greatest Love of All
6 James Brown 1960s, 1970s King, Polydor I Got You (I Feel Good), Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag
7 Prince 1980s, 1990s Warner Bros., NPG Purple Rain, When Doves Cry, Kiss
8 Mariah Carey 1990s, 2000s Columbia, Island, Epic Vision of Love, Hero, All I Want for Christmas Is You
9 R. Kelly 1990s, 2000s Jive, RCA Ignition (Remix), I Believe I Can Fly
10 Marvin Gaye 1960s, 1970s, 1980s Tamla, Motown, Columbia What’s Going On, I Heard It Through the Grapevine
11 Ray Charles 1950s, 1960s Atlantic, ABC Georgia on My Mind, Hit the Road Jack
12 Usher 1990s, 2000s, 2010s LaFace, Arista, RCA Yeah!, Confessions Part II
13 Sam Cooke 1950s, 1960s Keen, RCA A Change Is Gonna Come, Wonderful World
14 Curtis Mayfield 1960s, 1970s Curtom, RSO Superfly, Move On Up
15 Isaac Hayes 1960s, 1970s Stax, Polydor Theme from Shaft, Walk on By
16 Mary J. Blige 1990s, 2000s, 2010s Uptown, MCA, Geffen Real Love, Family Affair
17 Janet Jackson 1980s, 1990s, 2000s A&M, Virgin, Island Rhythm Nation, Nasty, All for You
18 Al Green 1970s, 1980s Hi, A&M Let’s Stay Together, Love and Happiness
19 Smokey Robinson 1960s, 1970s, 1980s Tamla, Motown Tears of a Clown, Cruisin’
20 Otis Redding 1960s Volt, Stax (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay, Try a Little Tenderness
21 Donny Hathaway 1970s Atco, Atlantic This Christmas, Where Is the Love (with Roberta Flack)
22 Luther Vandross 1980s, 1990s, 2000s Epic, J Records Never Too Much, Dance with My Father
23 Teddy Pendergrass 1970s, 1980s Philadelphia Int. Love T.K.O., Turn Off The Lights
24 Bill Withers 1970s, 1980s Sussex, Columbia Lean on Me, Ain’t No Sunshine, Lovely Day
25 Patti LaBelle 1970s, 1980s, 1990s Philadelphia Int., MCA Lady Marmalade, On My Own
26 Chris Brown 2000s, 2010s, 2020s Jive, RCA With You, Run It!, Forever
27 Chaka Khan 1970s, 1980s, 1990s Warner Bros., Reprise I’m Every Woman, Ain’t Nobody
28 Erykah Badu 1990s, 2000s Kedar, Motown On & On, Tyrone
29 Diana Ross 1970s, 1980s Motown, RCA Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, I’m Coming Out
30 Gladys Knight 1960s, 1970s, 1980s Motown, Buddah, Columbia Midnight Train to Georgia, Neither One of Us
31 Anita Baker 1980s, 1990s Beverly Glen, Elektra Sweet Love, Caught Up in the Rapture
32 Lionel Richie 1980s, 1990s Motown, Island All Night Long (All Night), Hello
33 Alicia Keys 2000s, 2010s, 2020s J Records, RCA Fallin’, If I Ain’t Got You
34 Donna Summer 1970s, 1980s Casablanca, Geffen Hot Stuff, I Feel Love, Bad Girls
35 Babyface 1980s, 1990s, 2000s Solar, Epic Every Time I Close My Eyes, Whip Appeal
36 Toni Braxton 1990s, 2000s LaFace, Arista, Atlantic Un-Break My Heart, Breathe Again
37 Frank Ocean 2010s, 2020s Def Jam, Boys Don’t Cry Thinkin Bout You, Novacane
38 Maxwell 1990s, 2000s, 2010s Columbia Fortunate, Ascencion (Don’t Ever Wonder)
39 Roberta Flack 1970s, 1980s Atlantic Killing Me Softly with His Song, The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
40 Aaliyah 1990s, 2000s Blackground, Atlantic Are You That Somebody?, Try Again
41 Brandy 1990s, 2000s, 2010s Atlantic, Epic The Boy Is Mine, I Wanna Be Down
42 Barry White 1970s, 1980s 20th Century Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe, You’re the First, the Last, My Everything
43 Dionne Warwick 1960s, 1970s, 1980s Scepter, Arista That’s What Friends Are For, Walk On By
44 SZA 2010s, 2020s Top Dawg, RCA Kill Bill, The Weekend
45 D’Angelo 1990s, 2000s, 2010s EMI, Virgin, RCA Untitled (How Does It Feel), Brown Sugar
46 Rihanna 2000s, 2010s Def Jam, Roc Nation Umbrella, We Found Love
47 The Weeknd 2010s, 2020s XO, Republic Blinding Lights, The Hills, Save Your Tears
48 Lauryn Hill 1990s, 2000s Ruffhouse, Columbia Doo Wop (That Thing), Ex-Factor
49 Bobby Brown 1980s, 1990s MCA My Prerogative, Every Little Step
50 John Legend 2000s, 2010s, 2020s GOOD Music, Columbia All of Me, Ordinary People
51 Rick James 1970s, 1980s Gordy, Motown Super Freak, Give It to Me Baby
52 Stephanie Mills 1970s, 1980s Motown, 20th Century, MCA Never Knew Love Like This Before, Home
53 Jill Scott 2000s, 2010s Hidden Beach, Atlantic A Long Walk, Golden
54 Jazmine Sullivan 2000s, 2010s, 2020s J Records, RCA Bust Your Windows, Need U Bad
55 Natalie Cole 1970s, 1980s, 1990s Capitol, Elektra This Will Be (An Everlasting Love), Unforgettable
56 Joe 1990s, 2000s Jive I Wanna Know, All the Things (Your Man Won’t Do)
57 Tevin Campbell 1990s Qwest, Warner Bros. Can We Talk, I’m Ready
58 Peabo Bryson 1970s, 1980s, 1990s Capitol, Elektra Can You Stop the Rain, A Whole New World
59 Fantasia 2000s, 2010s J Records, RCA I Believe, When I See You
60 Ne-Yo 2000s, 2010s Def Jam, Motown So Sick, Miss Independent
61 Ashanti 2000s, 2010s Murder Inc., Def Jam Foolish, Happy
62 Anthony Hamilton 2000s, 2010s So So Def, Arista Charlene, Can’t Let Go
63 Musiq Soulchild 2000s, 2010s Def Soul, Atlantic Just Friends (Sunny), Love
64 Ledisi 2000s, 2010s Verve, BMG Alright, Goin’ Thru Changes
65 Teena Marie 1970s, 1980s Gordy, Epic Lovergirl, Square Biz
66 Keith Sweat 1980s, 1990s Vintertainment, Elektra Twisted, Nobody
67 Tank 2000s, 2010s Blackground, Atlantic Maybe I Deserve, When We
68 Phyllis Hyman 1970s, 1980s Buddah, Arista You Know How to Love Me, Living All Alone
69 Bobby Womack 1960s, 1970s, 1980s Minit, United Artists If You Think You’re Lonely Now, Across 110th Street
70 H.E.R. 2010s, 2020s RCA Slide, Best Part
71 Keyshia Cole 2000s, 2010s A&M, Geffen, Epic Love, Heaven Sent
72 Jackie Wilson 1950s, 1960s Brunswick Lonely Teardrops, (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher
73 Etta James 1950s, 1960s, 1970s Chess, Warner Bros. At Last, I’d Rather Go Blind
74 Summer Walker 2010s, 2020s LVRN, Interscope Girls Need Love, Playing Games
75 Ruth Brown 1950s, 1960s Atlantic Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean, Teardrops from My Eyes
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