Popular R&B: Western Music Artist Rankings [2026]

I’ll Take You ThereThe Staple Singers92rank/position

The Staple Singers – I’ll Take You There (Official Lyric Video)

This is a soul-stirring gem released in March 1972 by The Staple Singers, a gospel-soul group that epitomizes American music.

As a family band made up of a father and his children, their seamless harmonies and powerful groove captivate listeners and won’t let go.

Issued as a single from the album “Be Altitude: Respect Yourself,” the track was produced by Stax Records’ renowned Al Bell.

Recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama, it skillfully weaves elements of funk and gospel to convey a message yearning for a world free of racial discrimination.

It reached No.

1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and its breezy, body-swaying sound makes it a perfect recommendation for anyone who wishes for peace through music.

Baby LoveThe Supremes93rank/position

The Supremes – Baby Love

The Supremes, the biggest star group of Motown Records.

The lead vocalist is Diana Ross, who continued to churn out hits even after going solo.

With its catchy pop arrangement, this song was released in 1964 and became their third number-one hit on the U.S.

charts, a true classic.

How You Gonna Act Like ThatTyrese94rank/position

Tyrese – How You Gonna Act Like That (Official Video)

Tyrese is one of the singers who defined R&B in the 2000s.

Now known as Tyrese Gibson, he appears in well-known films such as the Fast & Furious series.

One of his signature songs is How You Gonna Act Like That.

Crafted with a classic melody that captures the 2000s vibe, the track features the sweet, sexy lyrics that are the essence of R&B.

Whether you read the lyrics or just listen to the melody, it’s a song that exudes sensuality.

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Good GoodUSHER, Summer Walker, 21 Savage95rank/position

USHER, Summer Walker, 21 Savage – Good Good (Official Music Video)

Usher, the R&B singer who was hugely active in the 2000s.

He’s an R&B singer with a large fanbase in Japan as well.

His collaboration with two artists who are currently thriving in the R&B scene—Summer Walker and 21 Savage—is the track “Good Good.” The track is notable for evoking late-2000s R&B, and while it features many contemporary sounds, it’s crafted with a tone that retains the remnants of the revival boom.

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I Will Always Love YouWhitney Houston96rank/position

Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You – Lyrics

When it comes to the pinnacle of R&B ballads that sing of eternal love, this song is indispensable.

Whitney Houston’s overwhelming vocal power and emotional expression can’t help but move every listener.

Captivating people around the world as the theme song for the 1992 film The Bodyguard, it held the number one spot on the Billboard chart for 14 consecutive weeks.

In 1994, it won two Grammy Awards, cementing its status as a truly historic masterpiece.

The lyrics, which portray profound love amid parting, will deeply resonate with anyone experiencing the joys and sorrows of romance.

Get Down TonightKC and The Sunshine Band97rank/position

KC & The Sunshine Band – Get Down Tonight (Live)

The moment that double-time guitar solo in the intro rings out, the floor heats up in an instant! This is an immortal dance classic by K.C.

and the Sunshine Band, the funk-disco group from Florida, USA.

Packed into this track is a straightforward, passionate invitation: “Let’s dance together tonight and make love.” Riding on funky brass and a buoyant beat, it casts a spell that lets anyone become the star.

Released in February 1975 as the lead single from the album ‘KC and the Sunshine Band,’ it became the band’s first No.

1 on the U.S.

Billboard Hot 100.

When it comes on at a party or event, won’t your body start moving before you even think about it?

Land of a Thousand DancesWilson Pickett98rank/position

Land of 1000 Dances

This is a gem of a dance number left by American soul legend Wilson Pickett.

With a voice that explodes with emotion and a dynamic sound, it vividly conjures the heat and excitement of a party crowd dancing themselves into a frenzy.

Featured on the album “The Exciting Wilson Pickett,” it became a major hit upon its 1966 release, topping the R&B chart and reaching No.

6 on the pop chart.

The heavy groove laid down by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and the Memphis Horns underpins Pickett’s powerful vocals.

Featured in the film “The Full Monty” and in Samsung Galaxy commercials, it remains a landmark of dance music beloved across generations.

It’s the perfect track for moments when you want to crank up the energy—at parties, on drives, and beyond.