The 20 best R&B groups of the '90s and 2000s

T-Box, Left Eye and Chilli, or TLC, is one of the best-selling girl groups in music history. Each member brought their unique style to the group, as evidenced by the title of their sophomore album CrazySexyCool. Unlike some of their ‘90s group peers, TLC had a lot more crossover appeal commercially. Some of their hit songs include “Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg,” “Waterfalls,” and “No Scrubs.” 

Boyz II Men started as a quartet with Nathan Morris, Shawn Stockman, Wanya Morris, and Michael McCary. In the late ‘80s, they caught their big break with a chance meeting with New Edition member Michael Bivins. The group sang a New Edition song for Bivins, and he was highly impressed, leading them to get a record deal. The group has always had a standout sound with their harmonies and astronomical level of singing a capella. To this day, Boyz II Men is still an in-demand trio with big hit singles, including “End of the Road” and “I’ll Make Love To You.” 

In 1998, Destiny’s Child released their breakout hit “No, No, No.” However, they hit their stride in 1999 when they released their sophomore album, The Writing’s on the Wall. While there was a shake-up among group members from a quartet to a trio, that didn’t stop any of the women from having further success, whether in the group or solo. Over the years, Destiny’s Child has gifted fans with plenty of anthems, including “Bills, Bills, Bills,” “Independent Women,” “Survivor,” and “Soldier.” Destiny's Child is one of those groups that fans would love to see reunite on a future tour. 

‘90s R&B groups were so prevalent at that time that it was important for groups to stand out. Jodeci brought a different aesthetic to what the typical male R&B groups looked like. While other groups had a clean-cut image, Jodeci brought more of a hip-hop edge to their style, everything from baggy leather pants to Timberland boots. In addition to their relatable fashion sense, they brought the vocals along with the look. Some of their hit songs include “Come and Talk to Me,” “Love U 4 Life,” and “Forever My Lady.” 

The members of En Vogue have always been known to be powerhouse vocalists. Any of the members can easily sing lead, but their voices are even more magical in unison. Their iconic melodies and harmonies were heard on ballads like “Don’t Let Go,” dance tracks like “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It),” and the rock-infused “Free Your Mind.” In addition to their astronomical voices, En Vogue would give fans subtle choreography with classic fashion looks. 

Dru Hill emerged in the mid-'90s with their self-titled debut album. To some fans, their music seemed to be inspired by bands that came before them, such as Jodeci and Boyz II Men. Dru Hill could easily give fans a hot track like “How Deep is Your Love" or a ballad like "These Are The Times."

Brownstone may have been only a trio, but the blending of their vocals always sounded like a full-on gospel choir. If a gospel choir that sang R&B were in the dictionary, a Brownstone picture would be next to it. They were the first group signed to Michael Jackson’s MJJ Music record label. Their powerhouse tones and smooth harmonies shine bright on tracks like “If You Love Me” and “Grapevyne.” 

There is no doubt that Teddy Riley has made his imprint in the R&B world. After his previous group Guy broke up, he decided to start another group in the ‘90s known as Blackstreet. They were known for ballads like “Before I Let You Go,” dance tracks like “No Diggity,” and soundtrack anthems like “Take Me There.” 

In 1992, SWV released their debut album, It’s About Time. One thing that always stood out about SWV, which stood for Sisters With Voices, was that they could always make an erotic song sound good, hence the songs like “Downtown” and “Rain.” Some of their biggest hits include “Weak” and “Right Here (Human Nature Mix)," just a few of the tracks that helped them become one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. 

In 1989, songwriting and production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis discovered Mint Condition, which eventually earned the group a record deal. Thanks to the unique tone of lead singer Stokley Williams, fans would be drawn into the group's love jams. Throughout their career, the group is recognized for hit songs like “Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes),” “U Send Me Swingin,’” and “What Kind of Man Would I Be.” 

In the ‘90s, Sean “Diddy" Combs was building up his Bad Boy label roster. He signed 112, and they soon dropped their self-titled debut album, which included hit songs like “Only You” and “Cupid.” Some of their other hits include “Anywhere,” “It’s Over Now,” and “Peaches and Cream.” 

Xscape was the first group signed to Jermaine Dupri’s So So Def record label. He often said his idea was to present them like the female version of Jodeci. Considering how Xscape dressed in the '90s, the inspiration was present. Each member of Xscape has a unique tone that is solid but even better when combined. Some of their biggest hits include “Who Can I Run To,” “Just Kickin’ It,” and “Understanding.” 

702 is named after the area code in Las Vegas, the hometown of the group members. Their artistry could easily grab listeners' attention, especially since some songs were more like anthems. Some of the best-known hit songs are “Steelo,” “All I Want,” and “Where My Girls At.” 

When Jermaine Dupri was building his So So Def label roster in the ‘90s, he already had a girl group under his belt. However, he also wanted a male group, and that's where Jagged Edge came in. Fans could always count on Jagged Edge to give them romantic ballads like “I Gotta Be” and “Let’s Get Married" or dance floor anthems like "Where The Party At."

Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe were originally three members of New Edition. When that group was on hiatus, they decided to form a trio known as Bell Biv DeVoe. Some of the group's biggest singles include “Do Me” and “Poison.”

In the ‘90s and 2000s, Diddy was always looking for new talent. He teamed up with MTV to launch the television series Making The Band, a competition show for aspiring singers to unite. Danity Kane was initially formed as a quintet on the TV show’s third iteration. While the group went through a few disbandments, that didn't stop fans from constantly rooting for them. Some of their biggest hit songs include “Showstopper” and “Ride For You.” 

The trio Next was discovered after Naughty by Nature's KayGee heard their demo tape. KayGee worked with the group on their first single, "Butta Love," a track that reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. Throughout their career, they've been known for tracks like "Wifey" and "Too Close." 

The duo of Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart became known as Floetry. They were always a different kind of group because they combined music with poetry. Ambrosius, the songstress, and Stewart, the "floacist" had a style that complemented each other perfectly. Some of Floetry's biggest hits include “Say Yes” and “Getting Late.” 

Day26 was an R&B group founded by Diddy on MTV’s Making the Band. It was always interesting seeing what challenges Diddy and his team would put the participants through, just to see how hungry they were for success, on top of the talent they brought. Some of Day26's biggest hits include “Got Me Going” and “Since You Been Gone.” 

B2K might have been a short-lived group, but the impact they had on their fans was undeniable. The sold-out shows and fan pandemonium was reminiscent of the fame that prior groups had as well. When B2K decided to reunite in 2019 for the Millennium Tour, tickets quickly sold out. Any millennials who were able to attend the show were in for a special treat when the group sang their hits like "Uh Huh" and "Why I Love You."