Classic TV shows with hip-hop and R&B theme songs

One on One was a series that ran for five seasons starring Flex Alexander and Kyla Pratt. The show’s premise was based on a father taking a on new role as a sportscaster and raising his teenage daughter. Alexander’s wife Shanice teamed up with Tonex to sing the show’s theme song “Living One on One.” 

Living Single was a comedy TV sitcom that aired in the ‘90s, focusing on six friends navigating love, career, and life in New York. The show starred Queen Latifah, Kim Coles, Erica Alexander, Kim Fields, T.C. Carson, and John Henton. Since Latifah also started her career as a rapper before venturing into acting, it was only right that she created the show’s theme song. Fitting into the show's premise, Latifah uses the track to highlight that no matter what ups and downs life brings, she’ll always have her group of friends by her side. 

For viewers who didn’t know the premise of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, all they had to do was listen to the show’s theme song. Since Will Smith starred in The Fresh Prince, it was only right that he told part of his story in the song. Smith rapped on the song to depict how he uprooted his life from Philadelphia to move in with his wealthy family in Bel-Air. 

A Different World started as a spin-off of The Cosby Show and focused on young adults navigating college life at Hillman College, a fictional historical black college. Aretha Franklin brought her soulful and strong voice to sing the theme song. On the track, Franklin gives the perspective of parents sending their kids off to college, and reminding them that it will indeed be a different world than what they are used to. 

R&B legend Brandy starred as the lead in the TV sitcom Moesha, which was also the name of her character. Since Brandy started her career as a singer, it was only that she took the reigns to sing the theme song “Gotta Move.” Throughout the seasons, the beat would sometimes change in production arrangement, but the lyrics about Moesha’s life and family stayed the same. 

The Proud Family was a Disney Channel animated series that centered around a teenage girl navigating her life with school and family. The show’s creators called on Solange and Destiny’s Child to sing the theme song, which centers around family doing things that make other members hate them and love them, but at the end of the day, family is all one has. 

Keenan Ivory Wayans created the TV sketch comedy show In Living Color and it aired for five seasons. The show was a huge stepping stone for actors and comedians such as David Alan Grier, Tommy Davidson, Jamie Foxx, T’Keyah Crystal Smith, and Jim Carrey. The show’s most memorable theme song was performed by DJ Eddie F, and Heavy D & The Boyz, which gave the song more of a hip-hop sound popular in the ‘90s. 

In 1994, Nickelodeon launched their children’s sketch comedy show All That. It was a launching pad for young actors to start their careers for creatives like Kel Mitchel, Kenan Thompson, and Nick Cannon. The show’s theme song was performed by girl group TLC, which consisted mostly of a verse from rapper Left-Eye. Since each episode always ended with a set from a musical guest, TLC took the stage during season one. 

Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper had a few theme songs, but the most memorable song came in season one. The show starred Mark Curry, who was a native of Oakland, Calif., and it made sense that the initial theme song was performed by Bay Area girl group En Vogue, alongside his show co-stars Holly Robinson Peete and Dawnn Lewis. 

In The House ran for five seasons and starred LL Cool J, Maia Campbell, Debbie Allen, Kim Wayans, and Alphonso Ribeiro. While the theme song from the first two seasons was more of an instrumental with subtle adlibs, the song changed in season three in which LL could be heard rapping over the track. 

Kenan & Kel was a Nickelodeon sitcom show, which was a spinoff of All That. The show starred Kenan Thomas and Kel Mitchell, and the premise was based on two best friends who always conducted some type of scheme or plan. The show’s theme song was a verse from rapper Coolio, and he uses the track to describe how viewers are about to witness one of the best duos known to mankind. 

Eve  was a TV sitcom centered around two friend groups trying to navigate relationships and careers. The show starred rapper Eve alongside Jason George, Ali Landry, Natalie Desselle-Reid, Brian Hooks, and Sean Maguire. The theme song “E-V-E” was performed by fellow rapper Missy Elliott, who uses the song to describe how the main character loves to look fly and pick any guy that she wants. 

Cousin Skeeter is a TV sitcom that aired on Nickelodeon for three seasons. The show starred Robert Ri’chard, Rondell Sheridan, Meagan Good, Angela Means, and Bill Bellamy. The show’s theme song was performed by girl group 702, and it was a reimagined version of their song “Steelo,” but this time the lyrics focused on Skeeter’s character. 

In The Parkers, Countess Vaughn played the character of Kim Parker alongside Mo’Nique who played her mother Nikki Parker. In addition to the show’s premise focusing on a mother and daughter navigating college life together, Vaughn’s character was also a singer in a group, so it was only right that she performed the theme song “We’re The Parkers.” 

Tia and Tamera Mowry launched their careers by starring in the family sitcom Sister, Sister. During the first few seasons, the theme song was centered around the premise of two sisters finding each other later in life and moving their families together. During the last two seasons, Tia and Tamera performed the song which detailed just how much twins might look alike, but they are clearly different people. 

The Jamie Foxx Show was centered around a musician who comes to Los Angeles to make his dream come true, but also makes ends meet by working at a hotel owned by his aunt and uncle. With Jamie Foxx being a singer and playing an aspiring artist on the show, it was only right for him to perform the theme song. The first few seasons had the “Here Comes Jamie Foxx” theme song which featured more of a hip-hop and R&B feel, while the last theme song “The Simple Things Are All I Need” featured more of a midtempo R&B groove.

John Amos and Esther Rolle starred in the sitcom Good Times which focused on a family doing the best they can in their daily lives while living in project housing. The show’s theme song was performed by Jim Gilstrap and Blinky Williams, and it had more of a gospel vibe as the track highlighted the show’s premise of trying to make the best out of situations. 

Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, Persia White, and Jill Marie Jones starred in the sitcom Girlfriends, which was centered around a group of friends trying to navigate life and love. Neo-soul singer Angie Stone performed the show's theme song, which highlighted how a group of friends will be there for each other through thick and thin. 

Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans starred alongside John Witherspoon and Anna Maria Horsford in the comedy sitcom The Wayans Bros. The show had a couple of theme songs but the most memorable came in its early seasons which featured A Tribe Called Quest’s “Electric Relaxation.” 

Sherman Hemsley and Isabel Sanford starred in the sitcom The Jeffersons, which focused on a couple moving to a more affluent neighborhood thanks to the success of the business they own. Actress Janet DuBois co-wrote and sang the show’s theme song “Movin’ On Up,” to highlight how the couple upgraded their life. As she sings on the track, “Well we're movin' on up, to the east side / To a deluxe apartment in the sky / Movin on up / To the east side / We finally got a piece of the pie.”