@Patty Bedtka

The ’90s was a revolutionary time in R&B: Not only had the mature, quiet-storm-oriented sound evolved to its most sophisticated state, you started to really hear the influence of hip-hop—a shift that changed not only R&B, but the sound of modern pop in general. From neo-soul to new jack swing, the classic-sounding to the more cutting-edge, these are the tracks that shaped R&B in the ’90s and early 2000s. Our editors update picks regularly, so if you hear something you like, take a minute and add it to your library.

Picking up where disco left off, the ‘80s were a time of unprecedented experimentation, with singers and producers weaving strands of funk, soul, and pop into bold new patterns while also incorporating futuristic electronic elements. Changing the very idea of rhythm ‘n' blues, albums like Janet Jackson's <I>Control</I> in 1986 utilized synthesizers and drum machines for a sound that was smooth yet aggressive, just like the lyrics themselves. But there was still a core of impeccable pop songwriting, with artists like Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston perfecting the form and giving it staying power for decades to come.

Good R&B can be balm for the soul. Here's a playlist of new and contemporary stuff highlighting the mellower, more acoustic side of the sound: some retro, some progressive, some ballads, some with just a slight bump in the beat. Tracks here change regularly, so if you hear something you like, add it to your library.

Feelings of sincerity, tenderness, and sensuality are what listeners seek from great slow jams—and that's exactly what they get from the leaders of the form. While the term itself is elastic enough to include R&B ballads of many eras, the slow jam is epitomized by a more contemporary variety of love song whose rich, deep texture bears a hip-hop influence yet still boasts the sultry feel and slower tempo that allows for a full expression of emotion. For divas like Mariah Carey and Beyoncé, the key to making slow jams that connect is about balancing subtle inflections with more impassioned moments. Smooth crooners such as Marvin Gaye and Maxwell know what a falsetto can do to turn listeners into objects of desire. No matter what means these singers use, their straightforwardness and use of buttery grooves make for slow jams that go straight to the heart of the matter.

The multi-talented man known as Mike City started out producing, composing, and playing on records in the mid ‘90s, but it was in the early 2000s that his production career really started picking up speed with R&B hits by Carl Thomas, Brandy, and Sunshine Anderson. Over the years his colossal client list has included everyone from Usher to Rihanna.

If you’re after just the hits, this is where you’ll find them: a handpicked selection of R&B's biggest songs of the past few years. Our editors update this playlist regularly, so if you hear something you like, add it to your library.

You all know Missy's high-octane hip-hop club anthems, but beyond her solo outings she's amassed a serious body of production work. Her vision was behind 702's sassy '90s R&B jams, while soul stars like Mary J. Blige and Beyoncé have both called on her beatmaking services. Don't sleep on Miss E's musical vision.

Rod Temperton's best-loved songs—such as the dance-floor standard “Boogie Nights”—added bright, ecstatic choruses and breezy sophistication to the heartbeat of disco. He was Quincy Jones' go-to song doctor, writing effervescent hits like George Benson's “Give Me the Night”. And with “Thriller”, he gave Michael Jackson a crucial boost from his Jackson 5 past to his King of Pop future.

Tim & Bob might not crave the spotlight, but they've established themselves as certified R&B production royalty. From their start under the watch of Dallas Austin, they broke out with a hit for Jon B. Since then they've built up a soulful production roster that takes in Case, TLC, Dave Hollister, Jennifer Lopez, and even legends like The Isley Brothers.