100 Greatest Neo Soul Songs of All Time
84Introduction
Compiling the list of the 100 greatest neo soul songs of all time was much more difficult than I originally imagined. First, the issue of what is neo soul arises. I think neo soul is a sound, a mood if you will. I believe you don't have to be a neo soul artist to produce neo soul songs and you will find that evident in a couple of songs listed here.
For the purpose of this listing I have the neo soul era beginning with D'Angelo's Brown Sugar although there are 1 or 2 exceptions listed on my comprehensive list. You will find a couple of artists with more than one song listed, this is part youth of the genre and part quality of the artists. Lastly, each and every one of these songs I have listen to extensively, I would like feedback on any omissions.
Without further adieu...... "The 100 greatest neo soul songs of all time"
"Brown Sugar"
The List
- D'angelo - Brown Sugar
- Jill Scott - A Long Walk
- Erykah Badu - Otherside of the game
- Maxwell - Sumthin Sumthin
- Tony Toni Tone - Lay your head on my pillow
- Musiq - Mary Go Round
- D'Angelo - Untitled
- India Arie - Brown Skin
- Lauryn Hill - Nothing Even Matters
- Erykah Badu - On & On
- Bilal - Soul Sista
- Goapele - Closer
- Digable Planets - Rebirth of Slick
- Common - Come Close
- Anthony Hamilton - Where I'm From
Maxwell "Sumthin Sumthin" Live
16. Mos Def - Umi Says
17. Les Nubians - Makeda
18. John Legend- Ordinary People
19. Alicia Keys - Butterflies (Keys Remimx)
20. Angie Stone - Brotha
21. Dwele - Subject
22. Jill Scott - The Way
23. Mary J. Blige - My Life
24. Floetry - Say Yes
25. Me'shell Ndeg'ecello - Fool of Me
26. Maxwell - Fortunate
27. Bilal - Sometime
28. Raheem Devaughn - You
29. Anothony Hamilton - Charlene
30. Alicia Keys - You don't know my name
31. Dionne Farris - Hopeless
32. Musiq - Just Friends
33. Floetry - Lay Down
34. D'Angelo - Me and those dreamin eyez of mine
35. Kemistry - Love Calls
36. Amel Larrieux - Get Up
38. Robin Thicke - Lost Without You
39. Chrisette Michelle - Epiphany
40. The Roots - You got me
"Maxwell"
41. Lauryn Hill- Killin me Softly
42. Eric Benet' - Georgy Pordgy
43. Adriana Evans - Seeing is believing
44. Maxwell - Whenever, Whereever, Whatever "Live"
45. Andre 3000 - Prototype
46. Erykah Badu - Telephone
47. Blackstar - K.O.S. Determination
48. Glenn Lewis - Don't you forget it
49. Rahsaan Patterson - Where you are
50. Foreign Exchange - Sincere
51. Jill Scott - Whatever, Whatever
52. Vivan Green - Emotional Roller Coaster
53. Dwele - Find a way
54. Kindred the Family - Far Away
55. Rapheal Saadiq - Still Ray
56. Eric Roberson - Pretty Girl
57. D'Angelo - Jonz in my bonz
58. John Legend - Heaven Only Knows
60. Angie Stone - I wish I didn't miss you
61. Corinne Bailey Rae - Like a Star
62. Rapheal Saadiq - You should be here
63. Amy Winehouse - You sent me flying
64. Elisabeth Withers - Be with You
65. Heather Headley - He Is
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66. Chrisette Michelle - Your Joy
67. Raheem Devaughn - Woman
68. Adele - Hometown Glory
69. Blackstar - Thieves in the Night
70. Lesdisi - Alright
71. Vivian Green - What is Love
72. Gaelle - Fallin
73. Eric Roberson - I love you too much
74. Algebra - At this time
75. Goapele - Different
Adele "Hometown Glory"
76. Leela James - Music
77. Van Hunt - Seconds of Pleasure
78. Joss Stone - Spoiled
80. Gaelle - Fade Away
81. Jazzyfatnastees - Breakthrough
82. Lalah Hathaway - Let Go
83. Corinne Bailey Rae - Enchantment
84. Kemistry - I can't stop loving you
85. Soul Sista - Bilal
86. Julie Dexter - Venusian
87. Dwele - I'm Cheatin
88. Chico Debarge - Iggin Me
89. Lucy Pearl - I want to dance tonight
90. Lyfe- Never Never land
91. The Roots - Hypnotic
92. Allen Anothony - Alright
93. Dave Hollister - One woman man
94. Trina Broussard - Inside my love
95. The Refugee Camp - Sweetest Thing
96. Dwele - Vain
97. Van Hunt - Down here in hell
98. Donnie - If I were you
99. Jazzhole - Wintersky
100. Jaquar Wright Told Ya
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No Lady? I would put that over Brown sugar.
You didn't include "Tell Me" by Groove Theory. As well as Zhane, who practically ushered in the Neo Soul movement, with "Hey Mr. DJ"
I would call this a complete list because you accurately covered each area of the genre (or subgenre, as some like to cal it). There is NO WAY any one could every song. Lovin' it!!!!
Thanks.. I am true Neo Soul head so I take pride in that listing.
Great list, just a few mentions. 1#, Which I'm sure you're aware of, you listed "Soul Sista twice. And secondly no "Top Neo Soul List" is possible without "Ledisi".
Here are some possible considerations:
1: Ledisi "In the morning"
2: Jill Scott "All I"
3: Raheem Devaughn "Lay awhile"
4: Slum Village "Call me"
5: Foreign Exchange "Come around"
6: Busta Rhymes Ft. Mary J Blige, Jamie Foxx, John Legend, Common "Decisions"
7: Ronnie Burrage "Em Village"
8: Jazzy Jeff "For the love of da game"
9: Evidence Ft. Will.I. Am "For whom the bells toll"
10: Common Ft. Jill Scott "I am music"
11: Norman Connors "I am your melody"
12: J. Cole Ft. Lee Fields "Ladies"
13: The Foreign Exchange "Leave it all behind"
14: Raheem Devaughn Ft. Floetry "Marathon"
15: DJ Spinna "Melody"
16: Jazmine Sllivan Ft Floetry "Music"
17: Jazzy Jeff Ft. Raheem Devaughn "My people"
18: George Duke "No rhyme no reason"
19: Duo Live Ft. Al B. Sure & Fabolous "Princess"
20: B.O.B "Put me on"
21: Surface "Quiet Storm"
22: Me'shell NdegeOcello (love jones soundtrack) "Rush over"
23: Jill Scott "slowly surely"
24: Musiq "So beautiful"
25: Red Cafe Ft. Anita Baker "So easy"
26: Roy Ayers "Summer madness"
27: Slum Village "Tainted"
28: Jon B "They don't know"
29: Devin the Dude Ft. Andre 3000, Snoop Dogg "What a job"
30: Souls of Mischief "93' til infinity"
After careful review, I see you had indeed included "Ledisi's Alright"...My bad. When you get around to doing "Part #2", I think you should include "In the morning" by her".
loving da list
this is the bomb-diggity hahaha
A very ambitious list to take on. Well done. I like that you included neo soul-adjacent songs like "Umi Says."
Just wanted to say I host an internet radio that kicks all these jams on Sunday from 12-3pm. Join me and let me know what you think and what i may be missing.
www.cityshakes.com
Soul Full Sundays
12pm-3pm
W/DJ KJ
Awesm list,from every angle
great list, actually I thought loose ends was one of the first groups with this style of music.
Every 10 years u change the name of our music stop it we make music not titles ok stop it by some one that don't like it ok by shade W.
You gotta include Omar- There's nothing like this!!!!!!
Also the UK diva Martine Girault - revival.
Also pls check out Lemar - Lullaby. /Good job!!d-_-b
Wow - Superfantastic Great list guys - Calvin Richardson feat. Angie Stone - More than a woman :-)
But i cant complain on this 2 list (Top 100 and Possible 30 more). am smiling heh.
Wicked list mate, don't forget N'Dambi, I'm sure thats in your comfort zone too.
soul sista - bilal is on there twice. #85 and #11 Must have really live that song.
Very great list though
Good list overall. My biggest critique of this list is the Musiq Soulchild song you chose as #6. I think "Love" should be there. I liked "Mary Go Round," but it did not have the visibility or impact of "love" or even other songs he did like "just friends" "half crazy"...or even the rest of the songs on the list.
Digable Planets is hip-hop. Anthony Hamilton's song is called "Comin' From Where I'm From". "Where I'm From" is the Digable Planets again.
HOWEVER......
The single greatest Neo Soul song of all-time and you missed it? I'll give you a clue, it is widely regarded as the greatest SONG of the entire decade of the 2000s by multiple magazines.
CRAZY - GNARLS BARKLEY
How in the hell can you miss that??????
Cee Lo's new song F**k You is also amazing.
anybody have this list available to download as a torrent???
Lovin' the list! but im missing India Arie? she deserves a place on that list :)
Love from Neo Soul head "Denmark"
I second Ratana....india.arie surely does need a place on the list.
But fantastic list nonetheless.
Anyone heard Urban Mystic's newest song? In the Morning...it is amazing.
Wonderful list =) **Nneka - The Uncomfortable Truth
Cool list, but I think Me'shell N'Degeocello's Outside Your Door should be included. She may actually even be the first neo-soul artist...
Note - India Arie is on the list - it's #8, "Brown Skin". This is probably the most comprehensive list I have ever come across - well done.
I love this list I love Urban Mystic "In the Morning" & "Best Part Of The Day"
Missing
Alice Smith
Brand New Heavies
Davina So Good
VV Brown and others
I'M LOVING THE LIST
GOOD ARTIST BUT THE SONGS HERE ARE JUST YOUR TYPICAL RADIO PLAYED TRACKS ... RAPHEL SAADIQ SKYYY ?
Good list but Erykah badu should be #1 then Jill scott!!
Do you remember the song "Full of Smoke" by Christion?
too bad the 100 songs is'nt on a c.d. i would buy it quickly
Would you consider having:
Why do I feel so sad- Alicia Keys
If I 'aint got you- Alicia Keys
India.Arie - The Truth
Glenn Lewis - Storm
Dwele - Open Your Eyes
Slum Village - Count the Ways
Where is Eric Benet? And how on earth is Jill Scott second to Dangelo and what about Carl Thomas, Summer rain and Hey Now
Love neo soul 2 much!
google anomelodious or neo soul redux. playlists of neo soul, radio hits and otherwise.
for the neo soul lover in you
Miguel - Vixen
I will also be doing a personal favorites top 100 list of neo soul songs within the next few days. I encourage you to take a look and give a reply when possible
Add some NNeka and the list is perfect
love amel larrieux! Great list, didn't think of adele as neo soul, but I definitely love that girl!
Good list. I think it slights some older artists like Incognito and Loose Ends. Couple of MJ cuts like Butterflies and Can't Help It are possibles as well.
Great list! But as we all know we all differ somewhere abt some of the listings,Coz I was expecting to see Frank McComb - left alone, Hil st.Soul - Smile,Tweet - best freind.
Maxwell - This Womans Work? I really think it should be a part of the list. Wayyyy up there. Almost every neo soul fan has loved that song at some point...
I've come to love John Legend's 'I love you love' song. If 'a woman's work' by Maxwell was on the list I'd put it right next to it.
I'm exited about this compilation. Dangelo def deserves top spot. I would have included dangelo when we get by, maxwell bad habits and erykah next lifetime. But this is amazing
does anyone know the song where they sing a high pitch something something in hollywood
u should make a zip with all these songs... id download it for sure
nice list thou
thanks for ur iniciative
I gree with several comments made, that India Arie should be on this list as Video & Get It Together are 2 of the most uplifting neo's I have ever heard, and I think Envogue's- Give It Up Turn It Loose (Ghetto remix) should be there also, and I think J.Dilla's-Look of Love should be there also if there is a clean version, but all in all i agree with another author whom said this is probably the most comprehensive neo R&B list I have seen, so all in all, much respect, as I even found a few, where I knew the artists but didn't know the tracks featured, or I found other tracks, so I salute you, nice job. 1 love neubian brother. Peace.
I love your list. But, I am disappointed that very few, if any, people have actually taken the time to correct something.
This ''all time'' thing that is gripping our artistic society nowadays, is misleading. I think it would only be fair, if you could at least take note of the real roots of ''neo-soul''. That people like erykah badu, and maxwell, absolutely derived, then originalised their stuff from the likes of gil scott-heron and kate bush, should be something to take note of. If you listen to Kate Bush, you will get what maxwell has done, for instance. Erykah Badu's ''otherside of the game'' closely resembles Gil Scott-Heron's stuff done a few years before she did her 1997 album. In fact, Heron has a track called '' The otherside'' on his 1994 album.
I love Erykah and Maxwell(I have just about all their cd albums. And some of the other artistes listed as well), but I have realised where they got their ideas and sound from. And its uncannily similar. same thing for D'Angelo.
If you listen to Gil and other older artistes, you will realise that ''neo''-soul actually began ages ago. Neo-soul is just a marketing gimmick. and I was born in the 1970's, so the music of Gil and co. is not something I really grew up with. but, after you listen around, you will be able to link the dots a little.
I love your list, but please pay some respect to those pioneers who ACTUALLY started the stuff. all these guys didn't start anything. They just revived it.
Best of the 1990's+, yes. All time? No way.
Alicia keys, Mary j. Blige, Dave Holister, Andre 3000, Lyfe & Joss Stone are not Neo-soul Artists( true ones et that ). Let's not 4get the ones who started it: The king; Donny Hathaway, The queen; Minnie Rippleton, &, who helped alone the way; syreetha & Billy Preston. And in the 1980's; Lose Ends & there were others in the 80's who kept it going til the 90's came. So ppl, know ya history when it comes to neosoul & who started it or you'll lost in the movement.
Alicia keys, Mary j. Blige, Dave Holister, Andre 3000, Lyfe & Joss Stone are not Neo-soul Artists( true ones et that ). Let's not 4get the ones who started it: The king; Donny Hathaway, The queen; Minnie Rippleton, &, who helped alone the way; syreetha & Billy Preston. And in the 1980's; Loose Ends & there were others in the 80's who kept it going til the 90's came. So ppl, know ya history when it comes to neosoul & who started it or you'll lost in the movement.
I think the list is well done, and the topic is open to interpretation. He posted what his top 100 of all time were. We all have our own list, and inevitably it will vary from person to person. Mad respect on this list though. and, i do think some of you leaving comments may not truly know what neo-soul actually is...
Great list but you should include aretha franklin the queen of all this like you included goapele i love that artist
Overall good list with one exception:
Where isKindred: The Family Soul??
Neo-Soul is the order of the day.
ok ni love this website
You always have amazing lists. You either have people on the list that I love or people I have not heard of then look up and end up loving.
If I could give an award for great lists I would give you first place.
I'm impress!!!!
How about "Tell me" by Groove Theory?
there is no the late lynden david hall people,why?
Hollywood is by Bilal. Does Robin Thicke count as neo soul?
I'm an 80's baby where is Loose Ends? Also Mary J , Alicia Keys, Dave Hollister and others alike should not be on this list. But good initiative I haven't seen anyone else attempt it
This list is great but....... where's number 79?
You shouldve put Drama by Eykah Badu and every Erykah Badu song from Mama's Gun
zap mama bandy bandy
What about Take A Message by Remy Shand from 2001-02? I was shocked to find out that he was white. That song didn't really get airplay anywhere except for KJLH Los Angeles back in '02.
Im digin da list. I aint familiar wit most of the sngz bt im sure dey didnt make it onto the list by mistake. Big ups 2 floetry - say yes. Awsome sng
Rahsaan Patterson It's Alright Now
Raheem Devaugh Guess Who Loves You More
Love the list. The top four gave you instant credibility with me as those four artists would have topped my list, as well. I may have switched out the Maxwell song with something else but I concur with the other three songs. Especially "The Otherside of the Game", which to me epitomizes the Neosoul essence.
I juz love john legend.
Good List, no Omar??
Anthony Hamilton is definately the King!Dwele - Find a way,Jill scott, Angie Stone and all the rest who make us wonna listen to Neo Soul
N'Dambi - Eva's song/Daydreamer
Erykah Badu - Orange Moon
Davina - After the rain/Cryin' blues
Rachel Farrel - Do you remember
Dwele - I understand
N'Dambi - L.I.E
Me'shell Ndegeocello - Love you down
Omar feat. Erykah Badu - Be thankful
Georgia Anne Muldrow - Simple Advice
reggie watts- Movin on
I agree this must have been a hard list to compile but D'angelo's "Lady" should be on there and way up the list... Jill Scott's "gettin in the way" should be on that list and why is there no inclusion of British Nu Soul artists Omar & Lynden David Hall?
Just needs a little Peven Everett -Feeling Who You Are
How the hell is Adelle considered a soul singer!?
Fantastic list. Mine is damn near identical. Here's my two cents to add to the list...
1. "Ain't Leaving Without You" Jaheim
2. "Can't Hardly Wait" (explicit version) N'dambi
3. "Bad Habits" Maxwell
4. "So Beautiful" and "Yes" Musiq Soulchild (well really anything by him...lol)
5. Any song by Mint Condition
6. "Off My Mind" Zhane
7. "Full Of Smoke" Christion
8. "Baby Stop By" and "Spend The Night" Rahsaan Patterson
9. "Sometimes" and "Soul Sista" Bilal
10. "Smooth" D'Angelo (who am I kidding...all his stuff too)
11. All of Jill Scott (don't mess...)
12."Woman" Raheem Devaughn
13. "Body Rock" Dwele (this is my Jimmy Jam Jam!!!)
14. "Say Yes" Floetry
15. "Sensuality" and "Make a Baby" Vikter Duplaix
16. "Forever More" Anthony David & Algebra
Luvin' this...any1plz tellme THE BILAL N CHEROKEE trak they did 2gether sum yrs bak..VERY FONKY!!!
dont leave out: governor/andre 3000/goapele/india aire/and mos def
I don't see brabd new hervaes any song.
Wow! I really wanted to join "City Shakes"...but 'PayPal' got issues! I loved those artists names listed too! If you find a way for me to get around paypal,,holla @ me!
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4ever Mo 2 years ago
Great list,great job :-)Love most of the songs in here.
http://hubpages.com/hub/Art-like-that