Ready to revisit the year that brought us iconic jams like “California Love” and “Un-Break My Heart”? This post dives into the 90 essential hip-hop and R&B tracks that defined 1996. Get ready for serious nostalgia with the 90 best hip-hop and R&B tracks of 1996!
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90 Best Hip-Hop and R&B Songs 1996
| # | Song - Artist |
|---|---|
| 1 | Always Be My Baby - Mariah Carey |
| 2 | Twisted - Keith Sweat |
| 3 | Killing Me Softly - Fugees |
| 4 | Sittin' Up In My Room - Brandy |
| 5 | You're Makin' Me High - Toni Braxton |
| 6 | Tha Crossroads - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony |
| 7 | My Boo - Ghost Town DJ's |
| 8 | Nobody Knows - Tony Rich Project |
| 9 | C'mon 'N Ride It (The Train) - Quad City DJ's |
| 10 | I Can't Sleep Baby (If I) - R. Kelly |
| 11 | Not Gon' Cry - Mary J. Blige |
| 12 | Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion |
| 13 | You're The One - SWV |
| 14 | I Love You Always Forever - Donna Lewis |
| 15 | One Sweet Day - Mariah Carey |
| 16 | Loungin - L.L. Cool J |
| 17 | California Love - 2Pac ft. Dr. Dre |
| 18 | Down Low (Nobody Has To Know) - R. Kelly |
| 19 | Hey Lover - L.L. Cool J |
| 20 | Tell Me - Groove Theory |
| 21 | Missing - Everything But The Girl |
| 22 | Kissin' You - Total |
| 23 | Before You Walk Out Of My Life - Monica |
| 24 | Anything - 3T |
| 25 | Be My Lover - La Bouche |
| 26 | 1,2,3,4 (Sumpin' New) - Coolio |
| 27 | Last Night - Az Yet |
| 28 | Why I Love You So Much - Monica |
| 29 | Where Do You Go - No Mercy |
| 30 | No Diggity - Blackstreet |
| 31 | Pony - Ginuwine |
| 32 | Touch Me Tease Me - Case ft. Foxy Brown |
| 33 | Exhale (Shoop Shoop) - Whitney Houston |
| 34 | All The Things (Your Man Won't Do) - Joe |
| 35 | If Your Girl Only Knew - Aaliyah |
| 36 | Feels So Good... - Lina Santiago |
| 37 | Nobody - Keith Sweat |
| 38 | Days Of Our Livez - Bone Thugs-N-Harmony |
| 39 | I'm Still In Love With You - New Edition |
| 40 | Macarena - Los Del Rio/Bayside Boys Mix |
| 41 | The Earth, The Sun, The Rain - Color Me Badd |
| 42 | If I Ruled The World - Nas |
| 43 | Un-break My Heart - Toni Braxton |
| 44 | Release Me - Angelina |
| 45 | Fantasy - Mariah Carey |
| 46 | Lady - D'Angelo |
| 47 | Only You - 112 |
| 48 | Sweet Dreams - La Bouche |
| 49 | Who Do U Love - Deborah Cox |
| 50 | Doin' It - L.L. Cool J |
| 51 | Set U Free - Planet Soul |
| 52 | Do You Miss Me - Jocelyn Enriquez |
| 53 | Ironic - Alanis Morissette |
| 54 | This Is Your Night - Amber |
| 55 | This Is For The Lover In You - Babyface |
| 56 | Get On Up - Jodeci |
| 57 | Forever - Mariah Carey |
| 58 | Don't Let Go (Love) - En Vogue |
| 59 | Tell Me (I'll Be Around) - Shades |
| 60 | Baby Luv - Groove Theory |
| 61 | Do You Want To - Xscape |
| 62 | Who Can I Run To - Xscape |
| 63 | Fastlove - George Michael |
| 64 | I Like - Montell Jordan |
| 65 | Diggin' On You - TLC |
| 66 | Ridin' Low - L.A.D. |
| 67 | Hit Me Off - New Edition |
| 68 | That Girl - Maxi Priest ft. Shaggy |
| 69 | Tell Me - Dru Hill |
| 70 | Keep On Keepin' On - MC Lyte ft. Xscape |
| 71 | How Do U Want It - 2Pac |
| 72 | Bohemian Rhapsody - Braids |
| 73 | I Believe I Can Fly - R. Kelly |
| 74 | It's All Coming Back To Me Now - Celine Dion |
| 75 | Sexual Healing - Max-A-Million |
| 76 | Forever More - Puff Johnson |
| 77 | Tres Delinquents - Delinquent Habits |
| 78 | Count On Me - Whitney Houston & CeCe Winans |
| 79 | Tonite's The Nite - Kris Kross |
| 80 | You Remind Me Of Something - R. Kelly |
| 81 | Missing You - Brandy, Tamia, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan |
| 82 | Take A Look - J'Son |
| 83 | We Got It - Immature |
| 84 | Every Day And Every Night - Yvette Michelle |
| 85 | Ready Or Not - Fugees |
| 86 | Dreaming Of You - Selena |
| 87 | Fu-gee-la - Fugees |
| 88 | Falling - Montell Jordan |
| 89 | Use Your Heart - SWV |
| 90 | Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) - Maxwell |
<<< Best Hip-hop/R&B of 1995 | Best Hip-hop/R&B of 1997 >>>
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Frequently Asked Questions
What was the number-one hip-hop song in 1996?
While there isn’t a single definitive answer for the absolute number one hip hop song of 1996, 2Pac’s “California Love” (featuring Dr. Dre & Roger Troutman) is a strong contender.
What was the number 1 R&B hit in 1997?
“In My Bed” by Dru Hill was a chart-topper in 1997. While there wasn’t a single, definitive “number one” on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart for the entire year, “In My Bed” spent three weeks at number one.
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