This selection reflects FormatMag’s view of R&B in November 2006, looking back at albums released from 2000 through 2005—not the entire 2000s decade. At the time, the writer felt R&B was on a slight downspiral. The music is less inspired, the soul seems less existent and the content seems bogged down with who cheated on whom and who did whom wrong, but there are still artists out there who deliver albums based on honesty and talent. These artists have brought us clarity in muddled times when the line between R&B and hip-hop is at its thinnest.
This top ten is based on quality, influence on the R&B movement and mainstream music and the extent of its connection with the public.
FormatMag’s original top ten: 2000–2005
10) Usher – Confessions (Mar 23, 2004)
With fresh and fierce new competition vying for his spot on the charts, Usher went back into the studio and crafted his most successful album to date. Confessions perfects his formula on this album; “Burn” works better than “U got it Bad” did on his previous album 8701, and Confessions Part II, though not as catchy, is still more successful at making girls swoon over his infidelity than “You make me Wanna” was in ’97. Confessions shows maturity from the two albums prior and became a global phenomenon in 2004 with 3 consecutive #1 singles, cementing Usher’s place at the top of his genre.
9) R. Kelly – TP2.com (2000)
The original review heard TP2.com as a throwback to the romantic focus of Kelly’s earlier records rather than material gain. Its ninth-place position is retained as a record of the 2006 selection, not a current endorsement of the artist. Kelly was convicted in federal court in Brooklyn in 2021 of racketeering and Mann Act violations involving sexual exploitation and abuse; he received a 30-year sentence in that case in June 2022. The Justice Department’s sentencing account documents that history. The descendent of what most believe to be his best work, the patchy 12 Play, TP2.com doesn’t disappoint and in many ways surpasses its predecessor in overall quality.
8) Aaliyah – Aaliyah (July 17, 2001)
Aaliyah’s third album built on the sound of One in a Million, with Static Major and Timbaland among its collaborators. It was not a wholesale departure from Timbaland: Aaliyah’s official discography lists his appearance on “We Need a Resolution”, while the album’s Apple Music editorial notes identify both collaborators. This album stands on the strength of the superb contextual tracks that could never work as singles.
7) Brandy – Full Moon (Mar 5, 2002)
Her albums aren’t selling three million copies anymore, but make no mistake, her music is better than ever. Brandy and producer Rodney Jerkins came out with an edgier, more mature sound on Full Moon that polarized her sizeable fan base.
The original review regarded the Brandy–Jerkins partnership on this album as a modern-day masterpiece.
The beats may be overly repetitive in places, but the album has a definite flow and is high on both quality and quantity—a justifiable fan favorite since it came out in 2002.
6) Erykah Badu – Mama’s Gun (Nov 21, 2000)
Her first album, Baduizm, almost single-handedly brought Neo-Soul to the mainstream in ’97. Years later, with an influx of similar sounding artists that threatened to water down or usurp the movement, it was time for Badu to follow up her debut and redefine the genre. Mama’s Gun infuses old soul with new and adds in some funk for good measure. While it didn’t do as well commercially as Baduizm, the new album showed the critics that she was here to change the game, rather than simply play it.
5) Alicia Keys – Diary Of Alicia Keys (Dec 2, 2003)
After being vaulted into the stratosphere with Songs in A Minor, the pressure was on to equal the success with her sophomore album. The Diary Of Alicia Keys more than equals her debut. Gone are the patchy album tracks and in their place we get proof that Alicia was worthy of all the hype she received.
4) John Legend – Get Lifted (Dec 28, 2004)
John Legend started out as a choir director, moved on to singing back up on Kanye West-produced tracks, then to his own recording contract and album. Get Lifted benefits from Kanye’s production but it’s Legend who truly shines, channeling such greats as Sly Stone and Curtis Mayfield. Time will tell if he lives up to his name, but for now, he’s deserving of his Grammy Awards and accolades.
3) Mary J Blige – The Breakthrough (Dec 20, 2005)
You can’t call it a comeback, but after her last album, Love & Life, faltered both commercially and critically under dated production from P. Diddy, Mary definitely put herself firmly back on top. This album not only states the long-known obvious, that Mary is a queen, but also celebrates it. The breakthrough is her jubilee in a long and royal career and boasts her best collection of songs since the urban classic My Life from ’94. The original review worried that the album might not be remembered, but its subsequent recognition provides useful perspective: The Breakthrough won Best R&B Album at the 2007 GRAMMY Awards, and “Be Without You” won Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. The Recording Academy’s account records those awards.
2) Jill Scott – Beautifully Human (Aug 31, 2004)
After letting the world know who Jill Scott was on her first album, the time came to demonstrate what Jill Scott could do. Every word on Beautifully Human is delivered impeccably, down to the syllable. This album shows us different aspects of Scott’s life, from love of her man, to love of herself, to regret and from there to acceptance of her mistakes—the amalgamation of her feelings and experiences. Far better than her first and easier to listen to, this album merely lacked the album-selling single to set flying off the shelves as A Long Walk had years earlier. The name alone of Jill Scott speaks volumes on quality, but neither then, nor now, does it sell volumes in quantity.
1) India Arie – Acoustic Soul (Mar 27, 2001)
This collection not only introduced India Arie to the scene, but also boasts some of the best music Motown has ever had to offer. Taking cues and inspiration from greats such as Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway, this album blends the old with the new seamlessly and served to introduce a long overdue sense of positive feminism in music.
Seven GRAMMY nominations at the 2002 awards, including Album of the Year (as recorded by the Recording Academy), Acoustic Soul showed the world that Motown still has what it takes in modern music.
How to use this listening list
The order and musical judgments are the original editorial selection, not a chart-based consensus or a new listening test. The page contains album artwork, not embedded audio or video. For a listening starting point, compare the full albums rather than singles alone; editions, track lists and regional streaming availability can differ. Aaliyah and Brandy’s Full Moon have album-level catalog pages checked during this refresh; this is not a promise of free playback or availability in every country.
Continue with FormatMag’s archive collections or the 2007 streetwear lookbook selection for another period snapshot.
Updated 13 October 2026. Originally published 26 November 2006. This article has been revised to clarify its ranking period, repair punctuation and integrate sourced corrections and later historical context. The original ten selections and their order are retained.
A. Keys! She always delivers what we’ve been standing at the mailbox for. In my idea, her voice in unmatched. Everyone else on the list is fire, but Alicia is in her own category. If you haven’t yet, catch a concert.
I agree with your top ten almost in its entirety, except I would hazard that Baduizm was more important than Mama’s Gun as you rightfully pointed out that it brought neo-soul to the forefront of the r’n’b movement in the time when (imho) it most needed a lift in a new direction. Your top 5 is spot-on, eloquently articulated for such short descriptions of what are surely milestone albums in modern r’n’b and i give you props for being brave enough to put india.arie ahead of the more commercial and less genuinely believable divas. I think she is even better live than recorded, and mos def the best lady who could have possibly opened up for Sade.
no d’angelo (voodoo) but aaliyah and brandy? no voodoo but tps.com?beautifully human over words and sounds? no instant vintage? and diary of alicia keys is so crap… of course, r and b seems on a downward spiral to you seeing as so much just happens to pass you by. this list is so uninformed
Really agree with your top ten, esp appreciation for Usher and MJB, though she might think more of her style. Really love, long live! Always search the web for cool music bollywood music is a site where one can compile perfect playlists. A cushy spot for a music addict!
Why isn’t Craig David’s album on the list? It’s definitely better than INdie Arie… Prejudiced sh!t.
I think Raydiation by Ray J was the most under-rated RnB album of the decade. Seriously so many good slow songs on one album. No one rates it cos its Ray J