Ushering in the unforgettable era of new jack swing, R&B superstars Bobby Brown and Keith Sweat have continued to transcend beyond their respective reigns in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, so it’s only right they come together and go head-to-head for the culture. The two icons will face off as part of a special ESSENCE Festival of Culture VERZUZ Battle this Thursday, July 1 at 8 p.m. EST.
Both musicians have penned, produced, and of course, sang chart-topping hits and remain influential figures in not only the world of R&B but have also had an impact in the realms of hip-hop and even soul. In celebration of the upcoming battle of the ages, we’ve rounded up all the singles we want to hear from the “King of R&B” since his time with New Edition and from his breakout solo career.
“Girlfriend” was Brown’s debut solo single since leaving New Edition and went straight to number one on the R&B charts in October 1986.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=bOoTKmLZ4Ng%3Ffeature%3Doembed
This one basically goes without saying since it went number one on Billboard’s Hot 100, earned Brown a Grammy nomination and has been sampled endless times since it’s 1988 release.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=5cDLZqe735k%3Ffeature%3Doembed
The moves in the video for “Every Little Step” alone have cemented a place in history and also earned Brown his first Grammy.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=P0FKzPfsxA4%3Ffeature%3Doembed
Listen, it really would be cruel not to hear this one on Thursday since it spent weeks topping the R&B charts after it’s May 1988 debut.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=pd7dCbEfTs4%3Ffeature%3Doembed
Remember when every girl wanted to be Bobby’s “tenderoni” when this song dropped? So, yes, we’re hoping to definitely hear this one.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=pvYOSuz8yG4%3Ffeature%3Doembed
Now this is a song that we can rock with at any time and will always be a classic.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=OQ7Rdzxt8zQ%3Ffeature%3Doembed
Talk about another ballad guaranteed to make you swoon with memories, “Girl Next Door” came knockin’ in 1986.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=br-rvb0TAFU%3Ffeature%3Doembed
Besides the beat and dance moves featured in the video, the title…speaks for itself, don’t you think?
https://youtube.com/watch?v=XtE1TmikgIQ%3Ffeature%3Doembed
“Get Away” served as one of Brown’s hits from his third album, and is definitely a must-hear.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=VzmjMe_xIPA%3Ffeature%3Doembed
This love song, also spawning from the album Bobby, is a ballad unlike any other and still serves as more than just “good enough.”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=oh4wgGIN_qE%3Ffeature%3Doembed
His duet with the late Whitney Houston was surely something to behold and deserves a spot on this list without a doubt.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=QlgFvYQMEBY%3Ffeature%3Doembed
Now, is it a Bobby Brown battle? Of course. But we would be remiss not to include his work while in New Edition in this epic showdown, with Candy Girl for starters.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=qAFg2TQk9v0%3Ffeature%3Doembed
“Cool It Now” was the group’s first top ten pop single and still remains in the hearts of fans everywhere.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=RZUq6N7Gx1c%3Ffeature%3Doembed
“Mr. Telephone Man” continues to be a hit and just an all-around undeniable classic that we’re sure we know every single word of.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=GsWrlzjxbPY%3Ffeature%3Doembed
A popular single spawning from the Ghostbusters 2 Soundtrack, “On Our Own” became yet another top-ten hit for Brown in 1989.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=h86eMPyuEMo%3Ffeature%3Doembed
Brown was featured on New Edition member Ralph Tresvant’s hit single in 1991 and the response to it is still anything but stone cold.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=PjBr8Hkttbo%3Ffeature%3Doembed
This was also another unforgettable feature of Brown’s, which had him alongside singer Glenn Medeiros and earned him his second number one on the pop chart.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=XC9Y6bGQfT8%3Ffeature%3Doembed
This R&B ballad was released in 1993 and is still oh-so-special to us until this day.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=RwlUGGnrn28%3Ffeature%3Doembed
The song, which had a bit of success on its own, became a monster hit once remixed by the electronic group, K-Klass and peaked at number three on the UK singles chart.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=rVwb4dncHq0%3Ffeature%3Doembed
And what better way to close it out with his epic duet with none other than Ja Rule? That 2002 hit still stays rent-free in our heads honestly.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=b5NXlIlygts%3Ffeature%3Doembed
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