TOP FIVE 'R&B' ALBUMS OF THE DECADE

20. Musiq - Soulstar
19. Jill Scott - Who Is Jill Scott?
18. The-Dream - LoveHate
17. Faith Evans - The First Lady
17. Corrine Bailey Rae - Corrine Bailey Rae
16. Keyshia Cole - The Way It Is
15. Ne-Yo - Because of You
14. Mary J. Blige - No More Drama
13. Musiq - Juslisen
12. Amerie - All I Have
11. Destiny's Child - Destiny Fulfilled
10. Alicia Keys - Songs In A Minor
9. Ashanti - Ashanti
8. Andre 3000 - The Love Below (of Outkast's Speakerboxx/The Love Below)
7. Aaliyah - Aaliyah
6. Mary J. Blige - The Breakthrough

5. Brandy - Afrodisiac

Brandy's 2004 LP "Afrodisiac rounds out the top 5 albums of the decade because it shows her true growth and evolution as an artist. The album is sleek and hard-hitting at times. Though a slow-burner and almost obscure, each track is hot in production and vocal performance. Comfortably singing in a velvety seasoned alto nowadays, Brandy really stepped her game up for sure.

4. Mariah Carey - The Emancipation of Mimi

The Voice returned on this commercial blockbuster of mid-tempo and ballad joints. After years of singing in a whispery falsetto, Mariah stepped her vocal game up singing a majority of the her songs with powerful full voice, displaying range and expertise, with some critics even accusing her of over-singing. Nonetheless, Emancipation was just impressive as it was original and commercially appealing.

3. Angie Stone - Mahogany Soul

With Mahogany Soul, Angie showed neo-soul does not have to be an elites sub-genre that had to overtly distance itself from mainstream R&B. Instead, the album has an organic flow that is just Angie and her old soul. Her vocals are in sync and very commanding a la Gladys Knight, and each song has something real to say. Though this album did not do astronomical numbers, its one of the decades best, hands down!

2. Teedra Moses - Complex Simplicity

Although most people may not never know who Teedra Moses may be, the album Complex Simplicity is one of the best debut albums an artist could possibly create. Each track has an original, contemporary sound, with strong melodies, and Teedra's peculiar vocals only add to the madness. Perhaps, Teedra will catch on to the masses with her follow-up album (if ever comes).

1. Usher - Confessions

Perhaps the only diamond album certified by the RIAA in the United States of the decade? With sales exceeding 10+ million copies sold in the age of heavy piracy, Usher's Confessions had the impact of Marvin Gaye's What's Going On? The
set exemplified creative freedom, vision, and artistic growth for Usher. The album incorporated a variety of R&B trends and with each track adding to Usher's definition as an artist. Confessions was no less than a masterpiece.