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.

"MOST ANTICIPATED" OF 2010

5. Dave Young

Dave Young's powerful vocals were first heard on "Alone," a dope album cut from Mary J. Blige's "comeback LP" The Breakthrough. Since 2005, Dave Young has been signed to the Queen's imprint Matriarch Records, and Mary released two studio albums since then, and Dave has released none. Sooner than later, a debut LP should surface.

4. Marsha Ambrosius

After news circulated about Dr. Dre singing Marsha to his label, Floetry split-up immediately. Since then, Marsha has made her rounds as a featured vocalist, songwriter, producer, and even vocal producer on some of the decades' biggest R&B albums. Marsha's impressive vocals and delivery made Floetry hot, so her solo debut is certainly long overdue.

3. Johnta Austin

Producer/songwriter Johnta Austin penned some of the greatest R&B records of all time (i.e. Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together, Mary J. Blige's "Be Without You," etc.) working under super producers Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox. Since 2006, Johnta has been trying to bring his own project to light, and finally, his debut set Ocean Drive is slated for a tentative release. With impressive vocal chops, and an innate hit-making ability, Austin could make a strong impression amongst the masses, while music lovers and critics will be pleased with any outcome.

2. Erykah Badu

2008's New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) may have been too militant for the masses, but was a dope album nonetheless. Erykah recently disclosed in an interview that her new album New Amerykah Part Two: The Ankh is slated for a 2010 release, with a sound reminiscent of her debut set. Last time around, Erykah claims she was in a different place and very unhappy. Now things have changed for her and the joy she once had while recording her new album has been rejuvenated.

1. Fantasia

After the disappointment of her last studio effort and some personal and financial trials and tribulations, Fantasia is ready for a comeback and slated to release her third studio album in 2010. Reports suggest that Fantasia initially wanted to take a stab at recording "the vintage soul album," famously done by the likes of Amy Winehouse, Joss Stone, and most impressively Raphael Saadiq. Hopefully, she sticks with that motif. If done right, I'm imagining Fantasia giving us the 2009 version of Aretha Franklin's 1968 Lady Soul LP, or something darker in the vein of Nina Simone's civil rights period pieces.