the mainstream countesses of hip hop soul, by year
Digital Magazine
Mary J. Blige may be the Queen of Hip Hop Soul, but who followed her lead the best each year to get their own place in the court of R&B?
BY HARPSICHORD
OCTOBER 8, 2023
A.I. illustration of SZA, Lauryn Hill, and Keyshia Cole.
so why the nobility ranking of “Countess” for this list?
Following the queen, the duchesses, and the empress would be the marquise, a woman who defends against potentially hostile neighbors. Although hip hop and R&B received its fair share of criticisms, it still remained fruitful. As a result of hip hop soul, R&B dominated the 90s into the 2000s, and subsequently inspired a new league of artists receiving mainstream success. Therefore, no one had to defend its honor quite as hard as a noble figure would during times of war. That leads to a countess, someone who had administrative responsibilities that made sure order existed. Since people followed Blige’s order, they then had to become responsible for growing hip hop soul. Therefore, countess will be used to acknowledge their honorary title.
This list consists of a year by year selection starting in 1993, a year after 1992’s hip hop soul explosion. Some names will appear on this list multiple times, as there were multiple peaks in those ladies careers. As expected, there will be names that readers will agree with, and some names that others will question based on principle. It also needs to be mentioned that although a countess may have released music in a respective year, their impact may not have been felt or fully experienced until the following year.
The qualifications for this list is based on commercial success, impact, and influence each countess brought to music by incorporating hip hop soul in their catalog. Simply put: Who were the countesses that followed Mary’s hip hop soul lead the best?
The 2000’s
From the ‘99 to the 2000s, R&B became synonymous with pop-- and therefore hip hop received the same benefits because of its close ties. As the 90s had proven (and some of their stars that would taste another decade of success), “being urban” trended heavily in the mainstream sound. Hip hop and R&B collaborations turned into the norm thanks to Beyoncé’s romantic partnership with Jay-Z (“Crazy In Love” and “Upgrade U”), Ashanti’s frequent Murder Inc remixes (“Rain On Me”), and Ciara’s title as Atlanta’s “Princess of Crunk n B” (“Oh”). While the latter portion of the 2000s leaned more into the pop realm, the beginning emphasized soul music. As the decade progressed, the hairstyles started to get shorter and the attitudes rawer, as displayed by the likes of Keyshia Cole and Rihanna. By her third album, ‘Good Girl Gone Bad,’ RiRi utilized the power of hooks, becoming the go-to for boosting features. Singer-songwriter Keri Hilson bursted on as a solo enterprise offering a bubbly spark that channeled how those behind the pen could become overnight celebrities.
2000: Destiny’s Child
At the turn of a new millennium, a ‘90s girl quartet that featured Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, LaTavia Roberson, and LeToya Luckett started to appear more and more in the headlines. After the 1999 release of their sophomore album, The Writing’s On The Wall, the Houston teens found themselves embroiled in a feud amongst each other. Just as “Say My Name” was reaching new heights– becoming a staple for Y2K pop– Roberson and Luckett were kicked out of the group. Beyoncé and Kelly pressed on with new members, Farrah Franklin and Michelle Williams. Franklin’s luck also ran out, as she was kicked out of the group in the midst of their worldwide tour and the promotion for the No. 1 single “Jumpin’, Jumpin’.” During that summer of 2000, Michelle Williams’s vocals for the group would first be introduced on “Independent Women Part I.” The song appeared on the soundtrack for the blockbuster film adaption of the ‘70s TV show, ‘Charlie’s Angels.’ “Independent Women” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the group’s third number one, prior to the release of their 2001 album, Survivor. Years later in legacy reviews, the media would highlight how the biggest breakout solo star, Beyoncé, implemented a style of fast rap-singing (but more about that a little later). During her 2023 solo Renaissance World Tour, Kelly, Michelle, LaTavia, and LeToya came to the Houston stop to support their former member, Beyoncé– showing that fences could be mended. As for Farrah, hopefully her luggage is doing ok…
2001: Lil’ Mo
While hip hop soul managed to excel new heights in the pop world, what had been missing was that raw, earthy feel that originated the genre. A part of what made hip hop soul appeal had been the aspect of “ghetto fab.” At the end of ‘99, a strong vocalist hailing Baltimore, by the name of Cynthia Loving, had made an impression on urban audiences with her guest feature on Missy Elliott’s “Hot Boyz.” Loving would come to be known as Lil’ Mo. Her debut studio album, Based on a True Story, would circulate the streets, eventually giving her best single to date, “Superwoman Pt. II.” Over electro production, Mo would sing about having an “ S on [her] chest,” in vocals that mirrored her gospel-church upbringing. Produced by DJ Clue and featuring Fabolous, “Superwoman Pt. II,” became quintessential for BET and 106 & Park culture. The song crossed over, reaching No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.
2002: Alicia Keys
Never before had a piano sounded so soulful in the world of hip hop, until the introduction of Alicia Keys who stormed with her No. 1 international smash, “Fallin’” in 2001. Just like Lauryn Hill did in ‘99, Alicia Keys would win five Grammys at the start of 2002– including Best New Artist and Record of the Year. That year saw her further promote her debut album, Songs In A Minor. She would receive further acclaim for “A Woman’s Worth,” and for her signature look of beaded braids adorned by head scarfs and felt caps. The album’s final single, “Girlfriend,” would be produced by Jermaine Dupri, and sampled Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s 1995 song, “Brooklyn Zoo.” She would appear as a feature on Eve’s “Gangsta Lovin’.” Eventually Alicia Keys would become one of the highest selling pop stars of the 2000’s and marry Swizz Beatz to become rap royalty.
2003: Ashanti
In the early 2000’s, the storylines of record labels had become just another marketing tool to propel hip hop and R&B forward. This took a few pages from what Diddy had done with Bad Boy Records in the ‘90’s. Fast forward to Irv Gotti’s Murder Inc. The lady at the forefront of Murder Inc. would be Ashanti, who instantly smashed with her 2002 self-titled debut album. Ashanti had been filled with cinematic production– most notably on songs such as “Foolish,” “Rescue,” and “Movies.” Ashanti received backlash for being named Soul Train’s “Lady of Soul” in 2002, because audiences felt she was too pop and lacked the vocals to have soul. But like a true champion– and with the help of a Patti LaBelle endorsement– Ashanti ended up prevailing into 2003. Her album would win Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 2003 Grammys– beating out the likes of Brandy. ‘The New York Times’ published a bold claim, saying Beyoncé was “no Ashanti,” upon the release of the former’s debut album. Despite those controversies, Ashanti would remain supreme, delivering the sophomore effort, Chapter II– which spawned hits “Rock wit U (Aww Baby)” and “Rain on Me.”
2004: Beyoncé
To this day, that ‘New York Times’ author, Kelefa Sanneh, acknowledges that he actually didn’t write that headline comparing the Destiny’s Child member and Ashanti. “And note for the record, that I listen more to Beyoncé as music than to Ashanti's,” he told KCRW’s Elvis Mitchell back in 2021. It’s clear to see why: When Beyoncé finally went solo in 2003 with her debut, Dangerously In Love, she garnered four Top 10 hits (with two going No. 1). Her visuals featured iconic pop culture moments like the “uh oh” dance. A relationship with rap mogul Jay-Z was on the top of the tabloids’ minds, so that also added fuel to her fire. In 2004, like Lauryn Hill and Alicia Keys, Beyoncé also received five Grammys in one night. She set radio ablaze with “Naughty Girl,” which sampled Donna Summer. The self-proclaimed “Hip Hop Star,” would start cementing her legacy as an amazing live performer. Over the course of a year, the public would learn that there was a new Queen Bee in town, and she was here to stay.
2005: Ciara
In the world of Ashanti’s and Beyoncé’s came ATL’s finest: Ciara. She proved she could dance and make hot hits that resonated with the streets. In 2004, her debut album, Goodies, set the pop world on fire with the first two singles: the title track and “1, 2 Step,” which featured Missy Elliott. She’d continue the era into 2005 with the Ludacris-assisted club banger “Oh.” “Oh” eventually peaked at No. 2– being robbed of the coveted No. 1 spot. Like OutKast said at the 1995 Source Awards, “the South got something to say,” and what the South was saying in 2005 is that Ciara reigned supreme for her spunky attitude. Missy and Ciara partnered with Fatman Scoop to give another banger titled, “Lose Control,” and Ciara’s relationship with Bow Wow had us running out of breath trying to replicate her hook on their collab “Like You.”
2006: Beyoncé
Realize that this is Beyoncé’s third time appearing on this list, and that she has two more year coming up. That’s just how long her longevity has lasted when it comes to supplying listeners with hip hop soul. To avoid the sophomore slump, the diva had to become more innovative. That would lead to B’ Day, a project she would record in two weeks, in order to celebrate her birthday. B’ Day became her first visual album, as she recorded music videos for each song. Doused in go-go and funk, she kept the spirit of Dangerously In Love alive– becoming even more of a massive pop star. Her relationship with Jay-Z had him rapping about “Lost Ones,” where she would respond with “Irreplaceable.” She’d rap on “Kitty Kat” and “Upgrade U,” even cosplaying as her man in the latter’s video. “Ring The Alarm” saw her screaming over Swizz Beatz production. And in the middle of all this, she’d be a ‘Dreamgirl’ for the big screen.
2007: Keyshia Cole
When Keyshia Cole first arrived on the scene in 2004, the Oakland-bred singer received comparisons to Mary J. Blige out the gate. It had been her raw, gritty vocals centering around heartbreak, combined with a “ghetto fabulous” exterior that made those claims easy for listeners and fans to spit out. By 2007, Cole found herself in the spotlight thanks to ‘Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is’ — a notorious BET reality TV program revolving around the ups and downs of her tumultuous family life— as well as the success of her 2005 debut studio album of a similar title (minus her stage name). To go along with the reality TV show, she’d deliver her best album to date, Just Like You. Just Like You went platinum in the same year thanks to her single, “Let It Go,” which featured Missy Elliott and Lil’ Kim. Keyshia Cole stormed the radio with “Heaven Sent,” “I Remember,” Diddy’s “Last Night,” and “Shoulda Let You Go.” For urban audiences, Just Like You became one of those records that resonated most because of its deep cuts, including the title track and “Got To Get My Heart Back.” Wow, about half the album was just listed!
2008: Rihanna
Ever since arriving on the scene in 2005, Rihanna received comparisons to other female artists already dominating the game. The tables turned in 2007 when the bonafide hitmaker from the Barbados delivered Good Girl Gone Bad, her third studio album. By this point, Rihanna had fully transitioned into the hip hop star she was meant to be. The following year– after the success of global smashes “Umbrella” and “Don’t Stop The Music”– Rihanna ran away with pop smashes under her belt including No. 1’s “Take A Bow” and “Disturbia.” But 2008 would start to witness Rihanna’s ability of being a strong featurette, as she proved alongside T.I. on “Live Your Life,” which went No. 1. You couldn’t escape Robyn Rihanna Fenty from that point on when it came to enhancing a hip hop track.
2009: Keri Hilson
Making her mark as a songwriter for the likes of Britney Spears, Timbaland, and Toni Braxton, Keri Hilson made a statement with her debut album, In A Perfect World… “Energy” received subtle radio play, but it would be her collaboration “Turnin’ Me On”– which featured Lil Wayne in his hottest period– that had basses jumping. And yes: She gave a little bit of R&B diss while at it. “Turnin’ Me On” set media and fans into a frenzy as it was perceived to swipe at both Bey and Ciara during the heights of their own careers. Keri Hilson would go on to regret that move, but nonetheless it had people talking. Aside from that R&B drama, Hilson had her biggest pop moment with “Knock You Down” alongside Kanye West and Ne-Yo. In her music video for “Slow Dance” she danced alongside Chris Brown, and she’d lend a hand to one of Fabolous’s most slept-on bops, “Everything, Everyday, Everywhere.”