Nasty
1986
Jackson answered street harassers by demanding respect over a factory preset Jimmy Jam found on an Ensoniq Mirage.
★ 7.0
The Songs canon
Sourced and sung.
Every song chosen by hand, with the recording to play it.
Browse all 2,393 songs or filter by genre, subject, artist, and year.
Browse all 2,393 songs or filter by genre, subject, artist, and year.
Remember the Time
1991 · From Dangerous
Teddy Riley's new jack swing under a nostalgia lyric, with John Singleton staging the video in ancient Egypt.
★ 6.5
My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)
1992
Foster and McElroy looped a guitar figure from James Brown's "The Payback," and four voices turn refusal into swagger.
★ 6.1
Motownphilly
1991
Michael Bivins raps their discovery story over Dallas Austin's new jack swing, with a doo-wop turn at the close.
★ 6.0
My Prerogative
1988
Brown flew to New York with Gene Griffin for the aggressive song his album lacked, and new jack swing arrived.
★ 6.0
This Is How We Do It
1995
Def Jam's first R&B single looped Slick Rick's 'Children's Story' and held number one for seven weeks.
★ 5.8
Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg
1991 · From Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip
Dallas Austin stacked seven samples, an Average White Band loop sped up, and Left Eye wrote the rap.
★ 5.6
I'm Your Baby Tonight
1990 · From I'm Your Baby Tonight
A new jack swing pivot from L.A. Reid and Babyface, and by Reid's account the vocal took one take.
★ 5.2
Hip Hop HoorayNaughty by Nature
Hip Hop Hooray
1993
KayGee looped James Brown and Peter Gabriel, and Spike Lee filled the Brooklyn video with Tupac and Queen Latifah.
★ 5.1
Doin' ItLL Cool J
Doin' It
1996 · From Mr. Smith
Built for Biggie, sold to Def Jam instead: Rashad Smith's beat rides a Grace Jones sample, LeShaun trading verses.
★ 5.0
Feel Me FlowNaughty by Nature
Feel Me Flow
1995
A Meters loop under Treach's easiest flow, pulled from the first album ever to win the rap Grammy.
★ 4.7
Nite and DayAl B. Sure!
Nite and Day
1988
Two producers, one vocal barely above a whisper, and new jack swing's smoothest debut single went top ten.
★ 4.2
Now That We Found Love
1991
Eighteen years after the O'Jays cut it in Philadelphia, Teddy Riley rebuilt it as hip-house for Heavy D.
★ 4.1
I Love Your SmileShanice
I Love Your Smile
1991
Branford Marsalis blowing a jazz solo across Narada Michael Walden's production, and Shanice sounds like she is actually smiling.
★ 3.9
King of Wishful ThinkingGo West
King of Wishful Thinking
1990
Three writers, a Pretty Woman soundtrack slot, and the most cheerful denial ever to reach the American top ten.
★ 3.1
Jump
1992
Eight weeks at number one, backwards clothes, and two Atlanta thirteen-year-olds rapping over Jermaine Dupri's beat.
★ 3.1
I Wanna Sex You Up
1991
Dr. Freeze built it on a Betty Wright sample, and the New Jack City soundtrack carried it to number two.
★ 1.9
Good Vibrations (Marky Mark)
1991
Donnie Wahlberg produced his brother's number one around a Loleatta Holloway sample, and Holloway herself appeared in the video.
★ 1.4