In my humble opinion you aren’t a real rap fan if you don’t have at least a couple of R&B albums in your record collection. RZA might have been a bit foolhardy in dubbing the genre ‘Rap ‘n’ bullshit‘ on the Wu-Tang Forever album, but other successful producers like Puff Daddy, Jermaine Dupri and Babyface understood the net worth of combining serenanding vocals with some dope rhymes over a 4/4 beat. Rhythm and Blues is a genre in itself with influences of the aforementioned blues, soul, gospel and doo wop singing, but it is probably most recognised as the softer side hip hop. During the Nineties there was a steady flow of collaborations between R&B singers and rappers with more than one remix by SWV, D’Angelo or Aaliyah featuring the likes of Biggie Smalls, Raekwon or the Lox. They might try and deny it, but the street thugs and lyrical nerds have to admit that it wasn’t DMX’s growling or Canibus’ delivery that got them that pretty young thang’s attention. It was All I Need by Method Man and Mary J. Blige or Ol’ Dirty Bastard teaming up with Mariah Carey for a (bizarre) Fantasy.

Following on from all the pure rap tapes I’ve posted over the last few months, here is Mister Cee’s R&B Buttas Part III so we can all just chill out and vibe to some Blackstreet and Mobb Deep exclusives.

Side A

On & On – SWV / Erick Sermon
Ya playin yourself – Jeru the Damaja
Hit me off (remix) – New Edition
This is how we do it – Blackstreet
Just wanna please u (remix) – Mona Lisa / The Lox
U da 1 (remix) – Drawz
I don’t wanna be alone – Shai / Jay-Z
U got me goin crazy – Ill da Extreme / Cormega / Gina Thompson
Stay with me (remix) – Jason Weaver / Drastic Measures
If your girl only knew (remix) – Aaliyah / Missy ‘Misdemeanor’ Elliot
Tell me (remix) – Dru Hill / Big dex
Floatin on your love – Isley Brothers / R. Isley / A. Winbrush / 112 / Lil’ Kim
Drop a gem on em – Mobb Deep
I like – Montell Jordan / Mieko Jackson
Underneath the stars (remix) – Mariah Carey
Say it again – Nneka / Canibus
You don’t have to worry – New Edition
Not gonna – 702
Never felt this way – Soul IV Real

Side B

I got somebody else – Changing Faces
Fed up (remix) – House of Pain
Missing you – Monica
Come see me – 112 / Lost Boyz
Dreamin eyes (remix) – D’Angelo / Redman
I just can’t – Faith
Only you (remix) – 112 / Biggie / Mase
This is for the lover in you – Babyface / LL Cool J / Howard Hewett / Jody Watley / J. Daniels
Tell me (I’ll be around) (remix) – Shades / Akinyele
No diggity (Billie Jean remix) – Blackstreet
Steelo (remix) – 702 / Missy ‘Misdemeanor’ Elliot
The things you do (remix) – Gina Thompson / Raekwon / Mr. Mike Nitty / Craig Mack
So many ways (remix) – The Braxtons / Jay-Z
Do thangz (remix) – Men of Vision / Missy ‘Misdemeanor’ Elliot
Just the way playas play – Alfonzo Hunter / Passion
Fix – Blackstreet
Try again – New Edition