1 Star Vocals: Bottom 10 R&B Singers

I was inspired to write this after reading this awful article. This list only represents recent artists that are salient to ME on this day.

10. Janet Jackson

I had to put her first because it causes me such great pain to do this. I love Janet’s music. I have always been a big fan. But since my teens, I have questioned whether Janet can sing or not….and the answer is no. Her vocals are soft, sexy, and weak.

9. Beyonce

Let’s be for real folks, before her latest album, Beyonce was not the best vocalist (ask Jennifer Hudson). Yes, she is beautiful, has spunk, and is a great entertainer, but there are much better singers out there. Having said that, the first time I heard Listen, from off the Dreamgirls soundtrack (Listen here), I was thinking, Damn, who the hell is THAT? (That was the first time I’d really heard her “sang” and it almost made me cry.)

8. Ray J

Is he serious? Is he really serious? I think Ray J plays with us by coming out every 5 years, dropping a really catchy song, and then disappearing. It plays for 5 days like fire, then we forget about it. He knows he can’t sing and just rides the waves of his sister’s (Brandy) former celebrity status. I bought his CD, many years ago, for the song Wait a Minute, and was afraid to admit it to anyone.

7. Ciara

I’d like to thank Ciara for coming out and helping me heal some wounds from Aaliyah’s death. I felt like she was her replacement. I love Ciara’s music, her dance moves, and her sincerity. Vocally, she’s sweetly weak.

6. Bobby Valentino

He came back from a group named Mista that sang Blackberry Molasses. I don’t know if Bobby was the lead singer in the group, but I wish someone would join him now so I wouldn’t be able to hear him so well. He’s a toilet singer (strains and moans when he sings) and is just so damn boring.

5. Keyshia Cole

I have heard too many times that Keyshia Cole can sing. Am I hearing the wrong music? (Love) Her vocals scratch my ear drums. I have respect for her after watching her reality show. She is real. I just wish her singing was fake.

4. Amerie

Another hot one….as far as physical features. You know how we are mesmerized by a heterogeneous mixture (Korean/Black). She was fortunate to get great beats (One Thing WITHOUT her vocals). Please stop singing and go to modeling.

3. Sean Kingston

Maybe he’s not a singer. I don’t know. But, I ALWAYS turn the tv, and radio, when his songs play.

2. Ashanti

You remember that she was booed when she won the Aretha Franklin award so that says enough. They told her to get some vocal coaching. She’s another cute face strung well on some sampled beats. I almost fell on the floor when I saw her new video. I was thinking, “Damn, she’s back?”

1. Rihanna

Yes, she’s cute. Yes, she won a grammy, or something…but she owes that to some good songwriting and producing (thank you The Dream). And she seems to be a sweet girl. However, her vocals are unnerving and most of the times when she’s on the radio, I switch the station.

I’m not a hater. Get money. You, too, can have a hit in the 21st century.