Hip-Hop Soul: ’90s and 2000s R&B With Rap Features

Tonight, Power1047 takes it back to the era when R&B hooks met unforgettable rap verses. This edition of The Grown & Sexy Slow Jams features true ’90s and 2000s hip-hop soul from Total, SWV, Mariah Carey, Case, Mýa, Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige and more. Turn the lights down and let the classics play.

Tonight’s Tracklist

1. Total featuring The Notorious B.I.G. — “Can’t You See”

Year: 1995

The ideal opening record: smooth Bad Boy-era harmonies, a hypnotic groove and Biggie’s unmistakable entrance.

2. SWV featuring Wu-Tang Clan — “Anything (Old Skool Radio Version)”

Year: 1994

SWV’s polished vocals collide with Wu-Tang’s rugged energy without losing the record’s R&B foundation.

3. Mariah Carey featuring Ol’ Dirty Bastard — “Fantasy” Remix

Year: 1995

One of the defining R&B-and-rap remixes of the decade—and a blueprint for the crossover collaborations that followed.

4. Case featuring Foxy Brown and Mary J. Blige — “Touch Me, Tease Me”

Year: 1996

A smoky, late-night blend of Case’s lead vocal, Mary J. Blige’s soulful presence and Foxy Brown’s confident verse.

5. Busta Rhymes featuring Janet Jackson — “What’s It Gonna Be?!”

Year: 1998

Futuristic production, controlled sensuality and a powerful contrast between Busta’s delivery and Janet’s restrained vocal.

6. Mýa featuring JAY-Z — “Best of Me, Part 2”

Year: 2000

A sleek turn-of-the-century collaboration with Mýa’s understated vocal riding alongside one of JAY-Z’s smoothest crossover performances.

7. Ja Rule featuring Ashanti — “Always on Time”

Year: 2001

A defining Murder Inc. duet that helped establish the rapper-and-R&B-singer formula of the early 2000s.

8. Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland — “Dilemma”

Year: 2002

A true crossover slow jam built around longing, melodic chemistry and one of the era’s most recognizable hooks.

9. Beyoncé featuring JAY-Z — “Crazy in Love”

Year: 2003

Not a traditional slow jam, but an essential 2000s R&B-and-rap collaboration that adds energy before the playlist settles back into its late-night mood.

10. Mary J. Blige featuring Method Man — “Love @ 1st Sight”

Year: 2003

Mary and Method reunite for a polished, mature hip-hop soul record with a brighter groove than their earlier classic collaboration.

11. Ja Rule featuring Ashanti — “Mesmerize”

Year: 2002

A softer, more romantic companion to “Always on Time,” balancing Ja Rule’s rough delivery with Ashanti’s melodic calm.

12. Method Man featuring Mary J. Blige — “I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By”

Year: 1995

The closing record: intimate, vulnerable and still one of the most enduring unions of hip-hop and R&B.