The Best R&B Duets Of The 21st Century

“One Way” 6lack And T-Pain

6lack’s phenomenal debut studio album, 2016’s FREE 6LACK, blessed R&B fans with mid-tempo and slow grooves that spoke to listeners with a raw sentimentality lacking from many of his peers. The T-Pain assisted “One Way” — which dropped one year later as a bonus track — serves as one of its best examples of such, as the pair reflect on the regret of flying out lovers who are scheduled to depart long before these gentlemen are ready to say goodbye.

The darkly ethereal track sets a perfect mood while the disconnect of 6lack’s delivery and the urgency of Pain’s convey a sense of longing we not only hear, but feel. Pain’s harmonies are also nothing short of mesmerizing, as he implements these very subtle vocal choices that emotionally guide the listener through his attempt to cure the loneliness — a loneliness that creeps beneath the record itself — with the comfort of a good woman.

“Somebody Else” Tank And JoJo

R&B crooner Tank is an excellent collaborator who has worked with just about every voice in R&B. His 2019 duet with our girl JoJo, “Somebody Else,” however, stands out as his best thanks to an unmistakable musical chemistry between these two on the sultry number. Every breathy exhale and seductive run from the songstress is met with its masculine counterpart as the R&B Money host plays “da bad man” in the sexiest way possible.

“Trust” Keyshia Cole And Monica 

Keyshia Cole linked up with one of her biggest vocal influences, ATL’s own Monica, for her 2008 track, “Trust,” where the Oakland diva belts out her desire to be trusted by her man. The song finds both ladies turning in impressive vocal performances, with real fans recalling the duo performing the song live at the 2009 BET Awards, where Monica stole the show. This makes sense, as she was one half of the biggest duet of the 1990s, and the classic remake of “Slow Jam” featuring Usher. That said, Cole is no slouch, and has been praised for her passionate performances and heartfelt delivery throughout her career, including on this fan-favorite R&B duet.

“On It” Jazmine Sullivan And Ari Lennox

Thank tha lawd that Ari Lennox convinced Jazmine Sullivan to take it there on their sexy collab, “On It,” where the two ladies express their carnal desires to please and be pleased by their partners. While Sullivan was hesitant, our good sis Ari insisted on keeping things “freaky,” and ended up contributing to a stand-out record on Sullivan’s already phenomenal album, Heaux Tales. It isn’t the only noteworthy duet on the album, as the H.E.R. assisted “Girl Like Me” is also a fave, but “On It” stopped us in our tracks with forward lyrics and an aggressive tone that anyone who’s ever been in lust can relate to.

“Nothing In This World” Keke Wyatt And Avant

After killing her feature on Avant’s “My First Love,” Keke Wyatt called on her brother in R&B to return the favor for her debut single, “Nothing In This World.” Released in late 2001, the song highlighted everything we’ve come to love from Wyatt, including her gospel-infused tone, immaculate range, and ability to drench every word in emotion. Avant balanced her passionate delivery with a smooth vocal performance befitting of a man serenading the woman he loves, and the pair’s back-and-forth as the record reaches its climax is the stuff R&B dreams are made of.

“I’m His Only Woman” Jennifer Hudson And Fantasia

This golden 2008 duet is inspired by classic 1974 Shirley Brown hit “Woman To Woman,” where “Barbara” and “Shirley” awkwardly chat about their shared lover. This time around, it’s Fantasia who calls up her fellow American Idol alum, Jennifer Hudson, to spill the tea on “Tony’s” player ways. What follows is Hudson wailing the song’s title with a sense of confidence in her man’s fidelity, while North Carolina’s finest admits they’ve both played the fool.

Co-written by Missy Elliott and Jazmine Sullivan, the Jack Splash-composed arrangement is a standout within both Hudson and Fantasia’s catalogs, with the duo turning in one of the most vocally impressive performances on this list.

“Hurt You” Toni Braxton And Babyface

Toni Braxton and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds mined the demise of their very public marriages for the authentic storytelling found on their Grammy-winning 2013 joint album, Love, Marriage & Divorce. The album produced a hit with its first single, “Hurt You,” which found the longtime collaborators apologizing for the pain they’ve inflicted upon one another, even while never intending to hurt their partner. The song clearly spoke to fans, as it debuted at No. 17 on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart in September 2013, hitting No. 1 by December and remaining on top of the chart for four weeks.

“Fool For You” CeeLo Green And Melanie Fiona

CeeLo Green’s 2010 album The Lady Killer is best known for its lead single, international hit “F**k You,” which earned the Goodie Mob member a Grammy for Best Urban/ Alternative Performance. While “F**k You” (and the radio friendly edit, “Forget You”) was highly praised, the album’s third single, “Fool For You,” flew under the radar for many of his more mainstream fans. R&B lovers, however, know the duet as one of Green’s most soulful, engaging records thanks not only to his own talents, but to the vocal chops of the lovely Melanie Fiona.

A relative newcomer at the time, Fiona’s signature rasp, soulful runs, and passionate delivery not only complimented Green, but enhanced an already stellar record, resulting in the pair taking home two Grammys for Best R&B Song and Best Traditional R&B Performance.

“Same Script, Different Cast” Whitney Houston And Deborah Cox

Released as a radio-only single in 2000, Whitney Houston and Deborah Cox’s “Same Script, Different Cast” found the two divas talking “woman to woman” about Houston’s man leaving her for Cox, warning the Broadway star that she’s simply a replacement who will also be “re-cast” one day.

Houston didn’t tolerate slackers in the vocal department, which is why she only hopped on records with undeniable voices like Kelly Price, Faith Evans, Brandy, CeCe Winans, and the like. Cox earned her spot with a career’s worth of phenomenal vocal performances before leaving it all on the floor with the late icon on one of the most impressive, yet underrated, songs within both artists’ repertoires.

“Until The End Of Time” Justin Timberlake And Beyoncé

This Timbaland and Danja-produced record from Justin Timberlake was a Future Sex/ Love Sounds favorite before Queen Bey even got to it. After she was added to the song’s second verse, the team had the good sense to add the duet to the album’s 2007 deluxe edition. While already a gem, Bey’s assertive delivery and that famed “be alrigggggghht” run makes it one of her stand-out duets, complimenting JT’s soft tenor on the tender slow jam.

“911” Wyclef Jean And Mary J. Blige

This standout track from Wyclef Jean’s 2000 release, The Ecleftic: 2 Sides II a Book, found the MC switching things up to give us vocals as he waxed poetic over risking his freedom to see the woman he loves. Mary J. Blige turns in a chillingly beautiful performance from his lover’s perspective, giving every syllable meaning as she belts out the pain of loving a man on the run.

“Same Girl” R. Kelly And Usher

While a controversial pick for many due to the song’s lead artist, it would be artistically disingenuous to omit “Same Girl” from a list of the greatest R&B duets of the last 25 years. The 2007 hit — reaching No. 4 on Billboard’s R&B/ Hip-Hop Songs chart — found the two singers coming to terms with their Eskimo Bro status — or so they think, according to the fan-favorite music video.

Amusing lines and strong vocal performances make the song an earworm from two artists many consider to be the “kings” of the genre. That should tell you something about the quality of the record, and why it remains a standout duet nearly 20 years after its release.

“Southside” Lloyd And Ashanti

Lloyd’s Southside featuring Ashanti takes us all back to our days of young love, many of us literally, as the track had millennials in a chokehold for much of our 106 & Park-soundtracked youth. The Atlanta singer’s delicate tenor paired well with Ashanti’s tender soprano on the record, both beautifully harmonizing over the cleverly crafted production that sampled fellow ATLiens, OutKast’s, timeless track, “Rosa Parks.” It was also one of the biggest songs out of the Murder/ The Inc. camp at the time, which says a lot, as the Hip-Hop and R&B collective’s run during the early and mid 2000s was second-to-none.

“No Air” Jordin Sparks And Chris Brown

Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown were both relatively young in their careers when they collaborated on what would become one of the biggest records of its era, 2008 pop/R&B smash, “No Air.” Three years after making his solo debut, Brown joined the freshly minted American Idol on the second single from her self-titled debut album, sharing his already dedicated fanbase with the rising star.

Brown’s vulnerability on the record, paired with Sparks’ stunning vocal talents, combined to create an unforgettable track that is still among their highest-requested, even 17 years later. Its success was also reflected in the numbers, as “No Air” rose to No. 3 on Billboard and sold over 3.5 million records, making Sparks the first American Idol alum to sell over 3 million.

“#Beautiful” Mariah Carey And Miguel

“#Beautiful” lives up to its name as a mid-tempo groove from Mariah Carey and Miguel. Made for sunny days with the top down, the 2013 track finds the California crooner praising his partner’s curves under the moonlight as Mariah admits she loves the “thrill” of being in love with someone who makes her feel “beautiful.” A feel-good tune built for making memories, this duet remains a go-to for anyone looking to lock in with that special someone in a carefree moment of joy, something we all could use a bit more.

“Best Part” Daniel Caesar And H.E.R.

If you’ve attended a wedding in the last eight years, there’s a good chance you’ve heard this beautifully crafted duet in some capacity. The 2017 release from Daniel Caesar and H.E.R. is one of the softest, most romantic R&B records of the last decade, evoking its listener to either revel in their current state of relationship bliss, or look forward to the day when they find their “best part.”

Hearing the pair praise each other as “the coffee that I need in the morning” and “the Tylenol I take when my head hurts” invites you to see their love as something ordinarily extraordinary, profound and passionate while also everyday and humbling, further demonstrated through gentle vocal choices that are as soft as a lovers’ touch.

“Leave The Door Open” Silk Sonic

Silk Sonic blessed the masses with “Leave The Door Open” in 2021, promptly taking over the airwaves, streaming, and awards shows thanks to its cozily nostalgic vibe. Rizz-drenched vocals from both Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak fill out this outstanding composition, reminiscent of classic releases from 70s soul favorites like Earth, Wind & Fire. The groove is filled with warmth, familiarity, and a fresh burst of vitality thanks to its crisp arrangement, establishing itself as a modern-day classic almost instantly.

“Can’t Believe” Faith Evans And Carl Thomas

At one point, Bad Boy Records boasted one of the most impressive rosters in Hip-Hop and R&B, with two of their premiere vocalists, Faith Evans and Carl Thomas, teaming up for the iconic duet, “Can’t Believe” in 2001. The R&B record found Thomas dipping into his “Emotional” bag as he joined the always-impressive Evans over The Firm’s “Phone Tap” beat, bringing some sentimentality to the Hip-Hop classic.

“My First Love” Avant And Keke Wyatt

Covers of classic R&B records can often be a disappointment, leaving fans wondering why anyone would touch such a perfect song. Avant and Keke Wyatt’s cover of René and Angela’s “My First Love,” however, is the exception to this rule, as their 2000 rendition is nothing short of a classic itself after 25 years.

Many of us got to know Avant on his debut album, My Thoughts, and its first single, “Separated” (which spawned a remixed duet with Kelly Rowland). It was this second single, however, that truly brought Avant into the limelight and introduced the world to Ms. Wyatt, a vocal powerhouse who continues to impress with her incredible power and range. Passionate performances from both give this cover sensuality and soul, leading us all to reminisce on our own first loves.

“My Boo” Usher And Alicia Keys

Usher’s Confessions is arguably the most important R&B release of the 21st century, with the classic album spawning several classic singles and the biggest R&B duet of the last 25 years, “My Boo” featuring Alicia Keys. On an album full of bangers and timeless productions, the track is one of the most epic songs not only on Confessions, but within the Atlanta singer’s entire arsenal. The collaboration set the charts ablaze — remaining on top of the Billboard 100 for six weeks — thanks to Ursher and Alicia’s superstar status and musical chemistry, evidenced as recently as 2024 when the pair reunited for Usher’s Super Bowl Halftime Show.

The duet also earned a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Song and took one home for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Even more important than critical acclaim, however, was its ability to take listeners back to their own days of young love, hitting home for anyone who’s wistfully reminisced on their first kiss and wondered what could’ve been if they had only stuck it out with that one person that “will always have their heart.”