#Eli's Top 10 R&B/Soul Albums

 Music is a topic that I love discussing among friends. Music is so important in our culture and livelihood, it is impossible to quantify the effect that music has on our childhood, our feelings, and our general experience on Earth.  When asked what's my favorite genre of music I've always been quick to answer that it's 90's R&B and Neo-Soul. The reasons why I love the R&B genre so much is because we are truly living in a generation that is afraid of love, and the music allows us to live (in love) vicariously through it. Think about it, how many times have you found yourself wishing to be able to sing like Maxwell in order to make the girl you've crushed on fall for you? How many times have you been unable to put your feelings in words just to turn on your Ipod and have Lauryn Hill sing your life with her song? So in honor of R&B/Soul music this #Eli's top 10 will be dedicated to my personal favorite R&B albums.

• 10. Amerie- All I Have  

Amerie's debut album is not perfect, in fact, it's far from it. Amerie can't exactly belt out notes like Jill Scott but she stays in her range and makes up for not having the biggest voices by staying within herself. She's also absolutely gorgeous and comes off as the type of girl you'd want to have a summer fling with. The album's single " Why Don't We Fall In Love" is a classic summer time love song.

Key Tracks: "Why Don't We Fall In Love" "Talking To Me"

• 9.  Miguel- All I Want Is You

All I Want Is You is probably my favorite album of 2011. The album's strength are its production and songwriting, think of Bruno Mars' Doo Wops and Hooligans just not as corny and with a lot more sex appeal. Miguel is the new Jon B, and "Quickie" is the new one-night stand anthem. 

Key Tracks: " Sure Thing" "Quickie" " Vixen" "Girls Like You"

• 8. Donell Jones- Where I Wanna Be  

Donell Jones takes the eight spot with his classic album Where I Wanna Be. The album is just incredibly smooth, this is the kind of album that you play while cruising through the city looking fly and sophisticated. Donell Jones is extremely underrated as a singer and songwriter, after listening to Where I Wanna Be in its entirety, it's hard to understand how someone this good is still underrated. 

Key Tracks: " Where I Wanna Be" " U Know What's Up"  "Have You Seen Her"

• 7. Robin Thicke- The Evolution of Robin Thicke 

Robin Thicke has the smoothest falsetto anywhere this side of the milky way, and with his amazing falsetto he crafts one of the best albums R&B albums of the decade. Not only does Thicke tackle those difficult relationship issues, he also sings about race and how the world needs love for it to continue spinning. I know that sounds a bit hippy-ish but Pharrell handles some of the production so it all evens out.

Key Tracks: "Teach U A Lesson" " Can U Believe" " Wanna Love U Girl" " Lost Without U"

• 6. Jill Scott- The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3 

Jill Scott has the innate ability to combine poetry and song. She's very capable in both art forms and she seamlessly combines the two art forms in Words and Sounds Vol. 3. At times she's like a one person Floetry, but at the same time she can combine Blues and Jazz to her sound. The Real Thing: Words and Sounds Vol. 3. shows off all of Jill Scotts skills. 

Key Tracks: "Hate On Me" " Crown Royal" " All I " 

• 5. Erykah Badu- Baduizm 

Erykah Badu is the Andre 3000 of R&B. There was no surprise when those two developed a relationship. As quirky as she is she has the talent to back it up, and Baduizm is arguably one of the best female R&B albums to come out in the past 15 years. The sound is completely Neo-Soul and it is an utter classic.

Key Tracks: " Next Lifetime" "The Other Side of Game" "On & On"

• 4. Lauryn Hill- The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is deemed by many to be the best females R&B album of all time. The high praise of the album is most certainly warranted; Lauryn Hill is not only one of the time best songwriters but one of the most skilled female rappers to ever grace a mic. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is a beautiful blend of amazing songwriting and lyrical wit. It does not matter if Hill is singing a tribute to her son or knocking young men and girls over the head with knowledge, this album is certified classic. 

Key Tracks: "Nothing Even Matters" " Ex-factor"  " Final Hour" "Lost Ones" 

• 3. R.Kelly- Chocolate Factory

R.Kelly is R&B there's no other way to even spell the genre without the R. His career is unparalleled and any Trey Songz references on this post will be deleted. Chocolate Factory showcases why R.Kelly is the greatest singer songwriter of our generation: he writes songs that make us want to two step, he writes songs that make us want to make love, and he writes songs that uplift us when times get a bit rougher than usual. Chocolate Factory incorporates everything you want in an album. You just put the keys in the Ignition and go.

Key Tracks: "Ignition" "Step In The Name of Love" " The World's Greatest" 

• 2. Usher- Confessions 

Confessions is the best R&B album to come out in the past 10 years male or female. From top to bottom this album feature some of the best music of our generation. You can hear this album today, just as frequently, as you would 8 years ago when it was released. Confessions is how an R&B album is supposed to be done. 

Key Tracks: "Confessions prt II" " Bad Girl" " Yeah!" " That's What It's Made For" " Caught Up" 

• 1. D'Angelo- Brown Sugar  

Brown Sugar is the best neo-soul album of all time regardless of gender. This album ushered in a the Neo-Soul movement and set the watermark for all R&B albums to come before it. Consider Brown Sugar to be R&B's Illmatic. Musically it's the best sounding album on the list, D'Angelo sounds like a modern day Marvin Gaye at points. Brown Sugar takes the number 1 spot on #Eli's Top 10.

Key Tracks : "Lady" " Brown Sugar"