Billboard’s latest ranking of the “Best R&B Artists of All Time” is generating heated debate across social media—and not for the reasons you might expect. In a move that many fans are calling tone-deaf and historically blind, the music publication’s newly released list omits iconic names like Mary J. Blige, Janet Jackson, Diana Ross, Patti LaBelle, Luther Vandross, and Usher from the top 10.

Yes, you read that right.

For a genre deeply rooted in Black culture and emotion, many feel this list misses the mark—not just slightly, but spectacularly.

Music Legends Left in the Shadows

To many R&B lovers, the names excluded from the top 10 aren’t just singers; they’re pillars of the genre. These are artists whose contributions to R&B are woven into the fabric of American music history.

• Mary J. Blige, crowned the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, helped define a generation with her raw, confessional style that blurred the lines between R&B and hip-hop.

• Janet Jackson, with her blend of sensuality, social commentary, and genre-bending innovation, has influenced nearly every major pop and R&B act that came after her.

• Diana Ross? She is Motown. And that’s not hyperbole.

• Patti LaBelle could belt emotion into any lyric, making her one of the most respected vocalists in music history.

• Luther Vandross? The gold standard of romantic ballads. His voice has soundtracked weddings, heartbreaks, and Sunday morning cleaning sessions for decades.

• And Usher, who dominated the charts for over 20 years and helped usher in a new era of R&B, not making the cut? That’s raised more than a few eyebrows.

Fans React: “Disrespectful,” “Erasure,” and “Embarrassing”

Once the list dropped, fans and artists alike didn’t hold back. Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram lit up with frustration, disbelief, and plenty of side-eye.

“A list without Janet or Mary J. in the top 10 is automatically invalid,” wrote one user.

“Y’all seriously put artists who wouldn’t exist without these legends above them? Be serious,” another commented.

The omission has struck a nerve not just because of personal fandom, but because of the broader cultural implications. R&B isn’t just about vocals—it’s about storytelling, emotion, and influence. Leaving out these giants feels like an erasure of decades of Black artistry and legacy.

Billboard’s Criteria: Still a Mystery

As of now, Billboard hasn’t provided a detailed breakdown of the criteria used to create the ranking. While it’s fair to say that lists like these are subjective by nature, most fans agree that historical impact, chart success, vocal ability, innovation, and cultural influence should carry significant weight.

And on all those fronts, Blige, Jackson, Ross, LaBelle, Vandross, and Usher check every box.

It’s not about being bitter about rankings—it’s about recognition, and whether the architects of a genre are being celebrated or slowly sidelined by history.