Except for the songs that made my Top 20 songs of 2001 and the representative tracks from my Top 20 Albums of 2001, these are the rest of the best soul/r&b tracks of 2001. To be eligible, a song needed to be included on an album released in the United States between December 1, 2000 and November 30, 2001.

1. Craig David “7 Days” Born To Do It (Atlantic)

2. Usher “U Got It Bad” 8701 (Arista)

3. Ginuwine “Differences” The Life (Epic/Sony)

4. India.Arie “Video” Acoustic Soul (Motown)

5. Angie Stone “Brotha” Mahogany Soul (J-Records)

6. Alicia Keys “How Come You Don’t Call Me?” Songs in A Minor (J-Records)

7. Faith Evans “I Love You” Faithfully (Bad Boy)

8. Aaliyah “I Care 4 U” Aaliyah (Blackground)

9. Babyface “Outside In/Inside Out” Face2Face (Arista)

10. Craig David “Fill Me In” Born To Do It (Atlantic)

11. Mr. Cheeks featuring Stephen Marley “Mama Say” John P. Kelly (Uptown/Universal)

12. Alicia Keys “A Woman’s Worth” Songs in A Minor (J-Records)

13. Faith Evans “Do Your Time” Faithfully (Bad Boy)

14. Aaliyah featuring Timbaland “We Need A Resolution” Aaliyah (Blackground)

15. Babyface “Don’t Take It So Personal” Face2Face (Arista)

16. Brian McKnight “Whatever You Want” Superhero (Motown)

17. Angie Stone “Wish I Didn’t Miss You” Mahogany Soul (J-Records)

18. India.Arie “Back to the Middle” Acoustic Soul (Motown)