ginusher said:

.

Not sure I would throw him into a 'top 10 of worst singers', but I've always been confused that Slim of 112 always got lead vocals. I much rather listened to Daron's or Q's verses and ad libs than Slim's.

.

yeah, Slim was pretty bad

RJOrion said:

ginusher said:

.

Not sure I would throw him into a 'top 10 of worst singers', but I've always been confused that Slim of 112 always got lead vocals. I much rather listened to Daron's or Q's verses and ad libs than Slim's.

.

yeah, Slim was pretty bad

Is anybody going to say what "bad" means?

Anyways, Slim is not my favorite R&B vocalist but I always appreciated his tone; it's nice to
hear a lead singer who isn't going to belt. 112's songs didn't require a super gifted vocalist
as their tunes were mostly about hooks and production. And if you wanna dig deep, you could
say that Slim was a pre-cursor for today's male R&B singers, many of whom are not preter-
naturally gifted vocalists but more of an emotist or vocal stylist.

There's a sense of longing and desperation in the lead vocals for "Cupid" for example, that make
that song such a delight. Johnny Gill's voice would've been too much, if ya ask me!

Dasein said:

I didn't even see Janet. Now she doesn't have a power house voice, but hearing her live I have never cringed, like I've done many others who are not on this list. I mean those that didn;t just miss the notes but were down the street and around the corner from them and were really calling themselves belting it out through whole songs. Janet can hold a note.

Dasein said:

RJOrion said:

yeah, Slim was pretty bad

Is anybody going to say what "bad" means?

Anyways, Slim is not my favorite R&B vocalist but I always appreciated his tone; it's nice to
hear a lead singer who isn't going to belt. 112's songs didn't require a super gifted vocalist
as their tunes were mostly about hooks and production. And if you wanna dig deep, you could
say that Slim was a pre-cursor for today's male R&B singers, many of whom are not preter-
naturally gifted vocalists but more of an emotist or vocal stylist.

There's a sense of longing and desperation in the lead vocals for "Cupid" for example, that make
that song such a delight. Johnny Gill's voice would've been too much, if ya ask me!

Meh! I heard Cupid on Tom Joyner's show this morning and I had to turn with the quickness

when I heard Slim's voice. I know a few who like the 112 but don't like Slim's voice especially

on their debut song.

SoulAlive said:

I always thought that Slim sounds kinda like Babyface...at least on "Cupid" he does

i always thought Slim sounded like he was TRYING to sound like Babyface....

ginusher said:

.

Not sure I would throw him into a 'top 10 of worst singers', but I've always been confused that Slim of 112 always got lead vocals. I much rather listened to Daron's or Q's verses and ad libs than Slim's.

.

-

Who is singing lead on this song? Who ever he is, he should have had more leads....

-

RJOrion said:

SoulAlive said:

I always thought that Slim sounds kinda like Babyface...at least on "Cupid" he does

i always thought Slim sounded like he was TRYING to sound like Babyface....

-

Yeah, he was a Face wannabe to me too.

kitbradley said:

Discuss...

10. Janet Jackson: She’s pulled the wool over our eyes for decades. Every single time she goes to bed at night, she should fall to her knees and thank whatever gods may be for the genius, the talent, and most of all the patience of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Why? Because they are the human personification of how to make lemonade out of lemons. She is probably the first artist that I realized the word “entertainer” was code for “bad singer.” We are all guilty for allowing this voice to pierce our ears for so long. Yes I know she has great songs…but her voice tho. Singing for her must’ve been like living in an actual coffin. Completely confined with no foreseeable leg or arm room. Fortunately for her she had top-notch producers that formed great songs around her limited toolbox. And it was limited. We’re talking one screwdriver, a tape measure, an old mic clip and a solo red cup limited. The fact that she’s made it this far is a triumph of the human spirit. And we are forgetting to mention the fact that on the screen, she cannot act like she has a cold ass naked in the winter. It’s bad when your best role was in the 70’s and you were getting your back ironed by your abusive mother.

9. Current K-Ci: Don’t lie. In all of the deaths in 2016, you totally expected this guy to be one of them, right? This is your voice on drugs. Any questions?


8. All Of New Edition Except Johnny Gill: Yeah, I said it. Fight me. Before Gill they were just a black Menudo. Only when Gill got there did they become a real group to be considered. Michael Bivins was clearly a dude that was on the block the moment the more talented guys decided to make something of themselves. Ricky Bell is just an innocent bystander in this, and Ronnie DeVoe is the equivalent to the guy at Thanksgiving that never brings food or drinks, but is always the first person at the table with his plate and aluminum foil for take-home. “Don’t Be Cruel” is the only thing in the way of me frying Bobby Brown. That album rocks like shit. Ralph Tresvant has both the name of a boutique owner and the voice of a Michael Jackson reject. Nice try Motown. I see you.

7. Aaliyah: Stop it. Stop it right now! Posthumously, we give a huge amount of praise to the deceased. It’s how ‘Pac rose on everyone’s best rapper list. If you needed any clarification of this worthwhile ranking, please Google her live stuff. It was bad. Aight, I’m done. *ducking lightning*

6. Trey Songz: Bah Bah Black Sheep, have you any wool? Vibrato like a goat, with an anorexic-ish voice tone. I wish he never did it (bah dum psssh). He’s the male Keyshia Cole. Going to work on my six pack now. See you in about 5 years. SMH Oh…and speaking of Ms. Cole…

5. Keyshia Cole: Much like Alicia Keys, Keyshia is proof that looks mean everything and talent is a distant second place. She’s the cousin in your family that sings good enough to show you up at Thanksgiving, but not good enough for you to ask her to sing you down the aisle for your wedding. She’s that same cousin that sits in the crowd judging the singer you picked.

4. Akon: I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll consider his career starting the moment he found Lady Gaga, forget that he ever had a solo career, and you forget all of the songs of his I HAD in my library. Cool? Aight.

3. Alicia Keys: This is really simple. Think of a really short kid in his father’s shoes trying to reach a cereal box on top of a huge refrigerator. That’s Alicia Keys in a nutshell. Great intention. Great ambition. Not enough anything for the task at hand. Her range is as wide as a straw and let’s face it…her skills on keys are remedial at best. Her saving grace? Great songs. Protected and covered by great production, but even that can’t evade trained ears. Call It The Janet Jackson Effect. She’s always scratching the ceiling with that struggle voice.

2. Keith Sweat: Something something…something something just ain’t right. Here lies the dilemma. His voice is everything wrong with life…but his songs are awesome!!! As you’re listening to his songs, you’re caught in a myriad of emotions. On one hand you wanna caress and kiss your significant other, vibing to “Make It Last Forever” as you’re passionately mouthing the words to them as if you penned the lyrics yourself. On the other hand you want to douse your listening device with gasoline, set it aflame, and toss it out the same window of your vehicle on the highway as you’re breaking the posted speed limit. Wanna sound like Keith Sweat? Pinch your nose, and sing anything. Easy breezy.

1. Mary J. Blige: Yuck. I think I just spit up a little bit in my mouth. Believe you me, this was a close race with Keith Sweat, but in the end, it is painfully clear. Mary J. Blige is the worst voice the Rhythm & Blues genre has ever produced, period. A voice that sounds like an honest to goodness stomach virus, and with dance moves that rivals a 3 year old toddler. I know she has a core audience, but Tyler Perry and Empire have taught us that there’s no accounting for good taste. Chaka Khan is a notorious diva, but her displeasure of Mary remaking “Sweet Thing” was valid and justified. Imagine someone moving in your old house, taking their pants off and rubbing their asses all over your cream rug, stairs, and sofa. That my friends is Mary’s “Sweet Thing.” It’s not sweet at all. Actually it’s slightly tart with a gamy aftertaste. Putrid. But I digress.

http://www.citlr.com/the-top-ten-non-negotiable-worst-voices-in-rb-history/

[Edited 12/1/16 17:07pm]

.

from this impressive list I would put Keith Sweat 1st. technically he "can" sing.. but most of what comes out of his mouth is.. WHINING & CRYING. Keith must have thought to himself "well, hey.. no 1 is out here yet WHINING & CRYING throughout their songs.. so why I don't I be the 1st to do that??" the rest was history. fingernails on a chalkboard.

.

most of the other singers - Akon, Keyshia, Trey, etc - I don't know their music enough/at all to comment so I won't.

obviously, the fact that someone saw fit to include them on a list like this tells me something about their singing ability - or lack thereof..

.

I mostly agree - humorously, at that - about New Edition. JG was a MAJOR UPGRADE vocal-wise. Ralph's voice is thin at best. ditto Bobby. Ricky tended to oversing, which only exposed his vocal limitations more. were I Ralph in this group when JG joined, I would have just relegated myself to "permanent background vocal duty".

.

then.. Janet, Janet, Janet..

in a very small way, I.. feel for her (for lack of a better expression)..

in a family (mostly full) of talented singers, what else could Janet have done as a career?

be a chef? a painter? a professional athlete???

no, no, no.. she "had" to choose "music"

she "had" to choose "singing".

.

it took 2 world class musicians/producers - who, by the way, themselves were trained by 1 of the best ever - to pull Janet up to the level she attained. Jam & Lewis took that "vocal Spam canned meat" & turned it into a "whopper deluxe"

(notice I DID NOT go as far as to say "filet mignon" - not even close..)

listen to her "muh muh muh" at about the 3.21 point of "miss you much" -

that is NOT singing.

.

my "grudge" with Ms Jackson goes back to when she BUTCHERED that beautiful language - my favorite language - FRENCH in that song "funny how time flies".

I give Janet credit - she worked diligently, apparently. she put in the time, sacrificed & whatever.

it's reasonable to say she made the most of what (little) she had, talent-wise.

in any list of best/most talented singers, Janet belongs in the bottom 10.

maybe now that she is pregnant - at FIFTY YEARS OF AGE, no less - maybe she will finally retire that exceptionally gifted voice..

(sarcasm intended..)

mltijchr said:

mltijchr said:

kitbradley said:

Discuss...

10. Janet Jackson: She’s pulled the wool over our eyes for decades. Every single time she goes to bed at night, she should fall to her knees and thank whatever gods may be for the genius, the talent, and most of all the patience of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Why? Because they are the human personification of how to make lemonade out of lemons. She is probably the first artist that I realized the word “entertainer” was code for “bad singer.” We are all guilty for allowing this voice to pierce our ears for so long. Yes I know she has great songs…but her voice tho. Singing for her must’ve been like living in an actual coffin. Completely confined with no foreseeable leg or arm room. Fortunately for her she had top-notch producers that formed great songs around her limited toolbox. And it was limited. We’re talking one screwdriver, a tape measure, an old mic clip and a solo red cup limited. The fact that she’s made it this far is a triumph of the human spirit. And we are forgetting to mention the fact that on the screen, she cannot act like she has a cold ass naked in the winter. It’s bad when your best role was in the 70’s and you were getting your back ironed by your abusive mother.

9. Current K-Ci: Don’t lie. In all of the deaths in 2016, you totally expected this guy to be one of them, right? This is your voice on drugs. Any questions?


8. All Of New Edition Except Johnny Gill: Yeah, I said it. Fight me. Before Gill they were just a black Menudo. Only when Gill got there did they become a real group to be considered. Michael Bivins was clearly a dude that was on the block the moment the more talented guys decided to make something of themselves. Ricky Bell is just an innocent bystander in this, and Ronnie DeVoe is the equivalent to the guy at Thanksgiving that never brings food or drinks, but is always the first person at the table with his plate and aluminum foil for take-home. “Don’t Be Cruel” is the only thing in the way of me frying Bobby Brown. That album rocks like shit. Ralph Tresvant has both the name of a boutique owner and the voice of a Michael Jackson reject. Nice try Motown. I see you.

7. Aaliyah: Stop it. Stop it right now! Posthumously, we give a huge amount of praise to the deceased. It’s how ‘Pac rose on everyone’s best rapper list. If you needed any clarification of this worthwhile ranking, please Google her live stuff. It was bad. Aight, I’m done. *ducking lightning*

6. Trey Songz: Bah Bah Black Sheep, have you any wool? Vibrato like a goat, with an anorexic-ish voice tone. I wish he never did it (bah dum psssh). He’s the male Keyshia Cole. Going to work on my six pack now. See you in about 5 years. SMH Oh…and speaking of Ms. Cole…

5. Keyshia Cole: Much like Alicia Keys, Keyshia is proof that looks mean everything and talent is a distant second place. She’s the cousin in your family that sings good enough to show you up at Thanksgiving, but not good enough for you to ask her to sing you down the aisle for your wedding. She’s that same cousin that sits in the crowd judging the singer you picked.

4. Akon: I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll consider his career starting the moment he found Lady Gaga, forget that he ever had a solo career, and you forget all of the songs of his I HAD in my library. Cool? Aight.

3. Alicia Keys: This is really simple. Think of a really short kid in his father’s shoes trying to reach a cereal box on top of a huge refrigerator. That’s Alicia Keys in a nutshell. Great intention. Great ambition. Not enough anything for the task at hand. Her range is as wide as a straw and let’s face it…her skills on keys are remedial at best. Her saving grace? Great songs. Protected and covered by great production, but even that can’t evade trained ears. Call It The Janet Jackson Effect. She’s always scratching the ceiling with that struggle voice.

2. Keith Sweat: Something something…something something just ain’t right. Here lies the dilemma. His voice is everything wrong with life…but his songs are awesome!!! As you’re listening to his songs, you’re caught in a myriad of emotions. On one hand you wanna caress and kiss your significant other, vibing to “Make It Last Forever” as you’re passionately mouthing the words to them as if you penned the lyrics yourself. On the other hand you want to douse your listening device with gasoline, set it aflame, and toss it out the same window of your vehicle on the highway as you’re breaking the posted speed limit. Wanna sound like Keith Sweat? Pinch your nose, and sing anything. Easy breezy.

1. Mary J. Blige: Yuck. I think I just spit up a little bit in my mouth. Believe you me, this was a close race with Keith Sweat, but in the end, it is painfully clear. Mary J. Blige is the worst voice the Rhythm & Blues genre has ever produced, period. A voice that sounds like an honest to goodness stomach virus, and with dance moves that rivals a 3 year old toddler. I know she has a core audience, but Tyler Perry and Empire have taught us that there’s no accounting for good taste. Chaka Khan is a notorious diva, but her displeasure of Mary remaking “Sweet Thing” was valid and justified. Imagine someone moving in your old house, taking their pants off and rubbing their asses all over your cream rug, stairs, and sofa. That my friends is Mary’s “Sweet Thing.” It’s not sweet at all. Actually it’s slightly tart with a gamy aftertaste. Putrid. But I digress.

http://www.citlr.com/the-top-ten-non-negotiable-worst-voices-in-rb-history/

[Edited 12/1/16 17:07pm]

.

from this impressive list I would put Keith Sweat 1st. technically he "can" sing.. but most of what comes out of his mouth is.. WHINING & CRYING. Keith must have thought to himself "well, hey.. no 1 is out here yet WHINING & CRYING throughout their songs.. so why I don't I be the 1st to do that??" the rest was history. fingernails on a chalkboard.

.

most of the other singers - Akon, Keyshia, Trey, etc - I don't know their music enough/at all to comment so I won't.

obviously, the fact that someone saw fit to include them on a list like this tells me something about their singing ability - or lack thereof..

.

I mostly agree - humorously, at that - about New Edition. JG was a MAJOR UPGRADE vocal-wise. Ralph's voice is thin at best. ditto Bobby. Ricky tended to oversing, which only exposed his vocal limitations more. were I Ralph in this group when JG joined, I would have just relegated myself to "permanent background vocal duty".

.

then.. Janet, Janet, Janet..

in a very small way, I.. feel for her (for lack of a better expression)..

in a family (mostly full) of talented singers, what else could Janet have done as a career?

be a chef? a painter? a professional athlete???

no, no, no.. she "had" to choose "music"

she "had" to choose "singing".

.

it took 2 world class musicians/producers - who, by the way, themselves were trained by 1 of the best ever - to pull Janet up to the level she attained. Jam & Lewis took that "vocal Spam canned meat" & turned it into a "whopper deluxe"

(notice I DID NOT go as far as to say "filet mignon" - not even close..)

listen to her "muh muh muh" at about the 3.21 point of "miss you much" -

that is NOT singing.

.

my "grudge" with Ms Jackson goes back to when she BUTCHERED that beautiful language - my favorite language - FRENCH in that song "funny how time flies".

I give Janet credit - she worked diligently, apparently. she put in the time, sacrificed & whatever.

it's reasonable to say she made the most of what (little) she had, talent-wise.

in any list of best/most talented singers, Janet belongs in the bottom 10.

maybe now that she is pregnant - at FIFTY YEARS OF AGE, no less - maybe she will finally retire that exceptionally gifted voice..

(sarcasm intended..)

"Funny How Time Flies" is by far my favorite Janet song. Not really because of her singing, although I think it's one of her better vocals. But, it's just really a damn good song, courtesy of Jam & Lewis. And I have also wondered if Jam & Lewis could have boosted La Toya's singing career? I think it would have been very possible. I've said it before, not a lot of difference between Janet and La Toya's singing voices. Janet was just given better material to work with and the producers can make all the difference in the world. Even the greatest singers with the wrong producers can give us rotten music.

Johnny Gill is a great singer,but come on.....New Edition sounded OK before he came along

Musicslave said:

-

Who is singing lead on this song? Who ever he is, he should have had more leads....

-

.

That would be Daron Jones.

.

And this is Q :

.

.

SoulAlive said:

RJOrion said:

daingermouz2020 said:

mltijchr said:

.

from this impressive list I would put Keith Sweat 1st. technically he "can" sing.. but most of what comes out of his mouth is.. WHINING & CRYING. Keith must have thought to himself "well, hey.. no 1 is out here yet WHINING & CRYING throughout their songs.. so why I don't I be the 1st to do that??" the rest was history. fingernails on a chalkboard.

.

most of the other singers - Akon, Keyshia, Trey, etc - I don't know their music enough/at all to comment so I won't.

obviously, the fact that someone saw fit to include them on a list like this tells me something about their singing ability - or lack thereof..

.

I mostly agree - humorously, at that - about New Edition. JG was a MAJOR UPGRADE vocal-wise. Ralph's voice is thin at best. ditto Bobby. Ricky tended to oversing, which only exposed his vocal limitations more. were I Ralph in this group when JG joined, I would have just relegated myself to "permanent background vocal duty".

.

then.. Janet, Janet, Janet..

in a very small way, I.. feel for her (for lack of a better expression)..

in a family (mostly full) of talented singers, what else could Janet have done as a career?

be a chef? a painter? a professional athlete???

no, no, no.. she "had" to choose "music"

she "had" to choose "singing".

.

it took 2 world class musicians/producers - who, by the way, themselves were trained by 1 of the best ever - to pull Janet up to the level she attained. Jam & Lewis took that "vocal Spam canned meat" & turned it into a "whopper deluxe"

(notice I DID NOT go as far as to say "filet mignon" - not even close..)

listen to her "muh muh muh" at about the 3.21 point of "miss you much" -

that is NOT singing.

.

my "grudge" with Ms Jackson goes back to when she BUTCHERED that beautiful language - my favorite language - FRENCH in that song "funny how time flies".

I give Janet credit - she worked diligently, apparently. she put in the time, sacrificed & whatever.

it's reasonable to say she made the most of what (little) she had, talent-wise.

in any list of best/most talented singers, Janet belongs in the bottom 10.

maybe now that she is pregnant - at FIFTY YEARS OF AGE, no less - maybe she will finally retire that exceptionally gifted voice..

(sarcasm intended..)

Jam & Lewis certainly helped Janet a great deal. I know she's R&B but imo her voice was just as good (or bad) as Madonna's, Jennifer Lopez or Abdul. I've often wondered since Latoya was considered the worst singer amongst the Jackson clan if Jam and Lewis could've hooked her up . Just a thought. Always thought Ralph's voice sounded better than Bobby's. Ralph's mistake was not going solo before Bobby Brown.

I think Jam & Lewis were so good as producers, they probably would have gotten at least a "top 10" song for even.. Latoya. there was that period from.. about '85 through about 91-92 where basically every group J&L worked with, they gave each of them at least 1 hit song.

VALID point about Ralph going solo before.. that might have helped him, but I think he was more into being in NE than being a solo act. it seems he went solo because that was the only thing for him to do at that particular time..

RJOrion said:

SoulAlive said:

Johnny Gill is a great singer,but come on.....New Edition sounded OK before he came along

word.. Ralph Tresvant wasnt wack by any means..."Sensitivity", "Sorry, Youre Not My Kinda Girl", "Can You Stand The Rain"...Ralph shined on many joints...but, Ricky?, i cant defend...but he didnt get enough bars to ruin anything anyway...so he cool...

Just my opinion. Ralph's voice was intolerable until he got older. Thank god by the time

NE Heartbreak came out his voice got better. Of course his voice before then suited his

teen and pre teen audience but I actually dug Ricky's voice better. I only really liked

Cool It Now and Mr.Telephone Man before the NE Heartbreak album. The album in between

was totally wack. No wonder Bobby acted the damn fool. I had to suffer through it every now and then when my younger sister

would pop in the cassette tape.

Johnny Gill is Garbage!

a wannabe Luther/TP

they should've never put his ugly oversinging.. jherri curl ass in NE

Live Ralph was far from great (in his younger years)

but songs like:

'is this the end'

were Huge back in the day (with adult audiences as well)

and Ralph sung the hell out of them..

Ricky's voice never appealed to me..

Have i ever heard Ronnie and Mike Sing?

Things that make you go... Hmmm..?

phunkdaddy said:

RJOrion said:

SoulAlive said: word.. Ralph Tresvant wasnt wack by any means..."Sensitivity", "Sorry, Youre Not My Kinda Girl", "Can You Stand The Rain"...Ralph shined on many joints...but, Ricky?, i cant defend...but he didnt get enough bars to ruin anything anyway...so he cool...

Just my opinion. Ralph's voice was intolerable until he got older. Thank god by the time

NE Heartbreak came out his voice got better. Of course his voice before then suited his

teen and pre teen audience but I actually dug Ricky's voice better. I only really liked

Cool It Now and Mr.Telephone Man before the NE Heartbreak album. The album in between

was totally wack. No wonder Bobby acted the damn fool. I had to suffer through it every now and then when my younger sister

would pop in the cassette tape.

[Edited 12/13/16 11:12am]

EmmaMcG said:

Bit of a harsh list, I think. Sure, there are a few of what I'd call "overrated" singers on that list but I don't think they're actually the "worst" voices in RnB.

Overrated is a much more accurate title. Latoya Jackson was mentioned earlier and the fact that she's not on the list shows the writer's agenda--compile some very popular names causing disagreements and generate page views. Because not as many people will be talking about this article if they are all in agreement with the writer about who is really bad--like Latoya Jackson.

sexton said:

SoulAlive said:

Johnny Gill is a great singer,but come on.....New Edition sounded OK before he came along

NE was good but Johnny Gill is da troof!

Therefore, please permit me a moment of shameless staninning.....

MD431Madcat said:

Johnny Gill is Garbage!

a wannabe Luther/TP

they should've never put his ugly oversinging.. jherri curl ass in NE

2freaky4church1 said:

Bob Dylan can sing.

Since when does he sing R&B??????????

I hate these bullshit lists. Really, I do. Mary J Blige is a very good vocalist. And Janet does what works for Janet or otherwise she would not have sold millions upon millions of albums. Now granted she may not have the chops she used to but Janet held her own. K-Ci? Please. That brother at one time could sing his ass off but unfortunately life happened to that brother and it is what it is.

Always thought Lauren Hill was overated and when the 90's ended so did her career

kpowers said:

Always thought Lauren Hill was overated and when the 90's ended so did her career

same here... her and Wyclef both... the whole Fugees movement was overrated...