List of Hot Black Singles number ones of 1988

Billboard published a weekly chart in 1988 ranking the top-performing singles in the United States in African American–oriented genres; the chart's name has changed over the decades to reflect the evolution of black music and has been published as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs since 2005.^[1] In 1988, it was published under the title Hot Black Singles,^[2] and 35 different singles reached number one.

In the issue of Billboard dated January 2, Michael Jackson was at number one with "The Way You Make Me Feel", retaining the spot from the final issue of 1987.^[3] He also spent time atop the chart in 1988 with "Man in the Mirror" and "Another Part of Me", making him the artist with the most number ones during the year and taking the number of Hot Black Singles chart-toppers from his 1987 album Bad to five.^[4][5] Al B. Sure! had two number ones and tied with Jackson for the most weeks spent by an act at number one, both artists spending five weeks in the peak position. Pebbles, Bobby Brown, and Freddie Jackson (no relation to Michael) all also topped the chart with two singles during the year. In March, Stevie Wonder reached number one with "You Will Know", his 20th single to top the chart, tying him with Aretha Franklin for the most number ones by an artist in the listing's history.^[6]

More than half of the acts that topped the chart in 1988 did so for the first time. In the issue dated January 30, Keith Sweat gained his first number one with "I Want Her",^[7] which would go on to top Billboard's year-end black singles chart.^[8] Terence Trent D'Arby reached number one for the first time with "Wishing Well", as did George Michael with "One More Try". Both tracks also topped Billboard's pop chart, the Hot 100; Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" and "Man in the Mirror" and Billy Ocean's "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" also topped both listings.^[9] "One More Try" was the last in a run of six consecutive first-time Hot Black Singles number ones between April and June, following the debut chart-toppers for E.U., Al B. Sure!, Pebbles, Johnny Kemp, and Tony! Toni! Toné!.^[10] Morris Day, Teena Marie, Sade, the Mac Band featuring the McCampbell Brothers, Karyn White, Anita Baker, Cheryl Pepsii Riley, the Boys, and Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers all also reached number one on the Hot Black Singles listing for the first time, as did the rapper Roxanne Shante when she featured on a chart-topper by Rick James.^[11] Jeffrey Osborne achieved his first number one as a solo artist; he had reached number one three times with his band L.T.D. during the previous decade, but "She's on the Left" became his first and only solo single to top the chart when it reached number one in September.^[12]