List of Hot R&B Singles number ones of 1990

Billboard published a weekly chart in 1990 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 1990, the chart was published under the title Hot Black Singles through the issue of Billboard dated October 20 and Hot R&B Singles thereafter,^[2] and 36 different singles reached number one.

Among the acts who topped the chart for the first time was Mariah Carey, who reached number one in August with "Vision of Love", her first chart entry, and returned to the peak position in November with "Love Takes Time"; both also topped Billboard's pop chart, the Hot 100.^[3] Carey would go on to become one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with reported worldwide career sales of over 200 million by 2013,^[4] and set a new record for the most number ones on the Hot 100 by a solo artist.^[5] "Escapade" by Janet Jackson and "I'm Your Baby Tonight" by Whitney Houston also topped both the Black/R&B chart and the Hot 100 during 1990.^[6] Other acts to gain their first R&B chart-topper during the year included all five members of the most recent line-up of the group New Edition, which had recently split up: Johnny Gill made his first appearance in the peak position when he was featured on Stacy Lattisaw's song "Where Do We Go from Here" and achieved his first solo number one with "Rub You the Right Way", Ralph Tresvant spent a week atop the chart with "Sensitivity", and the remaining three members formed Bell Biv Devoe and reached number one for the first time with "Poison".^[7][8]

Eight acts topped the chart with two songs during 1990, and three achieved three number ones, including Gill, who had a third chart-topper in May with "My, My, My". The producer Quincy Jones reached number one with three singles from his album "Back on the Block": "I'll Be Good to You", "The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)", and "Tomorrow (A Better You, A Better Me)". The first two featured guest vocals from various long-standing R&B stars and the last featured Tevin Campbell, who was 12 years old when the track was recorded.^[9] The group Tony! Toni! Toné! had three chart-toppers with "The Blues", "Feels Good", and "It Never Rains (In Southern California)", which was the last number one of the year. The group's total of five weeks at number one was the most by any act in 1990. The year's longest unbroken run in the peak position was three weeks, achieved by "Giving You the Benefit" by Pebbles.