Every great breakup song requires one secret ingredient: A mix of petty.
R&B artists are known for hitting below the belt when it comes to lost love, failed relationships and infidelity. Check out 27 of our favorite petty R&B songs from the past.
1. “I Don’t Ever Want to See You Again” Uncle Sam
And we didn’t see him again after this song.
2. “Friend Of Mine” Kelly Price ft. Ronald Isley, R. Kelly
When you resort to a three way call by means of exposing a cheater, you’ve hit peak petty.
3. “Just Be a Man About It” Toni Braxton
Why did she have to bring his mama into it?
4. “Secret Lovers” Atlantic Starr
When you have enough time on your hands to hide and write a song about your infidelity.
5. “Same Script, Different Cast” Whitney Houston & Deborah Cox
She gave the other woman a warning?
6. “Bills, Bills, Bills” The First Destiny’s Child
Where is the responsibility here? Who loans their car to the unemployed if they’re not using it to seek employment?
7. “Obsessed” Mariah Carey
MiMi could’ve just called Eminem and told him to stop talking about her.
8. “Woman to Woman” Shirley Brown
But ma’am, did you talk “woman to your man”?
9. “One Woman Man” Dave Hollister
Let’s reminisce on how we used to get it in, but I gotta girl now.
10. “My Little Secret” Xscape
“I like being in the same room with you and your girlfriend, the fact that she don’t know, that really turns me on.” Welp.
11. “Bust Your Windows” Jazmine Sullivan
Who has the time or money for court dates?
12. “Confessions Pt. II” Usher
So if she wouldn’t have gotten pregnant, you would have nothing to confess? Oh okay.
13. “No Scrubs” TLC
When you resort to name calling.
14. “Don’t Mess with My Man” Nivea ft. Brian Casey, Brandon Casey
Insecure much?
15. “Chante’s Got A Man” Chante Moore
According to her Unsung episode, Chante had many men.
16. “I Don’t Wanna Know” Mario Winans
What you don’t know won’t hurt you.
17. “G.H.E.T.T.O.U.T.” Changing Faces
The spelling alone deserves a space in the petty hall of fame.
18. “I Hope She Cheats on You (With a Basketball Player)” Marsha Ambrosius
Kobe and Shaq set her up for this layup.
19. “F**k It” Eamon
The mature way of handling things.
20. “The Way It Is” Keyshia Cole
The entire album. Every single track.
21. “Doin’ Just Fine” Boyz II Men
“I mean I don’t care about you anymore but just so you know I’m not mad.” -Boyz II Men
22. “Last Time” Trey Songz
“Let me hit just one more time before I go back home to my girl.” -Trigga
23.”Sideline Ho” Monica
“Yous a ho” is always a great conversation starter.
24. “Free Yourself”
This song sounds like Fantasia is giving him a long-awaited pardon from a prison sentence.
25. “It Wasn’t Me” Shaggy
But it was you.
26. “Same Girl” Usher & R. Kelly
Because somewhere in America this very conversation is being had, likely on Twitter.
27. “The Boy is Mine” Brandy & Monica
They sound like toddlers arguing over a toy. “Not yours, but mine.”
Is it just me or does every great R&B hit involve some type of phone call?
Tell us in the comments section your favorite R&B songs deserving of a petty title.
