Billboard published a weekly chart in 1988 ranking the top-performing singles in the United States in African American-oriented genres; the chart has undergone various name changes 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 total 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) 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]
During the year, Keith Sweat, Pebbles, Morris Day, Terence Trent D'Arby, Teena Marie, E.U., Al B. Sure!, Johnny Kemp, Tony! Toni! Toné!, George Michael, Sade, the Mac Band featuring the McCampbell Brothers, Jeffrey Osborne, Karyn White, Anita Baker, Cheryl Pepsii Riley, the Boys, and Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers all reached number one for the first time, as did rapper Roxanne Shante when she featured on a chart-topper by Rick James.[7] Osborne 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.[8] Sweat's "I Want Her" topped Billboard's year-end black singles chart.[9] "Tumblin' Down" by Marley and the Melody Makers was the year's final number one. Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" and "Man in the Mirror" also topped Billboard's pop chart, the Hot 100, as did "Wishing Well" by D'Arby, "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" by Billy Ocean, and "One More Try" by George Michael.[10]
† | Indicates number 1 on Billboard's year-end black singles chart[9] |