Alicia still gets a lot success but her last huge era & hit was As I Am, with No One. TEOF was a nice set with solid numbers for her but it did nothing for her, really. Unthinkable was the only hit off of that album. She's kind of gliding along at this point unless she can have a huge era again.

Mary is the same, but with less success. Her last TWO albums have not had much mainstream music. The last one had none at all.

So basically they're still urban/R&B forces but are not being grouped together with Beyoncé, Rihanna & Nicki because they are not doing enough on Top 40.

Rihanna and Nicki Minaj are doing the typical pop fare; that's why they are successful. I think Beyonce is still ahead of the game because she has the name recognition and fanbase. However, her success with 4 isn't too far off from Alicia's The Element of Freedom. Both started off rough but still have seen some good success.

You have it backwards. She might not be a full-on hip-hop artist but she is definitely a rapper.

WHAT?

Alicia's sales > Beyonce's sales >>> Rihanna's sales > Nicki's sales >>> .... >>> the others >>>> Ciara's sales.

Are you trying to say that Nicki is bigger than Alicia? What kind of nonsense is that? She only had one semi-succesful era, befopre that all her eras have been incredibly succesful. really on what basis is nicki or even your fave ahead of her in the US?
We won't even get WW because Nicki sells nothing there.

And the thread is about succesful black singers so Alicia totally fit here, I don't get why some of you act like she is a flop when she is far from that.

lol, lighter than most black americans arent they?

I didn't say she was bigger, but I'm saying Nicki is trying to break into a different audience than Alicia, & that's why Alicia & Nicki aren't being grouped together. Pop crossover acts get more coverage than pure R&B acts. I wish that wasn't how it was but it is.

R&B isn't as big as it used to be, which is a shame. R&B stars have great core fanbases though, which is an advantage.

We're totally forgetting about Mariah.

Child ain't nan one of them dark,they can all be white with enough makeup on

Maybe Kelly will blow up, you'll never know.

Alicia is a crossover act, she's not pure RnB. As I Am and TEOF were really pop oriented. And if that was the reason Beyoncé shouldn't be grouped with them either.

Who cares about the artists skin color? liking an artist because they're black is no less racist than disliking and artist because they're black.

mary has been making a FOOL of herself as of late. Her music sucks now and the public isnt interested.

I think Alicia can breeze along for a little bit longer,, but the public is getting bored of her and she can only do the same formula for so long

Mariah Carey, same situation as Mary. Both need to just retire before they destroy their legacies imo.