If you are a true R&B lover, then the holiday season has a lot of great music for you. R&B Christmas songs are some of the best holiday songs there are. We all know and love our favorites.

From Mariah Carey to Boyz II Men and Donny Hathaway, we love them all. Whether it’s the original version or your favorite R&B artists made their own version, there’s so many Christmas classics. We love the holiday season and tuning on your favorite holiday song will really bring the moment together.

So, in honor of December being right around the corner and Christmas being my favorite holiday, I gathered some R&B Christmas songs for you to make sure are in your rotation this holiday season. Don’t worry, many of you probably already know them if you are a true holiday music fan, but some may be new as I did a range of old school and new school so it’s something for everyone. Sit back, relax, and get to decorating those Christmas trees while listening to these holiday bops.

5 R&B Christmas Songs You Need on Your Playlist

• Let It Snow - Boyz II Men

  Starting off strong with a classic and a constant in my household growing up it’s Boyz II Men “Let It Snow.” When it came to the holidays, my mom made sure to always play this song and it’s probably one of the first Christmas songs I really learned. The R&B group partnered with Brian McKnight on this holiday classic and released it in 1993. The song was the first and only single from the group’s holiday album and here we are in 2024 still playing it during the holiday season.

• What Christmas Means to Me - Stevie Wonder

  There’s something about Stevie Wonder and a piano that makes the holiday season just that much better. Wonder released his rendition of “What Christmas Means to Me” in 1967 on his holiday album, Someday at Christmas. Although the song was released way before the days of YouTube, a version of the song on the popular platform has generated over 7 million views since its YouTube release.

• 8 Days of Christmas - Destiny's Child

  This one may be a bit controversial to add to this list with these other great songs, but I am one who will defend this song to the death. When it comes to the holidays and great bops that came from a girl group, Destiny’s Child takes the cake with “8 Days of Christmas” for me. The song was released in 2001 on the group’s holiday album with the same name of the song. It’s based on the 12 Days of Christmas but with a bit of an R&B and Destiny’s Child flavor that is still heavily enjoyed and played during the holidays. In the last 4 years, the music video has gained over 20 million views on YouTube.

   

• Silent Night - The Temptations

  Here is another one that many of us under a certain age probably grew up listening to from our parents and now know the words entirely. It’s the Temptations’ version of “Silent Night.” One of the most iconic versions, especially in the Black household, I might add. The song was released in 1970 and featured on their holiday album, The Temptations Christmas Card, released that same year.

• This Christmas - BOTH Donny Hathaway and Chris Brown

  Now, there was no way I could do this list and not mention “This Christmas.” But, before you argue over which version is better… I decided to name both. Because although I love Donny Hathaway and our parents would say he is the best, there is something about that Chris Brown version that will also do it for me and my mother. Hathaway’s version was released in 1970 and Brown’s version in 2007 along with the holiday film, This Christmas. Both versions are played ever holiday season no matter your age, you will enjoy them both. So, I saved us all the argument!

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