Top 10 Xscape Songs

Photo: Tamika Scott, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Our Top 10 Xscape Songs list takes a look at a popular female r&b group from the 90s. Xscape has sold more than seven million albums worldwide. The group consists of members LaTocha Scott, Tamika Scott, Kandi Burruss and Tameka “Tiny” Cottle. They recorded three albums together before they broke up. Xscape have three platinum albums. Their hits include “Just Kickin’ It,” “Tonight,” “Understanding,” “Feels So Good,” “Who Can I Run To,” “The Arms of the One Who Loves You,” “My Little Secret,” “Softest Place on Earth” as well as other hit singles.

Producer Jermaine Dupri discovered Xscape. He signed them to his label So So Def in the early 90s. Xscape released Hummin’ Comin’ At ‘Cha in 1993. It peaked at number three on the r&b charts and number 17 on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Just Kickin’ It,” “Understanding,” “Love on My Mind” and “Tonight.” The album sold over one million copies. This was a great accomplishment for a new group.

Off the Hook was released in 1995. It peaked at number three on the r&b charts and number 23 on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Feels So Good,” “Who Can I Run To” and “Can’t Hang/Do You Want To.” The album sold over one million copies. They managed not to suffer from the sophomore jinx. Traces of My Lipstick was released in 1998. It peaked at number six on the r&b charts and number 28 on Billboard 200. It features the singles “The Arms of the One Who Loves You,” “My Little Secret” and “Softest Place on Earth.” The album sold over one million copies.

Like most groups, Xscape ended up breaking up. They broke up in 1998 due to personal interests. They suffered from egos clashing with each other. Tamika Scott also accused Kandi Burruss of having an affair with their producers. LaTocha Scott went on to pursue a solo career. Kandi Burruss and Tameka “Tiny” Cottle went on to write songs for other artists. Kandi Burruss would go on to be a successful songwriter and reality star. Tameka “Tiny” Cottle went on to marry rapper T.I. and starred on reality shows. The group reunited in 2017. Kandi Burruss didn’t rejoin the group because she was doing Broadway. They changed their name to XSCAP3.

Xscape weren’t like other r&b groups. All of the members in the group got a chance to sing lead. They didn’t suffer from lead singer syndrome. They competed with other groups such as TLC, SWV, En Vogue, Jade as well as other 90s groups. Xscape managed to make a name for themselves. This Top 10 Xscape Songs list will feature their best singles.

# 10 – Just Kickin’ It

The first song on our Top 10 Xscape Songs list is “Just Kickin’ It” from the Hummin’ Comin’ At ‘Cha album. The song has an r&b beat. This is a laid back song about chilling out and enjoying yourself. The lyrics don’t bring anything new to the table. It’s a simple song about relaxing and having fun. This is the song that introduced the world to Xscape. If you were a fan of 90s music, chances are you were rocking to this song. It is Xscape’s biggest hit single.

When the song was released, it went through controversy. Women thought the song was sexist and thought a man wrote it. Xscape defended the lyrics and said the song wasn’t sexist. If you can get past the “sexist” lyrics, you will find the song enjoyable. The music has a classic 90s vibe. It is the type of song that will fit in the club as well as the bedroom. It’s considered an urban ballad, but you can move around to it. LaTocha Scott and Kandi Burruss sing lead in this song. Kandi Burruss’ alto voice was a good blend with LaTocha Scott’s soprano vocals. LaTocha Scott steals the song.

She holds notes towards the end of the song that are worth checking out. Kandi Burruss does get her time to shine with her amazing runs. The group harmonizes well in the background. Jermaine Dupri can be heard doing the ad libs. The ad libs weren’t really needed, but they don’t hurt the song. You may be wondering why this song wasn’t picked for the number one song since it is their biggest hit single. It is their biggest hit, but there are other songs that are just as good if not better than this one.

# 9 – My Little Secret

The next song on our Top 10 Xscape Songs list is “My Little Secret” from the Traces of My Lipstick album. The song has an r&b beat. The seductive song is about a woman who is cheating with another woman’s man. The character in the song is cheating on her man. Xscape wants you to know that everybody cheats, but you have to know the right way to do it. This song will resonate with people who want to have an affair and aren’t ashamed to admit to having a cheating relationship. Anyone who is in a committed relationship may not care for the theme of the song. It may have you questioning whether or not your mate is being faithful.

Whether or not you are in a committed relationship, there is no denying that this is a great song. The lyrics are realistic because people do cheat in relationships. It is wrong to cheat, but people still do it. Xscape weren’t afraid to go there with the lyrics. They weren’t ashamed to sing about infidelity. The characters they are describing are proud to be with other women’s men. This song gave Xscape the chance to show off their sexy sides. The music is sensual and smooth. It is something you can hear while spending time in the bedroom.

The melody is similar to Usher’s “Nice & Slow.” Kandi Burruss, LaTocha Scott and Tameka “Tiny” Cottle sing lead on this track. Their voices sound pretty good on this track. Kandi Burruss shows versatility when she sings high notes in the bridge. She is an alto so it could have been a disaster. Luckily she was able to pull it off. LaTocha Scott holds back vocally in the track. She doesn’t hold notes like she did in the previous entry, but she does belt throughout the song. Tameka “Tiny” Cottle does a good job with her vocals. She’s not in the song as much as the other two, but she does a good job. The song is infectious and will have you singing along with it.

# 8 –Am I Dreaming ft. Keith Sweat and Ol’ Skool

The longing song is from the Traces of My Lipstick album. The song has an r&b beat. The tender song is about a person who wants the person they love to be around them. They want to know if the person they love is with them or in their dreams. This is a remake of Atlantic Starr’s song. Since this is a remake, you know what time it is. It is time for the questions to be asked. Should Xscape have taken the risk of covering this song? Did they make the song their own? The answer to the first question is yes.

This track isn’t one of Atlantic Starr’s signature songs so it was okay to take the risk of covering it. The answer to the second question is yes and no. This version is almost similar to the original version. The music is slightly different from the original version. It has a more modern beat than the original, but it’s basically the same melody. Xscape keep the lyrics the same. They do add ad libs to the lyrics. There are more people singing in this version than the original.

The original only featured Atlantic Starr while this version features Xscape, Ol’ Skool and Keith Sweat. Since there are a lot of people singing lead it could have suffered from overcrowding. Luckily it didn’t. The variety of voices blended together made for an amazing collaboration. All of their vocals are fire. Their harmonies are excellent. They all win the vocal battle with this song because everyone does a great job vocally. It’s too bad Xscape and Ol’ Skool didn’t sing more songs together.

# 7 – Understanding

The yearning song is from the Hummin’ Comin’ At ‘Cha album. The song has an r&b and hip-hop beat. The pleading song is about them wanting their man to be more understanding of their needs. This song is relatable to anyone who is having trouble in his or her relationship. The song is told from the female’s point of view, but men can relate to this song as well. Everyone wants someone to understand him or her in relationships. This song gave Xscape a chance to slow things down on the album. This is one of the ballads from Hummin’ Comin’ At ‘Cha.

The majority of the songs on that album were up-tempo and mid tempo so this gave the group a chance to show their softer side. The music is soft and sensual. It’s starts off like a church song with the inclusion of the organ. The rest of the music features a piano and drums. They all combine to make an incredible sound. This song features all four members of Xscape. They sound amazing together. You can hear the gospel influence in the Scott sisters’ voices. They have a vocal battle with each other. The Scott sisters’ in particular have a strong vocal battle with each other in the bridge.

They both win the vocal battle because they both pour their hearts out in this jam. They both belt and hold notes during their battle. Kandi Burruss holds an impressive Mariah Carey whistle, which was out of her vocal range, but she was up for the challenge. It could have been cringe worthy, but the note was surprisingly good. They are do a tremendous job on their harmonies.

# 6 – Your Eyes

The meaningful song is from the Traces of My Lipstick album. The song has an r&b beat. The appealing song is about a woman being able to look in a man’s eyes and tell that he wants to be with her. He tries to deny his feelings, but she is able to tell that he wants her by looking in his eyes. This has the classic Babyface and Daryl Simmons sound written all over it. The song is very keyboard and drum friendly which is typical in a Babyface and Daryl Simmons song.

The melody of the song is similar to Dru Hill’s “Never Make A Promise.” The music is beautiful and touching. Babyface and Daryl Simmons know what they are doing when it comes to romantic music. Babyface and Daryl Simmons brought out the best in the Scott sisters. They sing lead on this track. It was the right decision to have them sing this song. They vocally soar throughout the track. They have a vocal battle with each other. They start the song off softly and then vocally explode after the second verse. They both hold fabulous notes in the bridge.

They wanted the world to know that they are great singers and they showed it in this track. The Scott sisters’ voices blend so well together that they sound as if they were one singer. The group’s harmonies are through the roof. This song wasn’t released as a single, but it is one of the best tracks on the album. It was a travesty that it wasn’t released as a single.

# 5 – Softest Place on Earth

The next song on our Top 10 Xscape Songs list is “Softest Place on Earth” from the Traces of My Lipstick album. The song has an r&b beat. The sexual song is about a woman describing her female anatomy being the “softest place on earth.” The title of the song is a metaphor for her female anatomy. They are referring to the lower frontal area as being the “softest place on earth.” The irony is two men wrote this song about a female’s anatomy.

The lyrics are sexy without being too graphic. They use metaphors throughout the song to describe a sexual encounter. They manage not to use the word “sex” in the song. Here is a fun fact. R&b singer Joe co-wrote and produced this track. It’s not a surprise that he co-wrote this song because it sounds like something he would have sang for himself. The music is melodic and hypnotic. It sounds like something you would use while exploring the “softest place on earth.”

It has soft strings and a rolling baseline. It also has drums to give the song tempo. This ballad is perfect for quiet storm radio. LaTocha Scott sings lead on this track. She does an outstanding job with her vocals. She doesn’t over sing the lyrics. She uses enough power to impress the listeners without overdoing it. The music was soft so it didn’t require her to do a lot of power singing. She does manage to hold notes, which were jaw dropping. The rest of the group does a great job supporting her in the background. As usual, their harmonies are incredible.

# 4 – Who Can I Run To

The vulnerable song is from the Off the Hook album. The song has an r&b beat. The plaintive song is about them looking for love and not knowing who to turn to in order to get it. They want men to love and cherish them. This is relatable to anyone who is looking for love. Who doesn’t want to be with someone who will love and cherish them? This is a cover of The Jones Girls’ song.

This is the second remake on our Top 10 Xscape Songs list so you know what’s coming. Should Xscape have taken the risk of covering this song? Did Xscape make the song their own? The answer to the first question is yes. This isn’t one of The Jones Girls’ signature songs so Xscape could have taken the risk of remaking it. The answer to the second question is no. Xscape’s version is basically karaoke. They don’t really change up much musically.

Xscape’s version is a little slower than the original. The Jones Girls’ version has one singer singing lead while Xscape’s version has more than one person singing the song. Xscape doesn’t change the lyrics. They pay respect to the original version by keeping the lyrics the same. The Scott sisters sing lead on this track. They sound similar to Shirley Jones so they were the best ones to sing lead on the track. They both do a great job with their vocals. They both start the song off softly and then vocally explode towards the end of the track. Both versions of the song are good. It’s up to you to decide which one is better.

# 3 – All I Need

The enchanting song is from the Traces of My Lipstick album. The song has an r&b beat. The exquisite song is about a woman only needing her man to love her. He is all she needs. She doesn’t want him to leave her. Any woman who has ever been in love will definitely relate to the lyrics of this song. Xscape manage not to sound desperate as they plead for the man not to leave them. The sizzling music is rhythmic and melodic. It fits well with the theme.

The musical arrangement is excellent. It is perfect for quiet storm radio. It is also great for spending time in the bedroom. This song features a Tamika and Tameka battle. It was nice to hear them sing lead on the song. This is the only track on our list that doesn’t feature LaTocha Scott in the lead vocals. This song proves that LaTocha Scott wasn’t the only one who can hit the high notes. Tamika Scott and Tameka “Tiny” Cottle’s vocals are magnificent. They sing in time with the music and never miss a beat.

They hit every note with perfection. Xscape’s harmonies are truly amazing. They can give any group a run for their money with their harmonies. This song wasn’t released as a single, which was a mistake because this is one of the best songs on the album. This is definitely an underrated track that could have been a big hit for them if it were released.

# 2 – The Arms of the One Who Loves You

The beautiful song is from the Traces of M Lipstick album. The song has an r&b beat. The emotional song is about being with someone you love. If the world is treating you unkindly, just run to someone who loves you. The song can have two meanings. It can be about a couple in love or it could be about family member or friend you love. It’s up to you to decide how you can relate to the lyrics. The track can be ideal choice for a wedding song. The music is heartfelt and touching.

This is a classic Diane Warren power ballad. This is the kind of song Diane Warren is known for writing. She knows how to bring out the best in a singer. She did that with this track. The Scott sisters sing lead in this song. The Scott sisters tear this song up. They start the song off softly and save the best for last. They give the song a dramatic ending when they hold their fabulous notes towards the end. They turn this into a Diane Warren power ballad. Xscape weren’t known for singing power ballads, but they knew what they were doing when they sang power ballads.

The rest of the group does a great job supporting the Scott sisters in the background. They sound like a choir in the background. Their harmonies are on point in this track. This song could have easily been number one on our list, but it lost the coin toss to the number one pick.

# 1 – Tonight

The number one song on our Top 10 Xscape Songs list is “Tonight” from the Hummin’ Comin’ At ‘Cha album. The song has an r&b beat. The sensual song is about them wanting to make love with the man they love. The lyrics will resonate with anyone who has ever been in love and want to show how much they love the person. It gives you a chance to express the way you feel about the person you love.

This is an acapella song. This was a risk to sing an acapella song because there was the potential of flaws. Their voices could have cracked in the song. This issue wasn’t a factor with this song. All of the members of the group take turn singing lead. Xscape’s vocals are breathtaking. This song showcases how great their voices are. They all have incredibly strong vocals. They have excellent control over their voices. They all have incredible range.

When they harmonize, they sound like a full choir. It’s hard to believe it’s only four people singing in the background. You can tell they learned to harmonize in church. They all belt throughout the song. They turn this into power ballad. They all hold fantastic notes at the end of the song. This is one of the best acapella songs ever recorded. It is definitely worth a listen. This song is the best song on their debut album. They sound like professional singers. It’s hard to believe that this is from their debut album. It may not have been number one on the charts, but it deserved to be number one on our list.