As documented on A Collection of His Greatest Hits, Babyface has scored a successful solo run by telling his female audience things they’ve always wanted to hear, all over jazzy soul-lite grooves. On ”Soon as I Get Home,” he promises some lucky gal he’ll pay her rent, buy her clothes, cook dinner, and give ”good love.” Such skillful manipulation of the anxieties and vulnerabilities of his fans makes this crooner the greatest R&B pimp of the ’90s.

Grade: C+