Kelly Rowland's Biggest Hits

Kelly Rowland started her successful music career at a young age and created many hit records. Whether it was a part of Destiny’s Child, a solo track, or a guest feature, Kelly Rowland has played a role in creating some of the biggest hit R&B and pop songs. Her last full-length solo album, Talk a Good Game came out almost ten years ago, and since then, she has ventured outside of music into television and film.

Rowland’s most recent music release was a six-song EP titled K in 2021.  She has been featured on hit songs such as Nelly's "Dilemma," David Guetta's "When Love Takes Over," and Future's "Neva End (Remix)." During Destiny Child's run in the late 1990s and early 2000s, they released several hit singles, leading to them becoming one of the most prominent groups. Here, we're counting down Kelly Rowland’s seven biggest solo songs, with the No. 1 spot being her biggest hit. Take a look at the list below.

“Can’t Nobody” comes from Kelly Rowland’s 2002 solo debut album, Simply Deep. The album featured Solange, Joe Budden, and Nelly’s “Dilemma,” easily her biggest feature. The album came out before Destiny’s Child would eventually come back in 2004 from a hiatus for their final album, Destiny Fulfilled. The upbeat tempo and pop groove of “Can’t Nobody” sound like a product of the era when Destiny’s Child was at their commercial peak. The song is incredibly catchy and highlights Kelly Rowland’s hit-making ability and the important role she had in the success of Destiny’s Child. “Can’t Nobody” was certified gold in Australia and peaked at No. 5 in the UK. 

“Kisses Down Low” is Kelly Rowland’s biggest hit from her most recent full-length album, 2013’s Talk a Good Game. The song was the album’s lead single and followed the commercial success of her previous album, which contained her first solo No. 1 hit. Produced by Mike Will Made-It, “Kisses Down Low” is a pop song with bouncy 808s and sparkling synthesizers. The song was certified Gold in December 2013. 

“Stole” is Rowland’s 2002 debut solo single and is easily one of her biggest hits. The song contains the same level of catchiness of a Destiny’s Child song but separates itself as a downbeat ballad, incorporating elements of pop and rock. Each verse tells a story of different young people who experience hardships like bullying, depression, violence, and teen pregnancy.

“Stole” performed well on American charts but was even more successful internationally. The song peaked within the Top 5 on charts in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and the UK. “Stole” is certified Platinum in Australia, gold in New Zealand, and Silver in Britain.

Kelly Rowland and David Guetta first collaborated in 2009 for “When Love Takes Over,” a dance anthem that reached No. 1 chart positions and achieved Platinum certification in multiple international markets. The following year, the two reunited once again for “Commander,” this time as a single for Kelly Rowland’s album, Here I Am.

“Commander” conquered clubs and charts worldwide, much like “When Love Takes Over." As the title suggests, Kelly Rowland commands the song with her powerful vocals and fully displays her confidence. Though not as commercially successful as Rowland and Guetta’s previous collaboration, “Commander” went Gold in both the UK and New Zealand. 

Kelly Rowland’s second studio album, 2007’s Ms. Kelly, contains some of her biggest hits. “Like This” is a party-ready song with a minimal yet bumping instrumental. It is a vintage yet modern production that leaves plenty of room for Rowland to shine vocally. In addition to Kelly’s melodies in the verses, the song has plenty of attitude in its infectiously repetitive hook. The piece is also practically made for Eve to shine with her confident flow. “Like This” has proven its longevity, achieving Gold status in America in 2020 and Silver status in the UK in 2022. 

Also from the Ms. Kelly album, 2007’s “Work” ranks high as one of Kelly Rowland’s biggest hits. The track features a pulsing rhythm similar to Destiny’s Child’s “Bootylicious,” made for the dance floor. "Work" came at a time when pop music was incorporating elements of Punjabi bhangra, which is reflected in the song’s instrumentation. It also paved the way for Rowland’s success in the dance world. Though it was not released as a single in North America, “Work” charted quite high internationally and is now Platinum in Australia and Italy and Gold in the UK. 

“Motivation” is undoubtedly Kelly Rowland’s biggest hit and best song. The tune is a modern R&B classic produced by Jim Jonsin and Rico Love. The song is a steamy display of Rowland’s ability to perfectly combine the sexiness of R&B and the appeal of a pop hit. Vocally, she glides across the down-beat instrumental. Lil Wayne joins Kelly and delivers a short yet clever verse with humorous punchlines. “Motivation” remains Kelly Rowland’s biggest hit song, being certified 2x Platinum status by 2013. The song was her first solo No. 1 hit as the lead artist on Billboard.

[via]