These are the Billboard magazine R&B albums that have reached number-one in 1996.
Chart history
| Issue date | Album | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| January 6 | Waiting to Exhale | Soundtrack / Various artists |
| January 13 | ||
| January 20 | ||
| January 27 | ||
| February 3 | ||
| February 10 | Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton | Eazy-E |
| February 17 | ||
| February 24 | All Eyez on Me | 2Pac |
| March 2 | ||
| March 9 | ||
| March 16 | ||
| March 23 | ||
| March 30 | ||
| April 6 | ||
| April 13 | The Coming | Busta Rhymes |
| April 20 | The Resurrection | Geto Boys |
| April 27 | The Score | Fugees |
| May 4 | ||
| May 11 | Sunset Park | Soundtrack / Various artists |
| May 18 | The Score | Fugees |
| May 25 | ||
| June 1 | ||
| June 8 | Gettin' It (Album Number Ten) | Too Short |
| June 15 | ||
| June 22 | All Eyez on Me | 2Pac |
| June 29 | ||
| July 6 | Secrets | Toni Braxton |
| July 13 | All Eyez on Me | 2Pac |
| July 20 | It Was Written | Nas |
| July 27 | ||
| August 3 | ||
| August 10 | ||
| August 17 | Beats, Rhymes and Life | A Tribe Called Quest |
| August 24 | It Was Written | Nas |
| August 31 | ||
| September 7 | ||
| September 14 | ATLiens | Outkast |
| September 21 | ||
| September 28 | Home Again | New Edition |
| October 5 | Another Level | Blackstreet |
| October 12 | ||
| October 19 | ||
| October 26 | ||
| November 2 | ||
| November 9 | Bow Down | Westside Connection |
| November 16 | Hell On Earth | Mobb Deep |
| November 23 | Tha Doggfather | Snoop Dogg |
| November 30 | The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory | Makaveli |
| December 7 | ||
| December 14 | ||
| December 21 | Muddy Waters | Redman |
| December 28 | The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory | Makaveli |