From Warren G to Coolio — the “hidden” number-one hits of 1994!

1994 was the slowest year of the ’90s for number-ones on the Billboard Hot 100 — but a handful of songs that didn’t quite reach the summit could still be considered honorary number-one hits.

In this series of articles, I am revealing the songs that topped either Billboard’s physical sales chart or its radio airplay chart — but never had enough points across the board to lead the multi-metric Hot 100!

In 1993, it became clear that hip-hop smashes were being injusticed due to not getting the necessary radio support to make it straight to the top; sadly, that trend continued in 1994.

Mariah Carey — the queen of the decade — started the year on top with one of her signature smashes, the schmaltzy yet enduring “Hero”. Below are the nine other songs — the lowest total ever at the time — which made it to №1 on the Hot 100 in 1994, along with their respective peak positions in sales and airplay.

“Breathe Again” — Toni Braxton

#6 in Sales; #1 in Airplay; #3 on the Hot 100

One of the most unique voices in contemporary music, Toni Braxton mastered her blend of soulful and sultry from an early age, and used it to become one of the best-selling artists of the era. Her restrained, low register lends itself beautifully to “Breathe Again”, her first radio №1, which also became her first big European/worldwide hit. Toni would go on to have two number-one hits on the Hot 100. The first one, “You’re Makin’ Me High”, didn’t top either the sales or the radio chart, funnily enough; the second one, well, that topped both charts, as well as charts around the world. Do I even need to say what song it was?

“Regulate” — Warren G & Nate Dogg

#1 in Sales; #15 in Airplay; #2 on the Hot 100

In ’93, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg peaked out at №2 on the Hot 100 with “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang”, a G-funk song which was actually №1 in sales. The following year, Warren G — Dre’s stepbrother — accomplished the same feat with “Regulate”, a collaboration with Nate Dogg — Snoop’s cousin. How about that?

“Fantastic Voyage” — Coolio

#1 in Sales; #11 in Airplay; #3 on the Hot 100

Coolio is often credited with bringing hip-hop to a mainstream audience by focusing on its lighter and more humorous side. But “Fantastic Voyage”, the third single from his debut album, It Takes a Thief, is deceptively deeper than its “slide, slide, slippity slide” hook would give away — it’s a song about escaping urban black poverty. The video received heavy rotation on MTV and the physical single topped the sales chart. Sadly, it wasn’t able to crown the Hot 100, but Coolio would go on to accomplish that with one of the defining hits of the era — but more on that in the 1995 article.

“Don’t Turn Around” — Ace of Base

#6 in Sales; #1 in Airplay; #4 on the Hot 100

Ace of Base had already had a sales №1 with “All That She Wants” in late ’93, and in 1994 they secured themselves the biggest hit of the year with “The Sign”. Their third consecutive smash, “Don’t Turn Around” (penned by prolific songwriters Albert Hammond and Diane Warren), had already been recorded by the likes of Tina Turner, Bonnie Tyler, and Neil Diamond, and had even been a UK №1 for Aswad, as a reggae reimagining.

And that’s it for hidden number-ones this time — which one do you feel was the most wronged?

Come back soon, because 1995 has plenty more… including the first radio №1 to not (really) chart on the Hot 100.