# List of Hot Black Singles number ones of 1988

Billboard published a weekly chart in 1988 ranking the top-performing singles in the United States in African American–oriented genres; the chart's name has changed over the decades to reflect the evolution of black music and has been published as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs since 2005. In 1988, it was published under the title Hot Black Singles, and 35 different singles reached number one.
In the issue of Billboard dated January 2, Michael Jackson was at number one with "The Way You Make Me Feel", retaining the spot from the final issue of 1987. He also spent time atop the chart in 1988 with "Man in the Mirror" and "Another Part of Me", making him the artist with the most number ones during the year and taking the number of Hot Black Singles chart-toppers from his 1987 album Bad to five. Al B. Sure! had two number ones and tied with Jackson for the most weeks spent by an act at number one, both artists spending five weeks in the peak position. Pebbles, Bobby Brown, and Freddie Jackson (no relation to Michael) all also topped the chart with two singles during the year. In March, Stevie Wonder reached number one with "You Will Know", his 20th single to top the chart, tying him with Aretha Franklin for the most number ones by an artist in the listing's history.
More than half of the acts that topped the chart in 1988 did so for the first time. In the issue dated January 30, Keith Sweat gained his first number one with "I Want Her", which would go on to top Billboard's year-end black singles chart. Terence Trent D'Arby reached number one for the first time with "Wishing Well", as did George Michael with "One More Try". Both tracks also topped Billboard's pop chart, the Hot 100; Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel" and "Man in the Mirror" and Billy Ocean's "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" also topped both listings. "One More Try" was the last in a run of six consecutive first-time Hot Black Singles number ones between April and June, following the debut chart-toppers for E.U., Al B. Sure!, Pebbles, Johnny Kemp, and Tony! Toni! Toné!. Morris Day, Teena Marie, Sade, the Mac Band featuring the McCampbell Brothers, Karyn White, Anita Baker, Cheryl Pepsii Riley, the Boys, and Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers all also reached number one on the Hot Black Singles listing for the first time, as did the rapper Roxanne Shante when she featured on a chart-topper by Rick James. Jeffrey Osborne achieved his first number one as a solo artist; he had reached number one three times with his band L.T.D. during the previous decade, but "She's on the Left" became his first and only solo single to top the chart when it reached number one in September.

## Chart history

Key :
| † | Indicates number 1 on Billboard's year-end black singles chart |
Chart history :
| Issue date | Title | Artist(s) |
| January 2 | "The Way You Make Me Feel" | Michael Jackson |
| January 9 | "The Way You Make Me Feel" | Michael Jackson |
| January 16 | "The Way You Make Me Feel" | Michael Jackson |
| January 23 | "Love Overboard" | Gladys Knight & the Pips |
| January 30 | "I Want Her" † | Keith Sweat |
| February 6 | "I Want Her" † | Keith Sweat |
| February 13 | "I Want Her" † | Keith Sweat |
| February 20 | "Girlfriend" | Pebbles |
| February 27 | "Girlfriend" | Pebbles |
| March 5 | "You Will Know" | Stevie Wonder |
| March 12 | "Fishnet" | Morris Day |
| March 19 | "Fishnet" | Morris Day |
| March 26 | "Man in the Mirror" | Michael Jackson |
| April 2 | "Wishing Well" | Terence Trent D'Arby |
| April 9 | "Ooo La La La" | Teena Marie |
| April 16 | "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" | Billy Ocean |
| April 23 | "Da Butt" | E.U. |
| April 30 | "Nite and Day" | Al B. Sure! |
| May 7 | "Nite and Day" | Al B. Sure! |
| May 14 | "Nite and Day" | Al B. Sure! |
| May 21 | "Mercedes Boy" | Pebbles |
| May 28 | "Just Got Paid" | Johnny Kemp |
| June 4 | "Just Got Paid" | Johnny Kemp |
| June 11 | "Little Walter" | Tony! Toni! Toné! |
| June 18 | "One More Try" | George Michael |
| June 25 | "Joy" | Teddy Pendergrass |
| July 2 | "Joy" | Teddy Pendergrass |
| July 9 | "Paradise" | Sade |
| July 16 | "Roses Are Red" | The Mac Band featuring the McCampbell Brothers |
| July 23 | "Don't Be Cruel" | Bobby Brown |
| July 30 | "Don't Be Cruel" | Bobby Brown |
| August 6 | "Off on Your Own (Girl)" | Al B. Sure! |
| August 13 | "Off on Your Own (Girl)" | Al B. Sure! |
| August 20 | "Loosey's Rap" | Rick James featuring Roxanne Shante |
| August 27 | "Nice 'n' Slow" | Freddie Jackson |
| September 3 | "Nice 'n' Slow" | Freddie Jackson |
| September 10 | "Nice 'n' Slow" | Freddie Jackson |
| September 17 | "Another Part of Me" | Michael Jackson |
| September 24 | "She's on the Left" | Jeffrey Osborne |
| October 1 | "Addicted to You" | LeVert |
| October 8 | "Addicted to You" | LeVert |
| October 15 | "My Prerogative" | Bobby Brown |
| October 22 | "My Prerogative" | Bobby Brown |
| October 29 | "The Way You Love Me" | Karyn White |
| November 5 | "Any Love" | Luther Vandross |
| November 12 | "Giving You the Best That I Got" | Anita Baker |
| November 19 | "Giving You the Best That I Got" | Anita Baker |
| November 26 | "Thanks for My Child" | Cheryl Pepsii Riley |
| December 3 | "Hey Lover" | Freddie Jackson |
| December 10 | "Dial My Heart" | The Boys |
| December 17 | "Everything I Miss at Home" | Cherrelle |
| December 24 | "Tumblin' Down" | Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers |
| December 31 | "Tumblin' Down" | Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers |