# List of Black Singles number ones of 1983

Billboard published a weekly chart in 1983 ranking the top-performing singles in the United States in African American-oriented genres; the chart has undergone various name changes over the decades to reflect the evolution of black music and has been published as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs since 2005. In 1983, it was published under the title Black Singles, and 13 different singles reached number one.
In the issue of Billboard dated January 1, "Sexual Healing" by Marvin Gaye was at number one, its ninth week in the top spot. It spent one further week atop the chart for a total of ten weeks at number one, the longest-running chart-topper on the listing since 1962. The track was replaced at number one in the issue dated January 15 by "The Girl Is Mine" by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. The duet was the first of three number ones for Jackson in the first half of the year, all taken from his album Thriller, regarded as the worldwide best-selling album of all time. "The Girl Is Mine" spent three weeks at number one and after one week out of the top spot, Jackson returned to number one in the issue dated February 12 with "Billie Jean". This track spent nine consecutive weeks at number one, the longest chart-topping run of 1983. Not until 1994, when "Bump n' Grind" by R. Kelly spent 12 weeks at number one, would another song spend as long atop the chart. "Billie Jean" has been included on various lists of the greatest songs of all time, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll. Jackson spent one further week at number one in May with "Beat It"; he was the only act with more than one number one during the year and his total of 13 weeks in the top spot was the highest of any act.
Several acts topped the chart in 1983 for the first time, beginning with McCartney in January. In April, George Clinton achieved his first solo number one with "Atomic Dog"; he had previously experienced considerable success in the 1970s as the leader of the Parliament-Funkadelic collective. His track was replaced in the top spot by "Candy Girl", the debut single by teenaged vocal group New Edition. The group Mtume gained its first number one with "Juicy Fruit", which had the year's second-longest run in the top spot, spending eight weeks in the peak position. The song has gone on to be sampled by many acts and called "one of the most recognizable samples in hip-hop history". Finally, family vocal group DeBarge topped the chart for the first time in December with "Time Will Reveal", which was the final number one of 1983. "Billie Jean", "Beat It", and "All Night Long (All Night)" by Lionel Richie also topped Billboard's pop singles chart, the Hot 100.

## Chart history

Key :
| † | Indicates number 1 on Billboard's year-end black singles chart |
Chart history :
| Issue date | Title | Artist(s) |
| January 1 | "Sexual Healing" † | Marvin Gaye |
| January 8 | "Sexual Healing" † | Marvin Gaye |
| January 15 | "The Girl Is Mine" | Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney |
| January 22 | "The Girl Is Mine" | Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney |
| January 29 | "The Girl Is Mine" | Michael Jackson & Paul McCartney |
| February 5 | "Outstanding" | The Gap Band |
| February 12 | "Billie Jean" | Michael Jackson |
| February 19 | "Billie Jean" | Michael Jackson |
| February 26 | "Billie Jean" | Michael Jackson |
| March 5 | "Billie Jean" | Michael Jackson |
| March 12 | "Billie Jean" | Michael Jackson |
| March 19 | "Billie Jean" | Michael Jackson |
| March 26 | "Billie Jean" | Michael Jackson |
| April 2 | "Billie Jean" | Michael Jackson |
| April 9 | "Billie Jean" | Michael Jackson |
| April 16 | "Atomic Dog" | George Clinton |
| April 23 | "Atomic Dog" | George Clinton |
| April 30 | "Atomic Dog" | George Clinton |
| May 7 | "Atomic Dog" | George Clinton |
| May 14 | "Candy Girl" | New Edition |
| May 21 | "Beat It" | Michael Jackson |
| May 28 | "Save the Overtime (For Me)" | Gladys Knight and the Pips |
| June 4 | "Juicy Fruit" | Mtume |
| June 11 | "Juicy Fruit" | Mtume |
| June 18 | "Juicy Fruit" | Mtume |
| June 25 | "Juicy Fruit" | Mtume |
| July 2 | "Juicy Fruit" | Mtume |
| July 9 | "Juicy Fruit" | Mtume |
| July 16 | "Juicy Fruit" | Mtume |
| July 23 | "Juicy Fruit" | Mtume |
| July 30 | "She Works Hard for the Money" | Donna Summer |
| August 6 | "She Works Hard for the Money" | Donna Summer |
| August 13 | "She Works Hard for the Money" | Donna Summer |
| August 20 | "Get It Right" | Aretha Franklin |
| August 27 | "Get It Right" | Aretha Franklin |
| September 3 | "Cold Blooded" | Rick James |
| September 10 | "Cold Blooded" | Rick James |
| September 17 | "Cold Blooded" | Rick James |
| September 24 | "Cold Blooded" | Rick James |
| October 1 | "Cold Blooded" | Rick James |
| October 8 | "Cold Blooded" | Rick James |
| October 15 | "Ain't Nobody" | Rufus & Chaka Khan |
| October 22 | "All Night Long (All Night)" | Lionel Richie |
| October 29 | "All Night Long (All Night)" | Lionel Richie |
| November 5 | "All Night Long (All Night)" | Lionel Richie |
| November 12 | "All Night Long (All Night)" | Lionel Richie |
| November 19 | "All Night Long (All Night)" | Lionel Richie |
| November 26 | "All Night Long (All Night)" | Lionel Richie |
| December 3 | "All Night Long (All Night)" | Lionel Richie |
| December 10 | "Time Will Reveal" | DeBarge |
| December 17 | "Time Will Reveal" | DeBarge |
| December 24 | "Time Will Reveal" | DeBarge |
| December 31 | "Time Will Reveal" | DeBarge |