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The top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, for the week ending April 29, 1995:
10. ''I Believe,'' Blessid Union of Souls Drippy adult contemporary spiritual-pap with whiny vocals bearing more than a passing resemblance to Cyndi Lauper's ''True Colors.'' Like one of those god-awful songs that they force the American Idol kids to release as a first single. But where's Clay when you really need him? D
9. ''Dear Mama,'' 2Pac ''Even as a crack fiend/ Mama, you always were a black queen.'' 2Pac at his cuddliest and most unflinchingly candid. A-
8. ''Strong Enough,'' Sheryl Crow Notice she didn't say ''are you the world's greatest guitarist'' or ''the world's fittest endurance athlete.'' This is Crow's most concise, understated, and prickly bittersweet ballad. A-
7. ''Big Poppa/Warning,'' The Notorious B.I.G. Ask any DJ still using vinyl and they'll tell you: Biggie and Puffy's first legit crossover (which samples the Isley Brothers' ''Between the Sheets'') is a requisite 3 a.m. club grinder to this day. A
6. ''I Know,'' Dionne Farris The former Arrested Development singer who memorably let loose on the hit ''Tennessee'' went on to concoct this near-perfect pop-rock hit before disappearing into the Where Are They Now? zone. A
5. ''Run Away,'' Real McCoy Not as memorable as their hit ''Another Night,'' though this one probably inflicted more Euro-trash nightmares. Even the wretched techno beat is forgivable compared with that blond dude's menacing, unholy demon-voice rap. F
4. ''Candy Rain,'' Soul for Real A rollerskating soul jam from this New Edition-esque male quartet conjures sweet memories of...rollerskating. And not much else. Still, nostalgia dictates a B.
3. ''Freak Like Me,'' Adina Howard The R&B vixen broke through with this provocative plea for ''a freak in the morning, a freak in the evening.'' A tad dated, but the super-freak in us doesn't mind one bit. B+
2. ''Red Light Special,'' TLC Without the visual sell of its strip-poker-party video, this Babyface-penned ballad drags a bit and reveals their crazysexynotsocool vocal limitations. B-
1. ''This Is How We Do It,'' Montell Jordan Odds are you've probably sung along to this one in a drunken state. And for good reason. Sure, it's hokey, but it also encapsulates the West Coast-ified and increasingly hip-hop-flavored sound (it samples a classic Slick Rick track) that infiltrated R&B in the mid-90s. B
OVERALL TOP 10 GRADE: B-
