R&B; SONG OF THE YEAR

The Nominees: “Honey” by Mariah Carey, Sean “Puffy” Combs, K. Fareed, S. Hague, S. Jordan, R. Larkins, M. McLaren, L. Price and B. Robinson; “I Believe I Can Fly” by R. Kelly; “No Diggity” by Dr. Dre, C. Hannibal, Teddy Riley, William “Skylz” Stewart and L. Waters; “On & On” by Erykah Badu and JaBorne Jamal; “Stomp” by George Clinton Jr., Kirk Franklin, Walter Morrison and Gary M. Shider.

The Judge: Kenneth Gamble, who with partner Leon Huff has written and produced more than 70 R&B; hits, including the O’Jays’ “Back Stabbers” and Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes’ “If You Don’t Know Me by Now.”

The Verdict: Gamble gives high marks to “Honey’s” blend of Carey’s sweet vocal and Combs’ funked-up production touches. “That song’s very clever and very catchy,” he says. “I think this is a fairly creative song, and Puffy really gives it the spice it needs.”

According to Gamble, the key to the success of Blackstreet’s funky “No Diggity” is twofold: “One, that line, ‘I like the way you work it’--that’s a great hook. The other thing is the title. I don’t think it’s really meant to mean anything, but that’s what makes it so great; it’s what makes it a cool song.”

Gamble found spiritual solace in Kelly’s “I Believe I Can Fly” and God’s Property featuring Kirk Franklin and “Salt’s” “Stomp.” “It’s a very inspirational, uplifting track,” he says of the latter, “because it conveys a positive message of hope. It’s spiritual and funky at the same time.”

Similarly, Gamble finds “Fly’s” message of hope to be an inspiration. “A writer has to have a complete vision to sustain a song,” he says, “and Kelly has one here. . . . It’s about anyone who wants to prove themselves.”

Badu’s “On & On” gets the nod for most innovative track. “She effectively combines jazz, blues and hip-hop on this track, although I think the bass is mixed too high.”

And the winner? “It’s between ‘On & On’ and ‘I Believe I Can Fly,’ but I’m leaning a little toward the latter. That song will endure.”