The music scene in 2002 marked a pivotal transition, solidifying itself as the true sound of the 21st century. The reign of late-90s teen pop was drawing to a close, its former stars maturing and paving the way for a new wave of artists whose music resonated more with everyday life than the bubblegum pop anthems of TRL. Emo music surged into the mainstream consciousness, while the much-anticipated New Rock Revolution from the previous year finally exploded onto radios and music television channels across the nation. Simultaneously, the underground club culture of New York City began to fuse indie sensibilities with dance rhythms, creating a lasting impact on the music landscape. Even established rock and country legends discovered fresh creative energy, reinventing their sound for a new era, with some even making a comeback from beyond the grave.
However, the most significant narrative of 2002 was the definitive establishment of rap music as the dominant genre of the decade. Eminem ascended to unparalleled levels of fame, becoming a global household name, arguably the biggest musical mononym since the early days of MTV. Missy Elliott and Timbaland continued their innovative streak, delivering some of their most iconic hits, both collaboratively and through their work with other forward-thinking hip-hop and R&B artists. The Neptunes, already renowned for their widespread pop influence, reached new heights of success, crafting both the biggest crossover hit on Top 40 radio and the most critically acclaimed street anthem of the summer. Murder Inc., led by Ja Rule and Ashanti, dominated the charts, reaching a commercial zenith that, while ultimately short-lived, largely due to emerging rivalries within the New York scene, defined the sound of 2002 perhaps more than any other movement. This period witnessed the nascent mainstream breakthrough of another New York hip-hop icon, whose ascent would further shape the genre’s trajectory.
This week, we delve into 2002, a year that fundamentally shaped popular music in the 21st century, with a series of articles on Billboard.com exploring the most compelling narratives of this transformative period. To begin, we present our curated list of the 100 greatest songs of 2002 – a collection of timeless classics, overlooked gems, and unforgettable one-hit wonders that are uniquely representative of that moment in pop history. Our selection criteria include singles released in 2002, as well as songs that first appeared on the Billboard charts or reached number one for the first time during that year. Tracks that initially charted or topped the charts in 2003, such as t.A.T.u.’s “All the Things She Said,” Coldplay’s “Clocks,” or B2K’s “Bump, Bump, Bump,” will be celebrated in our reflections next year for their 20th anniversaries.
Explore our comprehensive list below—accompanied by a Spotify playlist here featuring all 100 songs—and immerse yourself in the music of the year that truly defined the ‘00s as we know them today.
