₦airaland Forum

Sometimes, songs are not just all about sounds and lyrics, but the memories that they are attached to.

Below are 20 chat-topper songs that rocked the 90s and early 2000s. The timeline is basically late 90s to early 2000s.



1. Dilemma - Nelly Feat. Kelly Rowland
Release date: June 22, 2002.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WYHDfJDPDc&pp=ygUXZGlsZW1tYSBuZWxseSBhbmQga2VsbHk%3D

2. Mesmerize - Ja Rule Feat. Ashanti
Release date:
December 16, 2002

At a time, Ja Rule was on top the game before Curtis Jackson (50 Cent) punctured his fame.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcP96KbFIIU&pp=ygUdbWVzbWVyaXplIGphIHJ1bGUgYW5kIGFzaGFudGk%3D


3. Cluck Cluck - Product G&B Feat. Wyclef Jean
Release date: May 22, 2001


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noJ_T0pBcQQ&pp=ygUmQ2x1Y2sgY2x1Y2sgcHJvZHVjdCBnJmIgb2ZmaWNpYWwgdmlkZW8%3D

4. Got A Man - Eve
Release date: August 31, 1999
Eve was really the 1st Lady of Ruff Ryders


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUEQ7BmGh9k&pp=ygUQZ290IGEgbWFuIGJ5IGV2ZdIHCQk_CwGHKiGM7w%3D%3D


5. You And I - Plantashun Boiz (Tuface, Faze, and Black Face)
Release date: May 25, 2000


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtIPrZkuXhU&pp=ygUfeW91IGFuZCBpIHBsYW50YXNodW4gYm9peiB2aWRlbw%3D%3D


6. Izzo - Jay-Z (Shawn Carter)
Release date: June 19, 2001
One spectacular thing about this song is that it can stand as a party song and also a meditative piece. It is a classic song.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRKmpn3SBdw&pp=ygUKaXp6byBqYXkgeg%3D%3D


7. Always On Time - Ja Rule Feat. Ashanti
Release date: November 27, 2001
The rhythm of the song is on another level.
Ashanti did a nice job on the chorus.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tcDXJfAFVw&pp=ygUWYWx3YXlzIG9uIHRpbWUgamEgcnVsZQ%3D%3D


8. No Letting Go - Wayne Wonder
Release date: January 21, 2003


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGTu6F97YF0&pp=ygUad2F5bmUgd29uZGVyIG5vIGxldHRpbmcgZ28%3D

9. In Da Club - 50 Cent
Release date: January 7, 2003
This will continue to be one of the biggest hit in the history of hip-hop. 2003 was actually 50 Cent, and 50 Cent was 2003.
With this hit songs, and others like 'Many Men', 50 Cent made Tony Yayo and Lloyd Banks rich. Kudos to Eminem and Dr Dre for the production of this song.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qm8PH4xAss&pp=ygUSaW4gZGEgY2x1YiA1MCBjZW50


10. Get Busy - Sean Paul
Release date: January 27, 2003
Song was a party starter no doubt.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbBPEEp4E2c&pp=ygUSZ2V0IGJ1c3kgc2VhbiBwYXVs


11. Ms Jackson - Outlast
Release date: October 24, 2000
I don't what happened to these guys.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYxAiK6VnXw&pp=ygUSbXMgamFja3NvbiBvdXRrYXN0

12. I Need A Girl - P-Diddy Feat. Usher
Release date: February 25, 2002
Na this song dey melt girls heart back then.
In as much as Sean Combs is accused of several criminal offences, that doesn't stop the fact that he gave us good songs back then.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXYb1OMhwBA&pp=ygUTaSBuZWVkIGEgZ2lybCBkaWRkeQ%3D%3D

13. Na Ba Ka - Jeremiah Gyang Feat SixFoot Plus
Release date: May 15, 2004
The only Hausa gospel song that sounds like a party song. SixFoot Plus murdered that song. This song is the only Hausa song that I have danced to in my entire life.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOxQfW-jKcE&pp=ygUdbmEgYmEga2EgamVyZW1pYWggZ3lhbmcgdmlkZW8%3D


14. Missing You - Case
Release date: April 24, 2001
This song brings back so many memories.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VujYa9OtqXM&pp=ygUWTWlzc2luZyB5b3UgY2FzZSB2aWRlbw%3D%3D


15. I Wish - R.Kelly
Release date: September 19, 2000
Robert Kelly still remains the Pied Piper, and the 'R' in RnB.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adodEpiYSEc&pp=ygUOSSB3aXNoIHIua2VsbHk%3D

16. What They Want - DMX Feat. Sisqo
Release date: June 6, 2000
I had a music book that had the lyrics to this song back then.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MdAbsd0HmI&pp=ygUYZG14IGZ0IHNpc3FvIHdoYXQgdSB3YW500gcJCT8LAYcqIYzv

17. Ruff Ryders Anthem - DMX
This is the song that made DMX popular all over the world.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThlhSnRk21E&pp=ygUWZG14IHJ1ZmYgcnlkZXJzIGFudGhlbQ%3D%3D


18. New York - Ja Rule Feat. Fat Joe and Jadakiss
Release date: October 27, 2004
This song will make you want to come from New York.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4yDzAMOGqI&pp=ygUQTmV3IHlvcmsgamEgcnVsZQ%3D%3D



19. Karma - Lloyd Banks Feat. Avant
Release date: July 3, 2004
Lloyd Banks is actually underrated. This song remains a classic.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nraQqhQqRx4&pp=ygURS2FybWEgbGxveWQgYmFua3M%3D


20. How We Do - The Game Feat. 50 Cent
Release date: October 30, 2004
Another masterpiece from the stable of G-Unit


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH34kMOjmQk&pp=ygURaG93IHdlIGRvIDUwIGNlbnQ%3D

Compiled by Rapmoney

Bring it on...#ThrowBackThursday

It's correct to say that music died after this era

You left out Celine Dion, Craig Davids?

I wanna know by Joe ought to be on this list and some other songs as well. Just keep the list open for others to add theirs my suggestion.

It's correct to say that music died after this era


When Nas and Will.i.am dropped the joint "Hip-hop" is dead, it wasn't just hip-hop that died, music generally died as well

Oh wow! This is obviously not for gen Zs, they're seriously missing!

Nice Compilation. Nostalgic !

Olufunmi by Styl-Plus.
This song should be in that list

Thong songs......... Sisco

Unleash the Dragon........ Sisco

Missing you..... Puff Daddy, Faith Evans

Hit Em Up....... 2pac

Notorious- Notorious BIG, Puff Daddy, Lil Kim

Big Pimpin...... Jay z

In da Club...... 50 Cent

More Money, More Problems - Puff Daddy & Maze

Jarule and Ashanti dey burst my brain anyday

Nelly Nelly good old days. Where the guy even day now?

Chai.... 50cent in da club.

I remember when I do stick plaster on my chick calling myself Nelly.

I remember Akon too though around 2004.

My guy you tried but you never reach yet.

There are other classics like Snoop Dogg's "Drop it like it's hot" you missed. R kelly's "Slow Whine", Aaliya "Try again", A-ha's "Take on Me", Amerie's "One thing", Craig David's "Rendez Vous", Fat Joe's and Ashanti "What's luv?", Dr Alban "It's my life", J-Lo, "Love don't cost a thing", Lighthouse Family's "High", Sisqo "Unleash the dragon", TLC "no scrubs", Kylie "Can't get you out of my head"...

All these I can forgive if you forget... but UNFORGETTABLE is the one and only

Dr Dre ft Snoop Dogg "STILL".

SlavaUkraini:
Thong songs......... Sisco

Unleash the Dragon........ Sisco

Ruff Ryders Anthem........ DMX

Hit Em Up....... 2pac

Notorious- Notorious BIG, Puff Daddy, Lil Kim

Big Pimpin...... Jay z

Na Sisco na him introduce bad things for modern music videos

Small children no go know this one o

friday night with my palito radio non stop jamz

Our growing up was super sweet

Just say 2000s. There are no 90s in this list. And songs from the 90s especially rap songs were more dope than this. Talking about the likes of Wu Tang Klan, Nate Dogg, Naughty by Nature, Notorious Big, 2pac, Warren G, Ice Cube and much more.

Those songs gave good times back in the days..

Why are you making feel old na

I refuse to accept am oldies

What about that song DBN TELEVISION usually plays before there late night movies

That will have to vote

Night shift

Unleashed the dragon by sisco

Nice. But there are a lot of songs before "How We Do", "Karma" and Ja rule's "New York" can get on a top 20 list of 90s & 2000s.

crazygod:
Just say 2000s. There are no 90s in this list. And songs from the 90s especially rap songs were more dope than this. Talking about the likes of Wu Tang Klan, Nate Dogg, Naughty by Nature, Notorious Big, 2pac, Warren G, Ice Cube and much more.

I agree. The 2000s went all out commercial.

mariovito:
It's correct to say that music died after this era

you can say that again, 2005 was the end of good music, rick dees top 40 count down on cool FM

We riding - Chalmillionair
Nas - I know I can
Eve - who's that girl
Casey and jojo - I'm missing you
Michael Jackson - you rock my world
Bow wow - what's my name
Kelly Rowland - stole
Destiny child - survival
Seun Kingston - beautiful girl
Lil Wayne - lollipop
Usher - u remind me of a girl
Dare alade - pray for me
Style plus - run away/ olofunmi
Wande coal- ololufe

Where's Kasabubu by General Kollington Ayinla?

mariovito:
It's correct to say that music died after this era

Died, buried, and may never be reborn...!

SaintLucia:
Where's Kasabubu by General Kollington Ayinla?

Them no dey talk of fuji here oga...The op forget the likes of paul play dairo and the rest of them

Edoreborn:
Them no dey talk of fuji here oga...

eji jo Kasabubu ti Ayinla fuji general

If you wr a teenager in the early 2000s and u never listened nor watched dilemna track by Nelly,you'd probably living in a cave then. Dilemna and "I'm walking away' by Craig David were in the mouths of every youths then. Chaii. We used to buy songs lyrics then for writing love letters to our female classmates then.

Every love quotes is found inside rnb lyrics

Helpfromabove1:
Why are you making feel old na

I refuse to accept am oldies

What about that song DBN TELEVISION usually plays before there late night movies

That will have to vote

Night shift

Unleashed the dragon by sisco

Everyone gets old... That's life.

Time never waits.

An 18 year old today was in diapers when some of us were 18... and those born today will call him 'Old' in another 18 years.

Time is no one's friend cos it never waits.

When music was MUSIC. It is all gone. Where is DIALLO! DIALLO!!? By Wyclef Jean. The Music Maestro.

Where’s Joe Thomas?
Damn I’m old AF.

If you are talking about late 90s, then you shouldn't forget Brandy and Monica The Boy is Mine, Craig David 7 Days, Joe (so many of his songs), Montel Jordan This is How We do it, Michael Jackson Blood on The Dancefloor

These are mostly 2000s.

One of the hit songs was MJ's controversial song

SixSeven:
Do you remember Michael Jackson's wear in Brazil? That's what Davido imitated. Olodum(are)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNJL6nfu__Q

The significance of Olodum to Michael Jackson lies in their monumental 1996 collaboration on "They Don't Care About Us," which transformed the track from a standard pop song into a global anthem of political resistance and anti-racism.

"They Don't Care About Us" is a raw, fast-paced protest anthem that attacks systemic oppression, racism, government corruption, and police brutality. Unlike Michael Jackson’s more optimistic unity anthems like "Heal the World," this track takes a stark, confrontational approach. Driven by a aggressive, military-style drumbeat and defiant vocals, the lyrics voice the anger and helplessness felt by marginalized communities. It positions Jackson as a spokesperson for the disenfranchised, directly challenging the political institutions that abandon the vulnerable.

While "They Don't Care About Us" stalled at number 30 in the US due to controversy, it became a massive top-ten hit across the globe and hit number 1 in countries like Germany and Italy.


The song talks to most governments in the world, including the current Nigerian government if you listen to it properly.

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7608861248242896150



Others are

Ricky Martin's "Livin' La Vida Loca" (1999)

The Sign by Ace Of Base (1993) - "I saw the sun" 😎 🌞 It is actually I saw the sign

I saw the sign
And it opened up my eyes, I saw the sign
Life is demanding without understanding

I saw the sign
And it opened up my eyes, I saw the sign

No one's gonna drag you up to get into the light where you belong

But where do you belong?

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7326655656633617670?lang=en

Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" (1992)

MC Hammer's "U Can't Touch This" (1990)

Backstreet Boys’ "I Want It That Way" (1999)

Coolio’s "Gangsta’s Paradise" (1995)

Céline Dion’s "My Heart Will Go On" (1997)
Titanic was a hit so this song was the anthem.

Dr Alban's Hallelujah Dey also trended

Now that I'm going local,
Dr. Alban's "Hello Afrika" (1990)

Majek Fashek's "So Long Too Long" (1991)

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7466893947667762438

Ras Kimono's "Rhumba Stylee" (1992)

Mike Okri's "Wisdom" (1992)

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7244480936828603654

Lagbaja's "Coolu Temper" (1996)

Onyeka Onwenu's "You and I" (1996)

Tony Tetuila's "Omode Meta" (1999)

The official theme song for the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship hosted by Nigeria (popularly known as Nigeria '99) is "The Land of Plenty", led by reggae icon Orits Williki

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wleJ1oYwPA?si=ADuQmW8H8PErySJ

Orits Williki' s "Mubalamunbe" (1996)

The Remedies' "Shakomo" (1997)

Junior & Pretty's "Bolanle" (1994)

Daddy Showkey's "Diana" (1996)

This was based on a true story

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7371314403578236166

Zaaki Azzay's "Marry Am" (1996)

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7190318051991244078

Tony One Week's "Everybody Gyrate" (1998)

Baba Fryo's "Dem Go Dey Pose" (1997)

Femi Kuti's "Bang Bang Bang" (1998)

Blackky's "Rosie" (1991)

Weird MC's "Allen Avenue" (1996)

Seyi Sodimu's "Love Me Jeje" (1997)

Trybesmen's "Shake Bodi" (1998)

Junior & Pretty's "Bolanle" (1994)

No need to mention Fela. Even Sonny Okosun sang songs that were meaningful

Wind of change (1990), African Soldier (1991) and one like that he sang to bring different religions and tribe together. I forget the title now


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-0MJ0h02tA


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yn6FJuKprZY

👆 Listen to these Sonny Okosun songs and tell me if he is still not speaking to government today

What I can now say is that the 90s had more inspirational and influential songs, the artistes cared more about the society so they used their lyrics and songs to change the society. Though this started from late 70s, the 2000s were more conscious of themselves and material things so songs started losing meaning from that era. Your oppressors in government are today dancing with you to nonsensical music that has no message and no reminders. Dem no born them well back then to dance to the songs that reminded them of what they have not done. 90s was the end of it IMO. Children today don't even have any inspirational child friendly songs, they now shake their yansh from age 4

Late 2000s that was influential. It was the period of Plantashun Boiz but our artistes were mimicking the US artistes. Only KUSH's song had meaning here because I think they released after the riot in Jos or Kaduna, I can't really remember but it was a riot in Northern Nigeria. Anyone who remembers can correct me

Sound Sultan - "Mathematics" (2000)

Plantashun Boiz - "Don't You Know" (2000)

KUSH - "Let's Live Together" (2001)

https://www.tiktok.com/video/7339816415404313898

African China - "Crisis" (2000)

Tony Tetuila - "My Car" (2001)