Now that we’re almost two decades into the millennium, it’s only appropriate that we look back on the jams that got the party started along the way. Here are some of my favorites from the early 2000s.
Ruff Endz – “No More”
Listen. This was my jam when it came out. My sister will tell you how much I annoyed her playing this, and how I sat in front of the TV waiting for BET to play the video every day. Ruff Endz found another hit with “Someone to Love You,” and we pretty much haven’t heard from them since.
Boyz II Men – “Pass You By”
All four guys were still making great music during this time, as evidenced by this song released in 2000. Though R&B music was certainly in transition, the group didn’t deviate from their formula of making meaningful, musical songs. That formula worked here. I miss Boyz II Men. How many songs are out now by a male group (or even a solo male R&B artist) admonishing women to love themselves?!
Chingy – “One Call Away”
I don’t know about you, but this song was like a breath of fresh air in hip-hop. Chingy might not have been considered a hardcore lyricist, but I never felt accosted by the lyrics of this song. Hip-hop can be a difficult place for women, and at least for one song, a guy was being chivalrous and sweet. Also, it was great to see Jason Weaver singing again.
Birdman ft. Clipse – “What Happened to that Boy”
I doubt many of us actually realized what this song was talking about when we were jamming to it. I know I just thought the beat was hitting and the hook was catchy. I highly doubt a song like this would fly today, but back then, it was a hit. And Birdman aka Baby still had some “respeck” on his name.
Toni Braxton – “He Wasn’t Man Enough”
Speaking of Birdman, his new flame, Toni Braxton, was hitting us with that musical fire in the early 2000s with this jam. In fact, this entire album was pure heat, and therefore aptly titled The Heat. Every high school and college girl was trying to do the dance routine in the silver chain dress.
Lucy Pearl – “Dance Tonight”
This still gets parties going when DJs drop it. One of those supergroups that you know could have a major impact on R&B, I was sad when their self-titled debut was basically all we got from them. Raphael Saadiq moved on to solo projects, songwriting, and producing other artists, Ali of ATCQ also continued producing, and I suspect Dawn might have tried (and failed) at another En Vogue reunion. Still, this one project was very impactful.
Ludacris – “What’s Your Fantasy?”
This set it off for Ludacris, and was completely inappropriate for most of us who were hearing it at the time. Ludacris was one of many rappers representing the south, a region which had been much maligned in hip-hop in earlier years.
Kelly Price – “As We Lay”
Kelly Price is one of the voices of the late ’90s/early 2000s who got less credit than she should have, in my opinion. Kelly was one of the most talented vocalists in R&B at the time, as shown by her remake of the classic Shirley Murdock song,
“What About Us?” – Brandy
The Full Moon album was Brandy’s breakout into womanhood. With her television series unceremoniously cancelled, she followed up the good (if syrupy) Never Say Never with this powerhouse album, primarily produced by Darkchild. This first single went a long way in helping push forward Brandy’s new and evolving image, and her vocal ability was still there and growing.
Houston – “I Like That”
This song puts into perspective how long the word “twerk” has been used. In any case, this was the jam when it came out, and I was honestly looking forward to more from Houston. Unfortunately, due to mental health issues, Houston’s fade to black came more quickly than many of us would have liked.
Kanye West – “Touch the Sky”
Casting Pamela Anderson as his girl in this video should have been an indication that he had the inclination to wed someone like a Kardashian even back then. BUT, he was still the Kanye we loved. Kanye’s production was still amazing, and this song sampled the fantastic song by Curtis Mayfield, “Move on Up.” Dang, I miss this Kanye.
Kelly Rowland ft. Eve – “Like This”
Kelly was still very much in Beyoncé’s shadow when this came out, but it was one of my favorite jams of the time. She was rocking the silver chain dress (like Toni Braxton). I also loved that she brought out Eve on the song, as this would be one of the last hip-hop appearances from Eve we saw on this level.
Mario – “How Could You”
Before J. Holiday, there was Mario. People like to say that vulnerable male R&B ended in the ’90s, but Mario is a prime example that it went well into the 2000s. Although this single wasn’t as big as “Let Me Love You,” I actually liked this one more. I often wonder where Mario would fit into the current R&B landscape, but one thing is for sure: He sings better than most of the male R&B artists out now. Come back, Mario!
