2000s Pop Quiz

Which R&B superstar launched her solo career in 2003 with the Jay-Z-featured hit 'Crazy in Love'?

AnswerBeyoncé

Which R&B singer dominated 2004 charts with his album 'Confessions', spawning hits like 'Yeah!' and 'Burn'?

AnswerUsher

Which group, featuring will.i.am and Fergie, had a massive 2005 hit with 'Don't Phunk with My Heart'?

AnswerBlack Eyed Peas

Which No Doubt frontwoman went solo in 2004 and scored a huge hit with 'Hollaback Girl'?

AnswerGwen Stefani

Which rapper's 2002 hit 'Hot in Herre' became one of the defining party anthems of the decade?

AnswerNelly

Which Barbadian singer burst onto the scene in 2005 with her debut hit 'Pon de Replay'?

AnswerRihanna

Which pop diva reinvented her image with the 2002 hit 'Dirrty' and album 'Stripped'?

AnswerChristina Aguilera

Which power-pop band scored an unexpected 2003 smash with 'Stacy's Mom'?

AnswerFountains of Wayne

Which rapper's 2003 debut album 'Get Rich or Die Tryin'' was executive produced by Dr. Dre and Eminem?

Answer50 Cent

NoteThe album's lead single 'In da Club' became one of the most-played songs in radio history.

Which classically trained singer-pianist broke through in 2001 with 'Fallin'' from her debut album 'Songs in A Minor'?

AnswerAlicia Keys

NoteShe swept multiple categories at the 2002 Grammys, including Best New Artist.

Which producer, known for his futuristic beats, crafted hits for Missy Elliott, Aaliyah, and Justin Timberlake in the 2000s?

AnswerTimbaland

NoteHe often used unusual sounds like baby coos and beatboxing in his beat production.

Which shouting hype-man producer, famous for 'Get Low' and 'Snap Yo Fingers', helped popularize the crunk subgenre from Atlanta?

AnswerLil Jon

NoteHis catchphrase 'OKAY!' and grill became iconic symbols of the crunk era.

Which Atlanta rapper, dubbed the 'King of the South,' released the 2006 hit album 'King' featuring 'What You Know'?

AnswerT.I.

NoteT.I. is credited with helping bring trap music into the mainstream during this era.

Which singer staged a major career comeback with her 2005 album 'The Emancipation of Mimi', featuring 'We Belong Together'?

AnswerMariah Carey

Note'We Belong Together' was named Billboard's song of the decade for the 2000s.

Which producer-turned-rapper built his 2004 debut 'The College Dropout' around soulful sped-up samples, including on 'Through the Wire'?

AnswerKanye West

NoteHe recorded 'Through the Wire' while his jaw was still wired shut after a car accident.

Which Atlanta-based singer, dubbed the 'Princess of Crunk&B', broke through in 2004 with 'Goodies' featuring Petey Pablo?

AnswerCiara

NoteCiara has been a trained dancer since childhood, which shaped her signature choreography.

Which Harlem hip-hop collective, led by Cam'ron and Jim Jones, became known for its 'Dipset' pink and camouflage style in the mid-2000s?

AnswerThe Diplomats

NoteTheir chant 'Dipset' became a widely recognized ad-lib across hip-hop culture.

Which singer became the first winner of American Idol in 2002, later releasing the hit 'Since U Been Gone'?

AnswerKelly Clarkson

NoteHer single 'Since U Been Gone' is considered a turning point in pop-punk-influenced pop production.

Which British singer won the very first series of Pop Idol in 2002, beating Gareth Gates?

AnswerWill Young

Which soulful singer won American Idol's third season in 2004 with her rendition of 'Summertime'?

AnswerFantasia Barrino

Which American Idol season 2 runner-up became a surprise hit maker with 'This Is the Night', outselling the winner's single at first?

AnswerClay Aiken

Which classical crossover vocal quartet was assembled by Simon Cowell in 2004, blending opera with pop ballads?

AnswerIl Divo

Nicknamed the 'Velvet Teddy Bear,' which soulful singer narrowly edged out the runner-up to win American Idol's second season?

AnswerRubén Studdard

At just 17, which singer became the youngest American Idol winner ever in 2007?

AnswerJordin Sparks

Which American Idol season 3 contestant was famously eliminated early, only to later win an Oscar for Dreamgirls?

AnswerJennifer Hudson

Which New York trio, fronted by the flamboyant Karen O, released the acclaimed 2003 album 'Fever to Tell'?

AnswerYeah Yeah Yeahs

NoteKaren O's stage antics, including spitting and destroying instruments, made the band's live shows legendary.

Which London band mixed post-punk angularity with dance rhythms on their 2005 debut album 'Silent Alarm'?

AnswerBloc Party

NoteFrontman Kele Okereke later pursued a solo career blending indie rock with dance and electronic influences.

Which New York band's raw, stripped-down sound on 'Is This It' helped ignite the early-2000s garage rock revival?

AnswerThe Strokes

NoteThe album cover, originally featuring a photo of a gloved hand on a bare hip, was changed in the US due to controversy.

Which Ivy League-formed band brought Afropop-tinged guitar lines to indie rock on their self-titled 2008 debut?

AnswerVampire Weekend

NoteThe band formed at Columbia University and drew early comparisons to Paul Simon's 'Graceland' era.

Which British singer fused retro soul with pop-rock sensibilities on her genre-defining 2006 album 'Back to Black'?

AnswerAmy Winehouse

Note'Back to Black' was produced with Mark Ronson, whose retro production style became a signature sound of the era.

Which Seattle band, closely tied to the show 'The O.C.', broke into the mainstream with their 2005 album 'Plans'?

AnswerDeath Cab for Cutie

NoteThe band's name comes from a song by the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, made famous in the Beatles' film 'Magical Mystery Tour'.

Which duo, pairing Cee Lo Green with producer Danger Mouse, topped charts worldwide in 2006 with the soulful crossover hit 'Crazy'?

AnswerGnarls Barkley

Note'Crazy' became the first song in UK chart history to reach number one on downloads alone, before physical release.