37 Best Songs From 2002

“Cry Me a River” by Justin Timberlake

Song Year: 2002

“Cry Me a River” is a single from Justin Timberlake’s debut solo album released in 2002. The song features elements of pop music and R&B and discusses a painful breakup. The inspiration behind the song is probably Justin Timberlake’s relationship with Britney Spears, which ended in 2002.

“Fell in Love With a Girl” by The White Stripes

Song Year: 2002

With “Fell in Love With a Girl”, the White Stripes established themselves as an alt rock band to be reckoned with. The single was their first song to reach the top of the alternative charts. The band would go on to have a timeless hit with “Seven Nation Army” the following year.

“The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World

Song Year: 2002

With its unique mix of pop, punk, and emo pop, “The Middle” feels emblematic of Jimmy Eat World’s musical style. The single comes from the band’s first self-financed album and turned out to be a success in the rock charts.

“My List” by Toby Keith

Song year: 2002

Did you know country was the second most popular music genre in 2002 in the charts behind rap? With “My List,” Toby Keith stayed at the top of the country charts for close to a month.

The lyrics invite the listeners to think about what matters the most in life while the music video includes references to the 9/11 attacks.

“The Good Stuff” by Kenny Chesney

Song year: 2002

“The Good Stuff” was a summertime hit for Kenny Chesney. It stayed at the top of the charts for seven consecutive weeks and remains one of the biggest country hits of 2002.

“What’s Luv?” by Fat Joe

Song year: 2002

This catchy rap song features two of the early 2000s biggest names, Ja Rule and Ashanti. “What’s Luv?” includes a catchy chorus inspired by the Tina Turner hit “What’s Love Got to Do With It” combined with the kind of modern beat that defined rap and R&B at the time.

“All You Wanted” by Michelle Branche

Song year: 2002

Michelle Branch’s hit “All You Wanted” features some great guitar playing and an emotional chorus that makes the song easy to remember. The alt rock track peaked in sixth position in the US Billboard Hot 100 and did well in other countries.

“Just a Friend 2002” by Mario

Song year: 2002

“Just a Friend 2002” is an updated version of Biz Markie’s 1989 single “Just a Friend.” The lyrics of this newer version are about a man who experiences heartbreak after finding out that his girlfriend has been cheating on him.

“Oh Boy” by Cam’ron

Song year: 2002

One of the 100 greatest hip-hop songs of all times according to VH1, “Oh Boy” stayed at the top of the Hot R&B and Hip-Hop Singles charts for a total of five weeks. The song is about a successful drug dealer and originally included a verse from Jay-Z that producers decided to remove.

“Down 4 U” by Ja Rule, Ashanti, Vita and Charli Baltimore

Song year: 2002

With so many talented artists involved, it’s no surprise that this catchy collaboration became a hit during the summer of 2002. The song takes its inspiration from the 1987 Roger Troutman hit “I Want to Be Your Man.”

“Jenny From the Block” by Jennifer Lopez (feat. Jadakiss and Styles P)

Song Year: 2002

“Jenny From the Block” is a fun and catchy R&B song where Jennifer Lopez pays homage to classic hip-hop music by incorporating several samples from the 70s.

“All My Life” by The Foo Fighters

Song Year: 2002

“All My Life” was a commercial success in the US and the UK for the Foo Fighters. The powerful grunge track won a Grammy Award and topped the alternative charts for ten weeks. It’s still one of the most successful and recognizable songs of the band to this day.

Top Songs From 2002, Final Thoughts

The music industry changed with the new millennium, and the top songs from 2002 are representative of the trends that defined the early 2000s with the rise of rap as a mainstream genre or the growing popularity of collaborations and remixes.

Whether you lived through the early 2000s or simply like old-school music, this list features the best tracks from that era that have remained popular to this day.