20 artists every late '90s kid loves

Every late '90s kid has the same visceral reaction when Usher's 2004 hit "Yeah!" comes on. Whether it be today at the local bar or 12 years ago at our first school dance, when we think of Usher, this is one of the first songs that comes to mind.

By the end of the '90s and early 2000s, Destiny's Child had become global icons. Thanks to their Billboard Hot 100 chart-toppers "Say My Name" and "Bills, Bills, Bills," these girls were everywhere, including popular television shows and every McDonald's billboard. DC's exposure also solidified Beyoncé as a superstar. Years after their debut, she released her first single, "Crazy In Love," which ... well, you know all about that song.

When it comes to the '90s, three words come to mind instantly: It's Britney, b-tch.

Now, most of NSYNC's biggest fans were probably teenage girls at the time, but truly, anybody can enjoy their music. Trust us, adding "Bye, Bye, Bye" to your next party playlist will surely get the party started.

To be clear, Mariah was also a legend in the early '90s. However, for us late '90s babies who started understanding music a few years later, her 2005 era will always be iconic for us.

Although Christina's early No. 1 hits like "Genie In A Bottle" were released in the late '90s, she continued to dominate the charts and music industry in the early 2000s with her stellar voice, meaning songs like "Dirrty" and "Beautiful" are what made her one of the greats in their eyes.

It's difficult for late '90s kids not to sing the lyrics to Eminem's hit "Lose Yourself" with their heads down and pointer fingers up when this jam comes on. It's just one of those songs that has been ingrained in our heads as a classic hit.

Rihanna burst onto the scene in 2005, right when late '90s kids were approaching their tween years. She released instant hits, including "Pon De Replay," "Unfaithful," and "Umbrella," which ultimately became some of our age group's biggest anthems. We still can't control ourselves listening to it today.  

Nobody came close to Drake during the early years of his career. Much like Rihanna, he debuted in 2007, so late '90s babies have always felt a connection to him and his music. During the first few years of his career, the musician released several top-10 hits, including "Best I Ever Had," "Find Your Love," and "Started From The Bottom."

Late '90s kids (we're talking 1996-99) may not be as connected to TLC as those who came before them. However, somewhere down the line, someone introduced them to "No Scrubs," and they've respected the group ever since.

Kanye released several popular songs back in the day, but "Gold Digger" (with Jamie Foxx) has to be the one that made him one of the best to the late '90s crowd.

Lady Gaga's debut was something else. She was theatrical and bold and unafraid to step outside of the box (hello, meat dress), which is probably why she appealed to young audiences.

Even if we late '90s kids didn't necessarily grow up listening to Jay-Z, we understand his contribution to hip-hop and the legacy of rap music. Plus, throughout the years, he's continued releasing phenomenal music ("Holy Grail") and writing fire features ("I Got The Keys") that will always find their way on our playlists.

Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" hit us late '90s babies differently. Did we know what a "hollaback girl" was? No. But did we love singing the word "bananas" to a snappy beat? Absolutely.

Did the late '90s kids really believe Justin Timberlake was bringing sexy back in 2006? Or did they just love the thrill of using what they thought was a bad word? He may have become a legend in their eyes then; however, the singer was an icon before his second album, thanks to his early 2000's hits "Cry Me A River" and "Rock Your Body."

Kelly Clarkson won the first season of American Idol, so her music career has always hit close to home for this group of listeners. Also, there's nothing like screaming "Since U Been Gone" at the top of your lungs when it comes on today.

There's nothing more appealing to a late '90s kid than hearing 50 Cent's "In Da Club" in the bar during their night out.

Alicia Keys' music is deep, especially her early singles like "Fallin" and "If I Ain't Got You." However, that didn't stop us kids (now adults) from the late '90s from belting out the lyrics like we felt what she was singing about. When we hear it today, it takes us back to that carefree, childlike place where everything was just right. Perhaps that's why we love these artists so much.

Lil Wayne is another rapper whose music hit the late '90s kids differently. "A Milli" in the bar today could make a group of Gen Z kids act a fool.

Early Chris Brown had hits on hits on hits. Like every other artist on this list, if we heard Breezy's classic "Run It!" today, things would get pretty wild.