· Alex Harris · Trending
50 Throwback Songs That Never Lost Their Bite: From TLC to Timbaland
Some throwback songs feel like they were made for summer nights.
It’s July, the season for backyard parties, beach trips, and those late-night karaoke sessions where everyone suddenly remembers the words to old hits.
From cruising with the windows down to blasting R&B floor-fillers or 2000s rap anthems on a packed dance floor, these classics never needed a makeover. They just stick.
This list rounds up 90s and 2000s throwback songs that still go hard, with chart stats, fan shout-outs, and that “how was this twenty years ago?” feeling that hits every time you press play.
Let’s get into it.
1. TLC – No Scrubs (1999)
“No Scrubs” is that track you throw on when you’re done putting up with nonsense. That’s it.
It sat at Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks and still shows up in TikToks and karaoke line-ups. One Reddit fan called it the go-to song for when your ex walks in.
Chart Fact: Triple Platinum in the US. Saweetie and Doja Cat flipped it in 2021. Some songs just won’t go away.
2. Missy Elliott – Work It (2002)
“Work It” never makes sense word for word, but everyone knows how it feels. Missy played with sound like nobody else.
This one won her a Grammy for Best Female Rap Solo and still pops up on every 2000s playlist worth anything.
Fan Love: One YouTube comment says they still drop the line in work meetings. It’s that catchy.
3. Timbaland & Magoo – Luv 2 Luv U (1997)
Long before the big pop collabs, Timbaland was messing around with chopped-up beats and off-kilter rhythms.
“Luv 2 Luv U” is weird in the best way. It’s the kind of song that makes people pause mid-conversation when it hits at a party.
Chart Stats: Peaked at #30 on the Billboard Hot 100 and still lands on the best 90s party playlists.
4. Destiny’s Child – Say My Name (1999)
This one’s all tension and attitude. The second that “Say my name, say my name” hook hits, you know exactly what it’s about.
Cheating drama, a catchy riff, and Beyoncé leading the pack before her solo days. Still a karaoke favourite and always sparks a singalong.
Chart Fact: Number 1 on Billboard for three weeks. Won two Grammys. Solid gold.
5. Usher – Yeah! (feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris) (2004)
The moment that synth line comes in, you’re already on the dance floor.
Usher, Ludacris and Lil Jon made a club anthem that never left. It’s impossible to stand still when it plays.
Fan Love: People still joke about doing the Lil Jon “YEAH!” at random. No shame.
6. Aaliyah – Try Again (2000)
You hear that beat and you know it’s peak early-2000s production. Aaliyah’s voice just floats over it, making it feel effortless.
It was the first song to top the Billboard Hot 100 on airplay alone, no physical single needed.
Chart Fact: Grammy-nominated, Platinum certified, and still used in movies and TV.
7. Nelly – Hot In Herre (2002)
One line: “It’s getting hot in here, so take off all your clothes.” Everyone knows it, even if they pretend they don’t.
It’s the soundtrack to countless house parties and a reminder that Nelly basically owned the summer of 2002.
Trivia: Won Best Male Rap Solo at the Grammys. Played to death on MTV back when that still meant something.
8. Britney Spears – …Baby One More Time (1998)
Nothing screams late 90s pop like Britney in that school uniform.
But strip away the video and you’ve still got a hook that locks in your head forever. One of the best-selling singles of all time.
Fan Love: TikTok and Gen Z keep pulling it back, proving it never really left.
9. Outkast – Ms. Jackson (2000)
A breakup apology that somehow feels sweet and savage all at once.
The “I’m sorry Ms. Jackson…” line is still quoted everywhere. Outkast made radio-friendly rap without losing their weird streak.
Chart Fact: Topped the Billboard Hot 100, won a Grammy, and sits on nearly every “best songs of the 2000s” list.
10. Shaggy – It Wasn’t Me (2000)
This one lives on because it’s funny and shameless. It’s a song about getting caught cheating and denying it with a straight face.
The conversation-style verses keep it stuck in your head, and there’s no real moral to the story. Which is exactly why people still play it.
Chart Fact: Number 1 in the UK and US, over 1 million copies sold in each.
11. Kelis – Milkshake (2003)
Nobody really knows what a milkshake is in this song, and that’s fine.
Kelis turned a throwaway phrase into one of the catchiest hooks ever.
It’s cheeky, a bit weird, and still a staple for any throwback playlist.
Chart Fact: Hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Still sampled and used in ads twenty years later.
12. Ja Rule & Ashanti – Always On Time (2001)
Early 2000s R&B at its peak. Ja Rule’s gravelly voice and Ashanti’s smooth hook were everywhere.
The beat feels like cruising in the back of a car with the windows down. Feels very much of its time, but somehow never tired.
Fan Love: People on Reddit still call it the perfect ‘driving at night’ throwback.
13. Eve & Gwen Stefani – Let Me Blow Ya Mind (2001)
This is that chill beat you can’t skip. Dr. Dre’s production, Eve’s cool flow, and Gwen’s laid-back hook just work.
It won the first Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and still feels ahead of its time.
Chart Fact: Top 5 in the US and UK. The video with the biker bar raid is peak MTV.
14. Eminem – Lose Yourself (2002)
Lose Yourself doesn’t feel like a throwback. It still pops up in sports montages, trailers, and gym playlists.
That guitar riff and Eminem’s delivery keep it locked in. First rap song to win an Oscar for Best Original Song.
Trivia: Went 5× Platinum in the US alone. Still racks up streams every day.
15. Destiny’s Child – Bootylicious (2001)
One word that made it into the dictionary. Bootylicious is pure early 2000s energy.
Stevie Nicks’ guitar riff, Beyoncé in full pop star mode, and an unstoppable hook. People still quote it without even realising where it came from.
Chart Fact: Number 1 in the US, Platinum-certified, and it gave us one of the group’s most iconic videos.
16. Outkast – Hey Ya! (2003)
“Shake it like a Polaroid picture” became its own thing for a reason.
Hey Ya! is weird, bright, and doesn’t sound like anything else from the early 2000s.
People still belt it out word for word when it comes on at parties.
Chart Fact: 9 weeks at Number 1 in the US, Grammy-winning, and Rolling Stone put it in their greatest songs of all time.
17. Usher – U Remind Me (2001)
One of Usher’s smoothest tracks. It’s about an old flame who looks a little too much like a past mistake. That hook and laid-back beat make it feel timeless. First song that earned him a Grammy.
Fan Love: It’s the song people swear they rediscover every few years and it never sounds dated.
18. Beyoncé – Crazy In Love (feat. Jay-Z) (2003)
This is Beyoncé’s solo launch pad. That horn riff is one of pop’s best openings, and Jay-Z’s verse sealed the deal.
You hear it at weddings, club nights, and on TikTok edits. Still massive.
Chart Fact: Number 1 in the US and UK, triple Platinum, and voted one of the greatest songs of all time by Rolling Stone.
19. Nelly & Kelly Rowland – Dilemma (2002)
Two artists who just clicked. Nelly’s laid-back rap and Kelly’s soft chorus still feel like an early 2000s time capsule.
The sidekick to “Hot In Herre” that never needed to fight for attention.
Chart Fact: Number 1 for 10 weeks in the US. Won a Grammy and went Platinum worldwide.
20. The Killers – Mr. Brightside (2003)
You know it the second the guitar kicks in. “Mr. Brightside” has lived way past its release and it’s still on charts, club playlists, wedding dance floors.
A song about jealousy that somehow feels like a victory lap.
Trivia: In the UK, it’s been in the Top 100 for over 400 weeks. A record that refuses to quit.
21. Kanye West & Jamie Foxx – Gold Digger (2005)
Kanye at his best, sampling Ray Charles with a hook everyone can yell along to. Jamie Foxx nails the intro and it turns into a singalong every single time.
Chart Fact: 10 weeks at Number 1 in the US. Double Platinum. Still shows up on party playlists.
22. Britney Spears – Toxic (2003)
Britney’s most hypnotic track. The strings, the beat, the whispered lines; every part still slaps. “Toxic” never left the club. Covers and remixes can’t touch the original.
Fan Love: It’s the Britney song even people who say they don’t like Britney end up dancing to.
23. Justin Timberlake – Rock Your Body (2003)
Originally meant for Michael Jackson, “Rock Your Body” went straight to the top of the early 2000s pop pile. That Neptunes beat is undeniable. Still one of JT’s best solo tracks.
Chart Fact: Top 5 in the US and UK. The Super Bowl moment is infamous, but the song outlasted the headlines.
24. Rihanna – Pon De Replay (2005)
Her debut single. You hear that “Come Mr. DJ” line and you’re pulled right back to 2005.
The beat’s simple, her voice is playful, and it made sure everyone knew her name.
Chart Fact: Top 2 in the US, Platinum-certified, and still used on dance playlists everywhere.
25. Amy Winehouse – Rehab (2006)
You can’t skip this one. “Rehab” is raw, catchy, and proof Amy could blend heartbreak with hooks that never get old.
The horns and that opening line are instantly recognisable.
Chart Fact: Won three Grammys including Record of the Year. Always shows up on lists of songs that defined the 2000s.
26. Ashanti – Foolish (2002)
Ashanti owned the early 2000s charts with this one. Smooth, heartbreak-filled, and built for blasting on repeat. That piano loop sticks with you.
Chart Fact: 10 weeks at Number 1 in the US. Certified Platinum. One of the biggest R&B singles of its era.
27. Mario – Let Me Love You (2004)
One of those songs that hits different depending on who you think about when it comes on. Ne-Yo wrote it, Scott Storch produced it, Mario made it timeless.
Fan Love: Zayn Malik even covered it for his X Factor audition. It keeps resurfacing every few years.
28. Flo Rida feat. T-Pain – Low (2007)
“Apple Bottom jeans, boots with the fur…” You can’t read that without the beat kicking in. A club staple then, a nostalgia anthem now. Always gets people moving.
Chart Fact: 10 weeks at Number 1 in the US. Certified Diamond. One of the best-selling digital singles ever.
29. Black Eyed Peas – Where Is The Love? (2003)
Feels innocent now, but this song was everywhere. That chorus is one of the most recognisable of the early 2000s. Still feels relevant, which says a lot.
Chart Fact: Number 1 in the UK. Nominated for Record of the Year at the Grammys.
30. Sean Paul – Get Busy (2003)
No 2000s party playlist is complete without some Sean Paul. The Diwali riddim beat, the call-outs, the energy — it still lights up a dance floor.
Fan Love: You’ll still catch people trying to rap along even if they have no clue what he’s saying.
31. Kings Of Leon – Sex On Fire (2008)
One riff, a scratchy vocal, and a hook that never wears out its welcome. It’s indie rock at its stadium-shaking best.
Chart Fact: Number 1 in the UK. Won a Grammy for Best Rock Performance.
32. Akon – Smack That (feat. Eminem) (2006)
This one lives in everyone’s middle school or high school memory bank. Catchy, a bit trashy, but you’d lie if you said you didn’t know every word when it comes on.
Chart Fact: Top 2 in the US, Platinum-certified. One of Akon’s biggest hits.
33. Snoop Dogg feat. Pharrell – Drop It Like It’s Hot (2004)
That tongue-click beat is legendary. Pharrell’s hook, Snoop’s laid-back delivery you couldn’t escape it then and it still comes back on TikTok.
Fan Love: One of those songs people play just to do the “Snooooop” part.
34. Beyoncé – Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) (2008)
One of Beyoncé’s signature tracks. The hand flip dance is iconic. The hook is universal. Still played at weddings, clubs, bachelorette parties — anywhere you need a bit of attitude.
Chart Fact: Won three Grammys. Billboard Number 1. Over a billion YouTube views.
35. Jay-Z & Alicia Keys – Empire State Of Mind (2009)
A love letter to New York that turned into a modern classic. The chorus is big, the verses paint the city perfectly. Still played everywhere from sports games to Broadway shows.
Chart Fact: Five weeks at Number 1 in the US. Won two Grammys. Always lands on “best songs of the 2000s” lists.
36. Rihanna – SOS (2006)
Rihanna sampling Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love” was pure gold. Upbeat, flirty, and one of her first big hits that showed she could own the charts.
Chart Fact: Number 1 in the US. Double Platinum. The start of her takeover.
37. Justin Bieber – Baby (feat. Ludacris) (2010)
Everyone loves to clown on “Baby,” but the chorus still hits. Ludacris’ verse makes it even better. It’s teen pop at its catchiest.
Chart Fact: Peaked at Number 5 in the US. Diamond-certified. Still one of the most watched videos on YouTube.
38. Kings Of Leon – Use Somebody (2008)
An anthem for late nights and road trips. It’s raw and singable — you don’t even need to know all the words, just the big chorus.
Chart Fact: Number 4 in the US. Won Record of the Year at the Grammys.
39. Sean Kingston – Beautiful Girls (2007)
That Ben E. King sample turned into a summer hit that still pops up on TikTok. Light, catchy, and impossible not to hum along to.
Fan Love: The “suicidal” line was censored on the radio, but fans still yell it out loud.
40. Kevin Lyttle – Turn Me On (2003)
One of the best dancehall crossovers. Light, summery, and the beat just pulls you in. Still shows up at beach parties.
Chart Fact: Top 5 in the UK. Certified Gold. A one-hit wonder that never lost its spark.
41. The Calling – Wherever You Will Go (2001)
That intro chord progression is peak early 2000s rock. Emotional, slightly cheesy, but always good for a singalong.
Fan Love: Reddit calls it “the ultimate road trip breakup song.”
42. Flo Rida – Right Round (feat. Kesha) (2009)
A rework of Dead or Alive’s “You Spin Me Round.” Flo Rida and early Kesha made it bigger, bouncier, and shamelessly catchy.
Chart Fact: Six weeks at Number 1 in the US. Double Platinum.
43. Blackstreet – No Diggity (feat. Dr. Dre, Queen Pen) (1996)
A 90s classic that keeps finding its way onto new playlists. The beat, the flow, the hook — never gets old.
Trivia: Grammy winner. Covered and remixed dozens of times but nothing tops the original.
44. Alicia Keys – Fallin’ (2001)
A debut single that made her a household name. Soulful piano, raw vocals, and a hook that made you want to sing even if you couldn’t.
Chart Fact: Number 1 in the US. Won three Grammys. Still one of her signature songs.
45. Eve – Who’s That Girl? (2001)
That beat and Eve’s delivery make it feel untouchable. It’s confident, smooth, and perfect for throwing back at any party.
Fan Love: Fans still call it one of the best walk-up songs ever.
46. Fat Joe feat. Ashanti – What’s Luv? (2002)
Fat Joe, Ashanti, and Ja Rule ruled this era. The chorus is pure earworm. It’s sweet, simple, and still works at weddings.
Chart Fact: Top 3 in the US. Gold-certified. Plays on old-school radio all the time.
47. Jay Sean – Down (feat. Lil Wayne) (2009)
One of those songs that instantly brings back neon shutter shades and college house parties. Jay Sean’s smooth hook and Wayne’s verse still get people hyped.
Chart Fact: Number 1 in the US. Double Platinum.
48. Ne-Yo – So Sick (2005)
One of the ultimate heartbreak R&B tracks. The melody is sad but too catchy not to sing along to. The beat makes it feel timeless.
Fan Love: People still post the line “I’m so sick of love songs” every Valentine’s Day.
49. Sisqó – Thong Song (1999)
No subtlety. No shame. Just a fun, ridiculous, completely unforgettable track. You hear that violin line and you know what’s coming.
Chart Fact: Number 3 in the US. Platinum-certified. A guilty pleasure that doesn’t feel so guilty anymore.
50. Craig David – Fill Me In (2000)
A UK garage classic. Slick storytelling, bouncy beat, and Craig David’s smooth delivery. Still hits when you need a bit of throwback swagger.
Chart Fact: Number 1 in the UK. Helped Craig David become a household name.
Wrap It Up
That’s 50 songs that never lost their edge. Dig out your old playlists, spin these loud, and tell us: What did we miss?
Drop your own throwback favourites in the comments as there’s always another forgotten banger waiting to be rediscovered.
