The 2000s were a turning point not only for our society, but there was a changing of the guard in music, too. The 1990s were perhaps the pinnacle of rock music. Or at least, they were the last great height for the genre. In the 2000s, the triple-threat pop artist took center stage. Rap and R&B were at the forefront and new stars came to the top.
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Here below, we wanted to examine three such examples. A trio of artists who all cemented themselves as icons during the decade thanks to amassing at least five No. 1 hit songs on the Billboard Hot 100. And while some artists like 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Outkast, Jennifer Lopez, and others were able to garner multiple No. 1s, there were only three who grabbed a handful.
[RELATED: The 7 Artists Who Scored 5 or More No. 1 Hits in the 1980s]
Usher (7)
The smooth-singing, fancy-dancing entertainer Usher recently wowed fans in February during the Super Bowl halftime show. And while that was his most recent big accomplishment, it certainly wasn’t his first. The artist has been garnering plaques since the 1990s, and in the 2000s he made big waves, capturing seven No. 1 hit tracks including “U Remind Me,” “U Got It Bad,” Yeah!” “Burn,” “Confessions Part II,” “My Boo,” and “Love in This Club.”
Beyoncé (5)
Audiences got to know the glamorous Beyoncé early in her career thanks to her girl group Destiny’s Child. But after several years of garnering hits with the collective, Queen B ventured off on her own via a solo career and doubled down on her talent. In the 2000s, she became a star amongst stars thanks to these handful of No. 1 tracks: “Crazy in Love,” “Baby Boy,” “Check on It,” “Irreplaceable,” and “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).”
Rihanna (5)
Matching her picturesque counterpart, Rihanna also garnered five No. 1 songs in the 2000s. The singer-turned-business mogul and fashion model has an effortlessly distinct voice that became evident during the decade in which she scored No. 1s like “SOS,” “Umbrella,” “Take a Bow,” “Disturbia,” and “Live Your Life.” She was able to achieve great heights both as a solo artist and when featured on tracks with others like rappers T.I. or Jay-Z.
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