2003

First, Dr. Dre gave us the easygoing drawl of Snoop Dogg, then the confrontational and controversial Eminem, and, as of 2003, we can now party like it's your birthday every night alongside 50 Cent, whose tracks are as tight as his abs. Or if the evening calls for something much subtler, there's always the sexaholic R&B of R. Kelly, the college campus love letters of John Mayer and Jason Mraz, and, finally, another propulsive power ballad from Staind.

Beck, sad? Isn't he supposed to always bring us up when we're feeling down via his various routines of slacker rock? Not this time — the Beck we hear on "Lost Cause" is one that's been beaten by love, and it's something we can all relate to. Puddle of Mudd had similar success with its revelation that "She Hates Me," while Clay Aiken won the hearts of American Idol audiences with his transformation from an everyday nice guy to an empowered pop star.

As always, there's nothing like a matter-of-time collaboration becoming reality. Aside from our usual run of revered hit singles, the Deep Cuts of 2003 include Toby Keith and Willie Nelson pouring a frosty "Beer for My Horses," Ludacris and Shawnna standing off before an equally standoffish beat, and P. Diddy lending his usual platinum touch to the tractor-beam R&B of "Bump, Bump, Bump."

Could 2003 have really been the year of the solo artist? Absolutely, especially when you consider the breakout success of Beyoncé and Justin Timberlake from their respective girl group and boy band. Our continued fascination with either booting or shining the spotlight on the pop star hopefuls of American Idol back the theory up as well, along with such returning solitary presences as Tori Amos, Mya, R. Kelly, Ginuwine, Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, and 2Pac, once again broadcasting verses from beyond the grave.