Millennials have the best of both worlds. We remember the glory days of the 90’s as well as the 2000s, which are slowly yet surely becoming sweet nostalgic memories. While the GOAT-ness of 90’s R&B cannot be compared, the 2000s gave us some solid hits, too. Especially for us girls who live for a good love song; we can’t help it! The 2000s gave us songs like:
“Foolish” – Ashanti
Ashanti was quickly dubbed the Princess of Hip-Hop and R&B when she hit the scene with “Foolish.” This song had my seven-year-old self feeling like I had man problems. The Biggie sample set it off and I couldn’t wait to catch the extra and iconic video on 106 & Park every evening. It was an instant classic.
“Into You” – Fabolous feat. Tamia
Haven’t we all had a dream where we were dating one of our guy friends and woke up having a goofy crush on him for, like, three days? That’s what this song reminds me of. Tamia’s parts-lifted from her original version-are catchy and cute. She also has one of the most underrated voices of our time.
“25 Reasons” – Nivea
Nivea gave us a string of hits during the 2000s like “Don’t Mess With My Man,” “Laundromat,” and “Okay,” but I think “25 Reasons” may be the one we love the most. Maybe it’s because it was fun trying to remember all the reasons. Oh, and she slayed the bridge! Her voice is underrated like Tamia’s.
“U Should’ve Known Better” – Monica
This song made me feel like I had a man who was doubting my loyalty; I WAS Monica! Shoot, I’m still her when I listen to this today. Everything about Monica is relatable; she gets us! My friends and I even wrote and performed a song about tornado safety for our seventh grade Arkansas History class in the tune of this song. Was it bad? Yes. Terrible, even. Was the beat fire, though? Yes!
“If I Ain’t Got You” – Alicia Keys
Every black girl who competed in a talent show from 2004-2007 attempted this song. It’s one of A. Keys’ best vocal performances and the old school feel of it makes it even more romantical (that’s a word for the sake of this post. Oh, and I’m cracking up at the fact Method Man played her lover in the video).
“We Belong Together” – Mariah Carey
Comeback of the century! And it made my generation Google who Bobby Womack was.
“Love” – Keyshia Cole
Keyshia Cole is the queen of “I-Hate-Him-I’m-So-Done-Anthems,” so it was nice to get a softer side of her with “Love.” We were all attempting that slight yodel on the “found” during the chorus, too.
“Weak” – SWV
Not a 2000s song, but this is probably the R&B love song we adore the most. I’m willing to bet every black girl born before 1997 knows this song. I put 1997 as the cut off year because I firmly believe something is a little off with 90’s babies born after ’97. Maybe that’ll be my next post.
X’s and O’s,
JF
BLACK&GIFTED 