Samples of music from the United States

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Music of the United States
History (Timeline and Samples)
Before 1940: Synthesis of Sources
1940s and 50s: Invention of Popular Music
1960s and 70s: Creation of a Counterculture
1980s to the present: Diversification of Styles
Ethnicities
African American
Native American music (Inuit music>Inuit and Hawaiian)
Latin (Tejano and Puerto Rican)
Other immigrants (Jewish, European, South and East Asian, modern African, Middle-Eastern and Cajun and Creole)
Local music
AL - AK - AR - CA - CO - CT - DC - DE - FL - GA - GU - HI - ID - IL - IN - IA - KS - KY - LA - ME - MD - MA - MI - MN - MP - MS - MO - MT - NC - ND - NE - NV - NH - NJ - NM - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - PR - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VT - VA - VI - WA - WV - WI - WY

Table of contents

1 Roots music
2 1929 in music
3 1932 in music
4 1934 in music
5 1936 in music
6 1938 in music
7 1939 in music
8 1940 in music
9 1941 in music
10 1942 in music
11 1943 in music
12 1944 in music
13 1945 in music
14 1946 in music
15 1947 in music
16 1949 in music
17 1951 in music
18 1952 in music
19 1953 in music
20 1954 in music
21 1955 in music
22 1956 in music
23 1957 in music
24 1958 in music
25 1959 in music
26 1960 in music
27 1963 in music
28 1964 in music
29 1965 in music
30 1966 in music
31 1967 in music
32 1968 in music
33 1969 in music
34 1970 in music
35 1971 in music
36 1972 in music
37 1973 in music
38 1975 in music
39 1976 in music
40 1977 in music
41 1978 in music
42 1980 in music
43 1982 in music
44 1984 in music
45 1986 in music
46 1987 in music
47 1988 in music
48 1989 in music
49 1990 in music
50 1991 in music
51 1992 in music
52 1993 in music
53 1994 in music
54 1995 in music
55 1996 in music
56 1997 in music
57 1998 in music
58 1999 in music
59 2000 in music

Roots music

Leadbelly's "Where Did You Sleep Last Night"
Robert Johnson's "Crossroads Blues"
- ÓPues vuestros santos favoresÔ a cappella alabado hymn sung at vigils in honor of St. Anthony from the Library of Congress' Juan B. Rael Collection of culture from the Northern Rio Grande; performed by Mr. Romero, age 50, of Arroyo Hondo, New Mexico
- courtship song of the Omaha Native Americans, from the Library of Congress' Omaha Indian Music Collection; performed by George Miller in 1897, collected by Alice Cunningham Fletcher and Francis La Flesche
- "My Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes" barbershop quartet song from the Library of Congress' John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip; performed by Ray Wood on April 13, 1939 in Houston, Texas
- "Lost Train Blues" fiddle and guitar song from the Library of Congress' John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip; performed by Fred Perry (fiddle) and Glenn Carver (guitar) on June 6, 1939 at the State Penitentiary in Raiford, Florida
- ÓDonÒt You GrieveÔ blues mourning song from the Library of Congress' John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip; performed by Aunt Mollie McDonald on May 27, 1939 at her family home near Livingston, Alabama
- ÓCamino de San AntonioÔ a corrido from the Library of Congress' John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip; performed by Jose Ararjo on April 27, 1939 at his school near Brownsville, Texas
- "Cotton-Eyed Joe" a fiddle tune from the Library of Congress' John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip; performed by Elmo Newcomer on May 3, 1939 at his ranch home near Pipe Creek, Texas
- ÓLa canción de bebiendoÔ a mescal drinking song from the Library of Congress' John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip; performed by José Suarez on April 26, 1939 at the home of J.K. Wells near Brownsville, Texas
ÓYo cuando era niño - mi padre queridoÔ habañeras song of vagrant Mexican cotton-pickers from the Library of Congress' John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip; performed by Jose Ararjo on April 26, 1939 at the home of J.K. Wells near Brownsville, Texas
- ÓDollar MamieÔ work song for hoeing from the Library of Congress' John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip; performed by Judge "Bootmouth" Tucker and Alexander "Neighborhood" Williams on May 23, 1939 at a State Penitentiary in Parchman, Mississippi
ÓAmazing GraceÔ long-meter hymn from the Library of Congress' John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip; performed by Mr. and Mrs. N.V. Braley on May 5, 1939 at the home of Beal D. Taylor near Medina, Texas
- "Clemens Rag" instrumental blues guitar song from the Library of Congress' John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip; performed by Ace Johnson and L.W. Gooden on AApril 15, 1939 at Clemens State Farm near Brazoria, Texas
- "Train" instrumental blues harmonica song from the Library of Congress' John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip; performed by Ace Johnson on April 16, 1939 at Clemens State Farm near Brazoria, Texas
- Marine military march, instrumental piano from the Library of Congress' John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip; performed by Kate W. Jones on April 10, 1939 at her home in Houston, Texas
- "Mabel" schottisch from the Library of Congress' John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip; performed by Elmo Newcomer (fiddle) on May 3, 1939 at his ranch home near Pipe Creek, Texas
"My Good Lord Done Been Here" spiritual song from the Library of Congress' John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip; performed by Aunt Florida Hampton on May 29, 1939 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. P.W. Tartt in Livingston, Alabama
"Versos del Mojado" Mexican border ballad (corrido-waltz) from the Library of Congress' John and Ruby Lomax 1939 Southern States Recording Trip; performed by Homero López and Manuel Salinas on April 29, 1939 at López's Cash Store in Sarita, Texas
Ghost Dance and gambling song from the Piute and Arapaho Native Americans from the Library of Congress' Emile Berliner and the Birth of the Recording Industry Collection; performed by James Mooney (possibly along with Charles Mooney; neither are believed to be Native Americans) on July 5, 1894
- Kiowa mescal daylight song from the Library of Congress' Emile Berliner and the Birth of the Recording Industry Collection; performed by James Mooney (possibly along with Charles Mooney; neither are believed to be Native Americans) on July 5, 1894
- "Aa kjore vatten, aa kjore ve" a cappella Norwegian folk song from the Library of Congress' California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collection; performed by Alf Nilssen on February 18, 1939 in Carmel, California
- "Kicsi fulemule dalol" a cappella Hungarian folk music from the Library of Congress' California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collection; performed by Mary Gaidos on January 3, 1940 in Oakland, California
- "Jenny Lind" polka from the Library of Congress' California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collection; performed by John Selleck (violin) on October 2, 1939 in Camino, California
Hornpipe and fiddle tune from the Library of Congress' California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collection; performed by John Selleck on October 2, 1939 in Camino, California
- Irish harmonica tune from the Library of Congress' California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collection; performed by Aaron Morgan (harmonica) on July 17, 1939 in Columbia, California
Mazurka - Mazurka from the Library of Congress' California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collection; performed by Aaron Morgan on July 17, 1939 in [[Columbia, California
- "MacleodÒs Reel" from the Library of Congress' California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collection; performed by Aaron Morgan on July 17, 1939 in Columbia, California
- "Erivan bachem arer" Armenian folk music from the Library of Congress' California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collection; performed a cappella by Ruben J. Baboyan on April 16, 1939 in Fresno, California
- "Lili bat ikhusi dut" Basque folk music from the Library of Congress' California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collection; performed by Francisco and Matias Etcheverry on September 11, 1940 in Fresno, California
- Gusle solo (Croatian folk music) from the Library of Congress' California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collection; performed by Peter Boro on December 20, 1939 in Fresno, California
- "Vaka vanha Vainamoinen" Finnish poetry from the Kalevala from the Library of Congress' California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collection; performed by John Soininen on November 5, 1939 in Berkeley, California
- Rimur (Icelandic folk music) from the Library of Congress' California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collection; performed by Sigurd Bardarson on April 29, 1940 in Carmel, California
- "Addio, mamma" Italian folk music from the Library of Congress' California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collection; performed a cappella by Louis Brangone on May 7, 1939 in Woodside, California
- "Olivi, salati" Sicilian folk music from the Library of Congress' California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collection; performed by Francisco Sanfilippo on February 11, 1939 in Martinez, California
"Le estrella del Oriente" aguinaldo (Puerto Rican Christmas Carol) from the Library of Congress' California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collection; performed by Cruz Losada on April 10, 1939 in Oakland, California
- "Na cuperean" Scottish folk music from Nova Scotia from the Library of Congress' California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collection; performed by Mary A. McDonald on April 11, 1939 in Berkeley, California
- "Venid pastores" Spanish folk Christmas song from the Library of Congress' California Gold: Northern California Folk Music from the Thirties Collection; performed by Aurora Calderon on April 10, 1939 in Oakland, California
- "Roll the Old Chariot Along" Spiritual and sea shanty from the Library of Congress' Gordon Collection; performed by unknown persons in the Bay Area of California in the early 1920s
- "Haul the Woodpile Down" Minstrel song and sea shanty from the Library of Congress' Gordon Collection; performed by unknown persons in the Bay Area of California in the early 1920s
- ÓThe Old Grey MareÔ Appalachian folk music from the Library of Congress' Gordon Collection; performed by Bascam Lamar Lunsford in the Asheville, North Carolina area on October 19, 1925
ÓHesitation BluesÔ blues song from the Library of Congress' Gordon Collection; performed by Bascam Lamar Lunsford in the Asheville, North Carolina area on October 19, 1925
- ÓSally GoodinÔ fiddle tune from the Library of Congress' Gordon Collection; performed by John W. Dillon in the Asheville, North Carolina area on October 22, 1925
- "PrisonerÒs Song" country music from the Library of Congress' Gordon Collection; performed by Ernest Hilton with banjo accompaniment in Biltmore, North Carolina on November 20, 1925
- "The Wagon" ragtime from the Library of Congress' Gordon Collection; performed by Ben Harney in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on about September 9, 1925
- "Deep Down in My Heart" - Spiritual from the Library of Congress' Gordon Collection; performed by W. M. Givens in Darien, Georgia on about March 19, 1926
- "PoÒ Gal" East Coast blues from the Library of Congress' Florida Folklife from the WPA Collections; performed by Zora Neale Hurston on June 18, 1939 in Jacksonville, Florida
- "Drive the Nail aÒRight, Boys" Bahamanian conch song from the Library of Congress' Florida Folklife from the WPA Collections; performed by Naomi Nelson on January 15, 1940 in Riviera, Florida
- "On the Old Kissimmee Prairie" British tune from the Library of Congress' Florida Folklife from the WPA Collections; performed by Bob Hall, Walter van Bass, Ned Hugh Bass and J. C. King with banjos, guitars and violin in Juli, 1940 in Kenansville, Florida
- "Tece voda, tece" Czech tune from the Library of Congress' Florida Folklife from the WPA Collections; performed by Michael and Elizabeth Prácher on August 28, 1939 in Masaryktown, Florida
- "Amaxas" Greek song from the Library of Congress' Florida Folklife from the WPA Collections; performed by Charles M. Brown, Louis Peronis (fiddle), Charylaos Perris (santouri) andGeorge Kafezio (mandola) on August 26, 1939 in Tarpon Springs, Florida
- "Alfonso Doce" Minorcan song from the Library of Congress' Florida Folklife from the WPA Collections; performed by Maria Hugas de Aceval on September 26, 1939 in St. Augustine, Florida
- "Steal Partner" Seminole song from the Library of Congress' Florida Folklife from the WPA Collections; performed by Richard Osceola, Naha Tiger, John Josh and Morgan Smith in July 1940 in Cow Creek, Florida
"Ej lúcka, lúcka siroká" Slovak song from the Library of Congress' Florida Folklife from the WPA Collections; performed by Lillian Jakubcin and Emily Mertán on July 31, 1939 in Slavia, Florida
"Ughniyah li al-Atfal" Syrian lullaby from the Library of Congress' Florida Folklife from the WPA Collections; performed by Nicholas Debs on March 10, 1940 in Jacksonville, Florida

1929 in music

of "Ain't Misbehavin'" by Louis Armstrong, a song from the Broadway revue Hot Chocolate and one of the earliest hits by Armstrong, a musical superstar of the 1930s and 40s

1932 in music

of "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Aint't Got That Swing)" by Duke Ellington, an early hit from one of the giants of American popular song

1934 in music

of "Finger Buster" by Willie The Lion Smith, a long-unreleased piano solo from one of the giants of stride

1936 in music

of "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie" by Fats Waller, a well-known song by the pianist

1938 in music

of "Begin the Beguine" by Artie Shaw, a surprise hit that turned the clarinetist into a swing star
of "Jumpin' at the Woodside" by Count Basie & His Orchestra, a popular swing song by a jazz legend
of "Take the A-Train" by Duke Ellington

1939 in music

of The Ink Spots' "If I DidnÒt Care", the first major hit for The Ink Spots, who were the first major pop doo wop group
of "And the Angels Sing" by Benny Goodman and Martha Tilton, a legendary swing recording that helped keep Goodman's career afloat as band members departed

1940 in music

of "Tuxedo Junction" by Glenn Miller

1941 in music

of Bing Crosby's "White Christmas", one of the best-selling singles of all time

1942 in music

of "Summertime" by PJ Witherspoon

1943 in music

of "Blue Sky" by Ben Webster

1944 in music

of "She's Funny That Way" by Lester Young, a popular jazz song
of "That Ol' Devil Called Love" by Billie Holiday

1945 in music

of "Caldonia" by Louis Jordan, one of the biggest hits of Jordan's career
of "Hot House" by Dizzy Gillespie, one of the breakthrough releases for Gillespie, who was a major star in the middle of the century
of "How High the Moon" by Ella Fitzgerald from Lullabies of Birdland, one of Fitzgerald's biggest songs
of "Laura" by Erroll Garner
of "Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night of the Week)" by Frank Sinatra, a popular song from one of the most famous American musicians, written by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn

1946 in music

of "Bird of Paradise" by Charlie Parker from In a Soulful Mood, one of the historic recordings that launched the bebop revolution
of "What a Difference a Day Made" by Sarah Vaughan
of "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66" by Nat King Cole

1947 in music

of "In the Still of the Night" by Billy Eckstine, a popular version of a Cole Porter song
of "Ruby My Dear" by Thelonius Monk, an early recording from a popular bop performer

1949 in music

of "Boplicity" by Miles Davis from Birth of Cool, an album that is often said to be the beginning of the cool jazz genre
of "Indian Summer" by Stan Getz, an influential bop performer
of "Night and Day" by Mel Tormé & the Mel-Tones

1951 in music

of Hank Williams' "Cold Cold Heart", perhaps the best-known Williams songs, covered by numerous other stars, and an excellent representation of the 1950s Nashville Sound

1952 in music

of "Mixed Emotions" by Dinah Washington

1953 in music

of "Basin Street Blues" by Frankie Laine and Jo Stafford

1954 in music

of "I Can't Get Started" by Eddie Lockjaw Davis, an influential bebop recording

1955 in music

of "I'll Never Be the Same" by Buddy Rich and Lionel Hampton, a noted jazz collaboration

1956 in music

of "April in Paris" by Ella Fitzgerald with Louis Armstrong, one of many well-known songs by this collaboration, both solo stars in their own right

1957 in music

of Elvis Presley's "Good Rockin' Tonight", one of the most representative songs of the rockabilly era
of "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" by Sonny Rollins from The Sound of Sonny, a well-known hard bop song
of "Traneing In" by John Coltrane from Traneing In, a well-known hard bop album

1958 in music

of "Moanin'" by Art Blakely & the Jazz Messengers, a song which influentially incorporated soul influences into bop
of "It's the Good Life" by Ahmad Jamal

1959 in music

Santo & Johnny's "Sleepwalk", a surprise instrumental rock hit
Ray Charles' "What'd I Say", the most well-known hit from Charles, a noted R&B and soul singer
Richie Valens' "La Bamba", the signature song for Valens, a pioneering rock star, and the first Mexican-American musical celebrity
of "Fables of Faubus" by Charles Mingus from Mingus Ah Um, a song which criticized Arkansas governor Orval Faubus, who opposed desegregation; the lyrics were censored by company executives -- an uncut version was not released until 1960's Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus

1960 in music

The Flamingos' "Nobody Loves Me Like You" from Respectfully Yours, a popular doo wop song
of "Take Five" by Dave Brubeck, a popular experimental jazz song

1963 in music

Peter, Paul & Mary's "Puff the Magic Dragon", a popular pop-folk song

1964 in music

of The Kingsmen's "Louie Louie", a hit song that was originally a Jamaican ballad; The Kingsmen's version, originally a rival with Paul Revere & the Raiders' nearly-simultaneously released take, launched a national debate over the lyric's supposed sexual content. After an investigation, the FBI concluded that the words (in The Kingsmen's version) were incomprehensible.

1965 in music

of The Byrds' "Mr. Tambourine Man" from Mr. Tambourine Man, helped launch careers of both The Byrds and Bob Dylan, noted folk-rock song with controversial allusions to drug abuse
of Otis Redding's "Mr. Pitiful", one of the most well-remembered songs from this soul great
of James BrownÒs "PapaÒs Got a Brand New Bag", an influential proto-funk recording
of "One Note Samba" by Al Jarreau, a popular jazz song

1966 in music

of Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention's "Hungry Freaks, Daddy" from Freak Out; the debut song on Zappa's debut album, "Hungry Freaks, Daddy" is an exhortation to end the domination of teen-pop on the American charts
of The Mamas & the Papas' "California Dreamin'" from If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears; The Mamas & the Papas were one of the only pop bands to be able to compete throughout the British Invasion of the 1960s, and this song has become their most well-known and enduring hit

1967 in music

of The Doors' "Break on Through (To the Other Side)" from The Doors, a notorious recording of The Doors' signture dark psychedelic sound and mystical, LSD-inspired lyrics
of Gram Parson's "MillerÒs Cave" from Gram Parsons International Submarine Band (Safe at Home); Parsons was the leading figure in the nascent country rock scene
of Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" from Surrealistic Pillow, one of the most legendary songs of the psychedelic rock genre

1968 in music

of Aretha Franklin's "Chain of Fools", one of the biggest hits of Franklin's career and a still well-known soul and R&B song

1969 in music

Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising" from Green River, one of the band's most famous songs, notable as an early example of Southern rock
The Delfonics' "Ready or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love)" from The Sound of Sexy Soul, one of the pioneering recordings of Philly soul
Janis Joplin's "Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)" from I Got Dem OlÒ Kozmic Blues Again Mama, perhaps Joplin's most well-regarded song, "Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)" was released at the popular peak of American blues rock

1970 in music

Gil Scott-Heron's "Small Talk at 125th and Lennox" from Small Talk at 125th and Lennox; this song is a form of spoken poetry with simple percussion accomaniment, and is considered a precursor to the rapping vocals of hip hop. Heron was associated with the Black Power movement, and was especially known for criticizing the leaders of the African American community, as well as those blacks who gave only tepid or no support to the cause, as in this track
Grateful Dead's "Box of Rain" from American Beauty; for a band known more for live performances than studio releases, American Beauty and its album opener, "Box of Rain", are both among the most well-known and widely-respected recordings by the Grateful Dead. The song is a mixture of influences ranging from bluegrass and country to rock and roll and psychedelic rock

1971 in music

of Don McLean's "American Pie"; this song was a major hit and has come to represent the singer-songwriter tradition in the minds of many listeners, though McLean's popular career never lasted as long as other luminaries in the field like James Taylor or Carol King. "American Pie" is a guitar-based ballad filled with cryptic lyrics which describe the musical events of McLean's life, from the rock and roll boom in the 1950s to the social turmoil of the later 60s.
of Marvin Gaye's "WhatÒs Going On" from What's Going On, a seminal soul album led by the hit title track, What's Going On transformed the genre from single-led pop to cohesive albums with socio-political lyrical content. "What's Going On", recorded despite condemnation from Gaye's record label, became a hit and has since become one of the most well-known anti-Vietnam protest songs
of MC5's "Sister Anne" from High Time, a song from past the band's creative peak, "Sister Anne" remains the most well-known MC5 song, and a characteristic example of the group's proto-punk rock sound

1972 in music

Al Green's "LetÒs Stay Together" from Let's Stay Together
Jim Croce's "Time in a Bottle"
Johnny Cash's "I Walk the Line"

1973 in music

Allman Brothers Band's "Rambling Man" from Brothers and Sisters
New York Dolls' "Trash" from New York Dolls

1975 in music

Big Star's "O, Dana" from Third/Sister Lovers, the album that established the power pop genre, recording by a band in the midst of legendary feuds

1976 in music

of "Exodus" by Quincy Jones from We Had a Ball, a pop-jazz song
of "The Masquerade Is Over" by George Benson, a popular crossover jazz song

1977 in music

The Commodores' "Brick House" from The Commodores

1978 in music

Bruce Springsteen's "Badlands" from The Darkness on the Edge of Town
The Ramones' "I Want to Be Sedated" from Road to Ruin

1980 in music

of "A Wheel Within a Wheel" by Wynton Marsalis from Wynton, an early album that helped establish Marsalis as one of the premiere jazz musicians of the late 20th century
of "Herbie's Blues" by Herbie Hancock, a prominent jazz and fusion musician

1982 in music

Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force's "Planet Rock"
Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five's "The Message"

1984 in music

Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time" from She's So Unusual

1986 in music

Bad Brains' "Secret 77" from I Against I
Beastie Boys' "RhyminÒ" and StealinÒÔ from Licensed to Ill
Paul Simon's "Graceland" from Graceland

1987 in music

Into the Woods "Ever After"
Pixies' "Holiday Song" from Come on Pilgrim

1988 in music

Eric B. & Rakim's "Follow the Leader" from Follow the Leader
Public Enemy's "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" from It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

1989 in music

Clint Black's "Killin' Time" from KillinÒ Time

1990 in music

Danzig's "Girl" from
Operation Ivy's "Bad Town" from Energy

1991 in music

De La Soul's "My Brother's a Basehead" from De La Soul Is Dead
Metallica's "Enter Sandman" from The Black Album
Nirvana's "Come As You Are" from Nevermind

1992 in music

Alice in Chains' "Rooster" from Dirt
P. J. Harvey's "Water" from Dry

1993 in music

Pearl Jam's "Daughter" from Vs

1994 in music

Green Day's "Basket Case" from Dookie
Method Man's "Sub Crazy" from Tical
REM's "WhatÒs the Frequency, Kenneth?" from Monster

1995 in music

GZA's "Shadowboxing" from Liquid Swords
Natalie Merchant's "San Andreas Fault" from Tigerlily

1996 in music

Beck's "Sissyneck" from Odelay
Busta Rhymes with Rampage's "Abandon Ship" from The Coming
Butthole Surfers' "Pepper" from Electriclarryland

1997 in music

The Foo Fighters' "February Stars" from The Colour and the Shape
Jay-Z's "Streets Is Watching" from In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
The Mighty Mighty BosstonesÒ "The Impression That I Get" from Let's Face It
The Notorious B.I.G's "Niggas Bleed" from Life After Death

1998 in music

Monster Magnet's "Baby Gotterdamerung" from Power Trip
Mos Def's "Mathematics" from Black on Both Sides
OutKast's "Spottieottiedopaliscious" from Aquemini

1999 in music

DMX's "Dogs for Life" from 1999's Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood
The Get Up Kids' "Red Letter Day" from Something to Write Home About

2000 in music

of Alison Krauss' "Down to the River to Pray" from the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack, a surprise hit album of traditionally-styled Appalachian folk music
Bright Eyes' "The Calendar Hung Itself" from Fevers and Mirrors; Bright Eyes is the well-known individual to come out of the Omaha Sound of emo
D'Angelo's "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" from Voodoo; accompanied by a controversial video featuring nothing but the nude singer, D'Angelo, who is one of the most renowned male artists of the hip hop/soul fusion nu soul
Goldfinger's "Margaret Ann" from Stomping Ground, a well-regarded example of American ska punk, a genre which has been finding limited mainstream success since the mid-1990s
Phish's "Farmhouse" from Farmhouse; Phish is undoubtedly the most well-known band of the 90s jam band phenomenon, and are known for their epic jams. "Farmhouse" represents the band at their most pop-oriented
Eminem's "Kill You" from The Marshall Mathers LP, an extremely controversial album full of violent lyrics concerning misogyny, rape and drug abuse; "Kill You" is among the most notorious of the songs on the album, and is also highly regarded for its inventive lyrical flow