It is a fact that fantastic music has been produced in the past two decades, so I wanted to document some of the best songs from each year. Some of these picks and honorable mentions (especially those from the early 2000s) are not ones that one could listen to repetitively, but they are staples of the year they were released. Trust me, I am not one to listen to Eminem, but he came out with songs that have stuck with us all, which makes him relevant enough to put on the list. With that, here are my picks of the songs that I believe are the best from the past 21 years.

     1.  2000: Yellow by Coldplay

Honorable Mentions:

• The Real Slim Shady by Eminem
• Ms. Jackson by Outkast

     2.  2001: Island In the Sun by Weezer

Honorable Mentions:

• Clint Eastwood by Gorillaz
• Hard to Explain by The Strokes
• We’re Going to Be Friends by The White Stripes

     3.  2002: Can’t Stop by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Honorable Mentions:

• Rock Your Body by Justin Timberlake
• Sunday Morning by Maroon 5

     4.  2003: Under Control by The Strokes

Honorable Mentions:

• Hey Ya! by Outkast
• In da Club by 50 Cent

     5.  2004: H** Cakes by MF DOOM

Honorable Mentions:

• Mr. Brightside by The Killers
• All Falls Down by Kanye West
• Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand

     6.  2005: Touch the Sky (feat. Lupe Fiasco) by Kanye West

Honorable Mentions:

• Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz
• Dare by Gorillaz

     7.  2006: Mardy Bum by Arctic Monkeys / Read My Mind by The Killers

Honorable Mentions:

• Tears Dry On Their Own by Amy Winehouse
• Stop This Train by John Mayer

     8.  2007: I Wonder by Kanye West

Honorable Mentions:

• Fluorescent Adolescent by Arctic Monkeys
• Paper Planes by M.I.A.

     9.  2008: Use Somebody by Kings of Leon

Honorable Mentions:

• White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes
• Viva La Vida by Coldplay

     10.  2009: Lisztomania by Phoenix

Honorable Mentions:

• Day ‘n’ Nite by Kid Cudi
• Imma Be by Black Eyed Peas

     11.  2010: Zebra by Beach House

• Passing Out Pieces by Mac DeMarco
• Cherry Wine (Live) by Hozier
• Adult Diversion by Alvvays
• Come a Little Closer by Cage the Elephant

     16.  2015: Jukebox Joints (feat. Joe Fox x Kanye West) by A$AP Rocky

Honorable Mentions:

• These Walls (feat. Bilal, Anna Wise & Thundercat) by Kendrick Lamar
• Disciples by Tame Impala
• Death with Dignity by Sufjan Stevens
• Wildflower by Beach House
• Smuckers (feat. Lil Wayne & Kanye West) by Tyler, The Creator

     17.  2016: Pink + White by Frank Ocean

Honorable Mentions:

• Love on the Brain by Rihanna
• Stargirl Interlude (feat. Lana Del Rey) by The Weeknd
• Threat of Joy by The Strokes
• Homage by Mild High Club
• Redbone by Childish Gambino

     18.  2017:  Drew Barrymore by S.Z.A.

Honorable Mentions:

• Blessed by Daniel Caesar
• Moonlight on the River by Mac DeMarco
• Saint Ivy by Beach Fossils
• 911 / Mr. Lonely (feat. Frank Ocean and Steve Lacy)
• Safari Song by Greta Van Fleet
• Andromeda by Gorillaz

     19.  2018: Charcoal Baby by Blood Orange

Honorable Mentions:

• Velvet Light by Jakob
• Your Teeth In My Neck by Kali Uchis
• When You Die by MGMT
• Nobody by Mitski

     20.  2019: GONE, GONE / THANK YOU by Tyler, The Creator

Honorable Mentions: Black Madonna by Cage the Elephant

• Numb by Men I Trust
• Cyanide by Daniel Caesar
• Sunflower (feat. Steve Lacy) by Vampire Weekend
• Hate CD by Steve Lacy

     21.  2020: Hot Like Jungle by Pottery

Honorable Mentions:

• The Garden by Papooz
• Been Away by Brent Faiyaz
• Breathe Deeper by Tame Impala
• Savior Complex by Phoebe Bridgers
• Good Days by S.Z.A.

     22.  2021: HOT WIND BLOWS (feat. Lil Wayne) by Tyler, The Creator

Honorable Mentions:

• I’ll Be There by Strawberry Guy
• Rocky by Still Woozy
• Age of Machine by Greta Van Fleet
• IN THE MOMENT (feat. Tyler, The Creator) by Snoh Aalegra