Top 10 Two-Hit Wonders of the 2000s

#10: Natalie

“Goin' Crazy” (2005) & “Energy” (2005)

Texas singer Natalie began her music career as a rapper, but after providing hooks for other artists, she decided to focus on singing. Her debut solo record was “Goin’ Crazy,” a dreamy R&B ballad that quickly shot up the charts. With a number 13 peak, it proved a strong enough vehicle to propel Natalie’s self-titled debut album into the top 20 of the albums chart. Just when it seemed like she would be a one-hit wonder, she showed she had a little more in the tank with “Energy.” This fun, flirty collab with Baby Bash might not have been as successful as her breakout, but it kept Natalie on the radio playlists a little longer. Unfortunately, it was also her final appearance on the charts.

#9: Tweet

“Oops (Oh My)” (2002) & “Call Me” (2002)

A few years before making a pop star out of Nelly Furtado, Timbaland tried something similar with another artist, Tweet. A protégé of Missy Elliott, Tweet broke out with her debut single, “Oops (Oh My),” produced by Timbaland and featuring vocals from Missy Elliott. It was sultry, cheeky and impossible to ignore, which helped it soar into the top 10 of the Hot 100. With such momentum, she dropped her second single “Call Me,” also produced by Timbaland. It cracked the top 40 and instantly cemented Tweet as an artist to watch. Everything pointed to the rise of a promising career. But label disputes and constant changes proved too much an obstacle for Tweet. As a result, she faded away from the spotlight.

#8: J-Kwon

“Tipsy” (2004) & “You & Me” (2004)

Everybody in the club was buzzing for J-Kwon in the early 2000s. The rapper’s breakout single was everywhere when it dropped in 2004 and climbed to the number two spot on the Hot 100. The song even found new life 20 years later when it was interpolated in Shaboozey’s chart-topping hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” Many might consider J-Kwon a one-hit wonder, but he actually got a second, albeit less successful, hit titled “You & Me” that same year. This track was a collaboration with singer Sadiyyah that appeared on the Hot 100, as well as on the Rap and R&B charts. However, none of his subsequent singles performed as well, and by 2010, J-Kwon seemed to step away from music altogether.

#7: City High

“What Would You Do?” (2001) & “Caramel” (2001)

Back in the early 2000s, City High seemed poised to take over the R&B world. The trio got their breakthrough with their debut single “What Would You Do?,” a song that tackled real-life struggles, but was still irresistibly catchy. It peaked in the top 10 and received a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group. Then came “Caramel,” a smooth, flirty hit that showed off the trio’s lighter side, proving they could do feel-good just as well as they did serious. With the success of their first album, City High built strong momentum. However, attempts at a second record faltered due to lackluster material and internal turmoil. By 2003, City High had disbanded without ever releasing a sophomore album.

#6: Cassie

“Me & U” (2006) & “Long Way 2 Go” (2006)

Cassie’s debut single, “Me & U,” produced by Ryan Leslie, became a massive hit in 2006, peaking at number three on the Hot 100. It was also the track that caught the attention of Sean “Diddy” Combs, who signed her to his Bad Boy Records and later became her romantic partner. Leslie also produced Cassie’s second single “Long Way 2 Go,” which found international success, but struggled in the U.S. due to limited radio play. By the late 2000s, Cassie had all but disappeared from the charts, which was the same period when she began dating Combs. In light of the troubling revelations that later emerged about their relationship, it’s likely her personal life contributed to her fading from the spotlight.

#5: Vanessa Carlton

“A Thousand Miles” (2002) & “Ordinary Day” (2002)

Almost everyone who lived through the early 2000s remembers the iconic piano intro of “A Thousand Miles.” That riff alone launched Vanessa Carlton’s career. Even before the song was officially released, it was featured in 2001’s “Legally Blonde,” which all but ensured its success when it finally dropped. Not only did it crack the top 10, it was also nominated for three Grammys, including Record of the Year. Carlton followed that up with “Ordinary Day,” another piano ballad that appealed to fans of her previous hit and proved she wasn’t just a one-song act. But after that, things got a little quieter. She kept making music, but none of her later releases came close to matching the magic of those first two hits.

#4: KT Tunstall

“Black Horse and the Cherry Tree” (2005) & “Suddenly I See” (2005)

KT Tunstall burst onto the scene in 2005 and basically owned the airwaves for a hot minute. First came “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree.” her quirky, foot-stomping folk-pop jam that made everyone stop and pay attention after she performed it on “Later... with Jools Holland.” It received a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Not long after, “Suddenly I See” hit, an upbeat anthem celebrating female empowerment. Although this charted slightly lower than her first single, it became even more popular. It served as Hillary Clinton’s campaign song in 2008 and even appeared in the opening scene of “The Devil Wears Prada.” While Tunstall continues to release music, her later songs just didn’t stick the way those two did.

#3: Amerie

“Why Don't We Fall in Love” (2002) & “1 Thing” (2005)

In the early 2000s, singer Amerie had more than just one thing up her sleeve. Many might recognize her more for the lead single off her sophomore album, but it was her 2002 debut, “Why Don't We Fall in Love,” that first put her on the map. Although this wasn’t Amerie’s first choice for her debut single, it ultimately proved to be the right one, as the song was a success on the charts and appeared in video games and TV shows. Three years later, she got her biggest hit with “1 Thing,” an energetic, percussion-driven banger that has now become her signature song. Its style and music video inspired the early careers of several artists, including big names like Beyoncé and Rihanna.

#2: Blu Cantrell

“Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)” (2001) & “Breathe” (2002)

Revenge anthems don’t get much better than “Hit 'Em Up Style.” Blu Cantrell’s debut single was a sassy, in-your-face breakup jam about getting back at a cheating partner. It was riveting and impossible not to sing along to, so of course it shot to number two on the Hot 100. It also earned Cantrell a Grammy nomination. The following year, she teamed up with Sean Paul to create the sultry R&B track “Breathe,” the lead single from her sophomore album. While it didn’t dominate the U.S. charts like her first hit, it found serious love overseas, topping the UK charts for four weeks. After those two tracks though, Cantrell kind of vanished from the spotlight and has yet to release another album.

#1: O-Town

“Liquid Dreams” (2000) & “All or Nothing” (2001)

Hoping to find the next NSYNC, the reality show “Making the Band” premiered in 2000, leading to the creation of the boy band O-Town. Teen pop fans had a new group to obsess over and they showed their love immediately on their debut single “Liquid Dreams.” A cheeky song filled with playful fantasies about the perfect girl, the track was an instant hit, peaking in the top 10. They hit even greater heights with their next single, “All or Nothing,” which reached the top five in the U.S., UK and Canada. For a while, the group seemed poised to follow in the footsteps of other successful boy bands. However, their fame fizzled fast. Later singles never caught fire and O-Town quietly disbanded in 2003.

Which of these two-hit wonders do you still listen to religiously? Let us know in the comments below.