By the 2000s, MTV was splitting its time between reality shows and countdowns like TRL, but music videos still mattered. When one hit, it didn’t just get airtime—it became part of the decade’s identity. From Britney’s red catsuit to Eminem’s endless parodies, these are the 20 music videos that defined 2000s MTV.
20. Kelly Clarkson – Since U Been Gone (2004)
Smashing up apartments while belting one of the most cathartic choruses of the decade, Kelly gave MTV its definitive breakup anthem. The video kept her in heavy TRL rotation, proving the American Idol winner wasn’t a one-hit wonder. From Breakaway (2004), which sold 12 million copies worldwide, it won Best Female Video at the VMAs and became her signature song.
Today, Kelly Clarkson remains a household name with a hugely successful daytime TV show, and her viral Kellyoke cover segments have kept her musical legacy alive well beyond MTV.
19. Nelly – Hot in Herre (2002)
MTV couldn’t stop playing this sweaty, club-soaked video in the summer of 2002. Its infectious hook (“It’s getting hot in here…”) became a cultural catchphrase. From Nellyville (2002), which sold 7 million copies in the U.S., the single topped Billboard for seven straight weeks and won the Grammy for Best Male Rap Solo Performance.
18. Green Day – Boulevard of Broken Dreams (2004)
A moody, cinematic clip with washed-out colours and desolate landscapes, this video captured the angst of the post-9/11 era. MTV played it constantly as Green Day reinvented themselves for a new generation. From American Idiot (2004), which sold 16 million copies worldwide, the song won the Grammy for Record of the Year and cemented Green Day’s comeback.
Boulevard was often paired with Holiday—its prequel in the concept album’s storyline—making the two videos flow seamlessly into each other and strengthening the sense of American Idiot as a punk-rock opera built for television.
17. Shakira – Whenever, Wherever (2001)
Shakira belly-dancing across mountain peaks and ocean waves made for one of the most visually striking videos of the decade. Her charisma translated perfectly to MTV, making her a household name outside Latin America. From Laundry Service (2001), which sold 13 million copies worldwide, the single hit No. 1 in 29 countries.
16. Linkin Park – In the End (2001)
Blending Chester Bennington’s emotion with CGI landscapes of collapsing ruins, In the End became one of MTV’s most played rock videos of the decade. It was the single that truly broke nu-metal into the mainstream. From Hybrid Theory (2000), which went Diamond (10 million U.S. sales), the song peaked at No. 2 on Billboard Hot 100.
15. Lady Gaga – Poker Face (2008)
By 2008, MTV wasn’t known for launching new stars—but Gaga broke through anyway. Futuristic styling, poolside choreography, and icy confidence made her MTV’s final true “visual superstar.” From The Fame (2008), which sold 18 million copies worldwide, Poker Face topped charts in over 20 countries and won the Grammy for Best Dance Recording.
14. Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland – Dilemma (2002)
Another one from Nellyville (2002), Dilemma became one of 2000s MTV’s defining videos. Mixing romance, drama, and the now-iconic scene of Kelly Rowland trying to text via Excel, it was everywhere in 2002. The single topped Billboard for 10 straight weeks, won the Grammy for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, and helped push Nellyville past 7 million U.S. sales. With Nelly’s club swagger balanced by Kelly’s star power, it was one of MTV’s most-requested videos of the year.
13. Beyoncé – Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) (2008)
Just Beyoncé, two dancers, and a choreography routine so iconic it became one of the first viral sensations. MTV put it into heavy rotation, but it spread everywhere else too. From I Am… Sasha Fierce (2008), which sold 8 million copies worldwide, the single won Video of the Year at the 2009 VMAs and dominated pop culture.
12. Usher feat. Lil Jon & Ludacris – Yeah! (2004)
A club banger paired with slick choreography, Yeah! gave MTV its defining R&B party video. From Confessions (2004), which sold 20 million copies worldwide, the song spent 12 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard. The clip’s neon energy fit perfectly into TRL-era MTV.
11. Rihanna feat. Jay-Z – Umbrella (2007)
Rihanna dancing in metallic paint and dodging showers of sparks became one of MTV’s most enduring images of the 2000s. The single, from Good Girl Gone Bad (2007), sold over 6 million copies in the U.S., topped the charts in 15 countries, and won the Grammy for Song of the Year. MTV crowned Rihanna its new queen.
10. Linkin Park – Numb (2003)
Filmed in Prague, the video’s imagery of teenage isolation matched perfectly with the band’s mix of rap, rock, and raw emotion. It became one of 2000s MTV’s most-requested rock clips, staying in rotation for years. From Meteora (2003), which sold 7 million copies in the U.S., Numb remains Linkin Park’s most-streamed video today.
Its legacy only grew when MTV partnered with the band and Jay-Z for the Collision Course mash-up project in 2004, with Numb/Encore becoming one of the channel’s biggest cross-genre event videos of the decade.
9. Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mýa & Pink – Lady Marmalade (2001)
Feathers, corsets, and Moulin Rouge excess turned this video into an MTV juggernaut. It dominated the channel for months and became one of the most replayed collaborations of the decade. From the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack, it topped Billboard for five weeks and won the VMA for Video of the Year.
8. Britney Spears – Toxic (2004)
Britney as a secret agent in a crystal-studded catsuit made headlines worldwide. MTV put it in maximum rotation, while tabloids obsessed over every frame. From In the Zone (2003), which sold 10 million copies worldwide, the single won Britney her first Grammy Award and is still considered her boldest video.
7. Eminem – Without Me (2002)
A comic-book parody of Batman & Robin, celebrity feuds, and Eminem’s self-deprecation made this video MTV’s funniest hit of 2002. From The Eminem Show (2002), which sold 27 million copies worldwide, it won the VMA for Best Male Video and proved Eminem was still MTV’s most dangerous comedian.
6. OutKast – Hey Ya! (2003)
André 3000 as every member of a technicolour Beatles parody band gave MTV one of its most joyful videos. It dominated MTV in 2003–04 and became one of the most requested clips of the decade. From Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003), which sold 11 million copies worldwide, Hey Ya! topped Billboard for nine weeks.
5. Beyoncé – Crazy in Love (2003)
The white tank-top strut and car-chasing explosions made Beyoncé’s solo debut instantly unforgettable. MTV crowned her the new face of pop. From Dangerously in Love (2003), which sold 11 million copies worldwide, the single went to No. 1 in 12 countries.
4. NSYNC – Bye Bye Bye (2000)
Puppet strings, precision dance moves, and boy-band perfection made this TRL’s biggest early-decade video. From No Strings Attached (2000), which sold 2.4 million copies in its first week (a U.S. record at the time), it became the defining boy-band video of the 2000s.
3. OutKast – Ms. Jackson (2000)
With surreal visuals and André 3000’s charisma, Ms. Jackson was both quirky and endlessly replayed on MTV. From Stankonia (2000), which sold 4 million copies in the U.S., the song won the Grammy for Best Rap Performance and gave MTV its most requested hip-hop clip of 2000–01.
2. Britney Spears – Oops!… I Did It Again (2000)
Britney in her red latex catsuit on Mars became the ultimate MTV image of the new millennium. From Oops!… I Did It Again (2000), which sold 20 million copies worldwide, the single topped charts in 15 countries and kept Britney as the queen of MTV.
1. Eminem – The Real Slim Shady (2000)
A bleach-blond army of Eminem clones, celebrity takedowns, and razor-sharp satire. This video defined MTV at the turn of the century. From The Marshall Mathers LP (2000), which sold 25 million copies worldwide, it won Video of the Year at the 2000 VMAs and became Eminem’s signature MTV moment.
Why 2000s MTV Mattered
2000s MTV was a channel in transition—shifting toward reality TV, but still capable of shaping global music culture when a video hit. From Britney’s latex spectacle to Eminem’s comic chaos, from OutKast’s technicolour brilliance to Beyoncé’s solo debut, these videos weren’t just entertainment—they were cultural moments. Building on the foundation of 1980s MTV and the obsession of 1990s MTV, the 2000s proved the music video was still an event, even in the dawn of the internet age.
