The ultimate party starter, produced by Dr. Dre, which helped define the sound of mid-2000s hip-hop. A Diverse Decade of Sound

Released in late 2011, the special served as a definitive cultural audit of a decade defined by the rise of digital downloads, the dominance of hip-hop and R&B, and the birth of modern pop icons. Hosted by Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz , the five-part series chronicled the tracks that shaped the "noughties," from the turn-of-the-millennium pop explosion to the synth-heavy anthems that closed out the era. The Top 10: Anthems of a Generation

Alicia Keys’ "Fallin’" (#22) and Usher’s "Yeah!" (#27) represented a peak period for soul-infused pop that dominated radio play for years.

Representing the late-decade shift toward electro-pop, Gaga’s breakthrough hit redefined the visual and sonic expectations of a pop star.