Music · 1998
Teen Pop, Auto-Tune, and Hip-Hop Masterpieces
1998 was a watershed year that launched global teen-pop superstars and showcased genre-bending masterpieces in hip-hop and electronica. From Cher's pitch-shifting revolution to Lauryn Hill's historic solo rise, the airwaves redefined the sounds of the upcoming millennium.
- August 25, 1998 | Neo-Soul / Hip-Hop
Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Hill seamlessly blended hip-hop, R&B, and reggae into a groundbreaking, critically acclaimed solo masterpiece.
- October 19, 1998 | Dance-Pop
Cher – "Believe"
Featuring pioneering pitch-correction Auto-Tune, Cher created an unstoppable global anthem that redefined vocal production.
- October 23, 1998 | Teen Pop
Britney Spears – "...Baby One More Time"
An iconic schoolgirl-themed music video and infectious hook catapulted 16-year-old Britney Spears to global pop stardom.
- March 3, 1998 | Electronica / Pop
Madonna – Ray of Light
Madonna reinvented her sound alongside producer William Orbit, delivering a soulful, ambient techno-infused pop triumph.
- May 31, 1998 | Pop Event
Geri Halliwell Exits the Spice Girls
Ginger Spice shocked the world by leaving the height-of-their-fame British pop group in the middle of their world tour.
- September 29, 1998 | Hip-Hop
OutKast – Aquemini
Big Boi and André 3000 crafted a sprawling, futuristic rap classic that cemented Southern hip-hop's artistic supremacy.
- May 19, 1998 | R&B Duet
Brandy and Monica – "The Boy Is Mine"
The teenage R&B powerhouses teamed up for a dramatic duet that spent 13 consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100.
- February 10, 1998 | Indie Rock
Neutral Milk Hotel – In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Jeff Mangum’s raw, surrealist lo-fi indie rock album became an enduring, revered cult classic for generations of listeners.
Enjoyed your trip back in time?