Top 15 Music Artists of our Time (2000-15)

Every Generation witnesses some great music artists who made the world laugh, cry, think, dance and sing to their music. The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Madonna, Nirvana, Bob Marley, AC/DC, and many more became the best forever. But for our generation who can be slated as the top artists. Based on their album sales, chart topping singles, fan base, award winning songs, critical acclaim and musical success, we have short listed 15 artists between the period 2000-15.

15. Black Eyed Peas

Originally an Alternative Hip-Hop group, but subsequently they added R&B and EDM influence to their music. It was with their third studio album "Elephunk" they reached record sales and their fourth album "Monkey Business" was even more successful. They were one of the 11 artists to have their two songs 'Boom Boom Pow' & 'Gotta Feeling' spotted Billboard No.1 and No.2 simultaneously at the same time.

14. Jay-Z

Jay-Z was considered as one of the world's greatest artist of all-time with 21 Grammy awards, selling over 100 million copies and numerous other nominations. His albums "The Blueprint" and "The Black Album" are featured in Rolling Stone's list of 500 greatest albums of all-time. He is also a music producer and collaborated with Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, Pharrell Williams, his wife Beyonce and many others.

13.David Guetta

David Guetta, one of the best world's best Electronic and Dance Music(EDM) artist. His heart thumping beats make you to get on the dance floor and dance like you lost your mind. His hilarious collaborations with Sia for 'Titanium', Akon for 'Sexy Bitch', 'Crank it Up', Flo Rida for 'Club Can't Handle Us', Sam Martin for 'Lovers On the Sun', 'Dangerous' and Nicki Minaj for 'Hey Mama' produced some chart topping singles.

12. Beyonce

She rose to fame as the lead singer of R&B girl group, "Destiny's Child" which became the best selling girl-group ever. She started her solo career with her debut album "Dangerously in Love" which featured No.1 singles 'Crazy in Love', 'Baby Boy' and won her 5 Grammy Awards. Her next albums "B'Day", "I Am..Sasha Fierce", "4" and "Beyonce" sold millions of copies. She won totally 20 Grammy Awards and is most nominated women in award's history.

11. Ed Sheeran

This country pop singer and folk rapper struck gold with his debut album "+" followed by his second and even more successful album "X". His biggest hit 'Thinking Out Loud' has a run of more than 30 weeks on Billboard chart and still selling good. 'Lego House', 'The A Team', 'Give Me Love', 'Don't', 'Photograph', 'One', 'Sing' and many more hit songs got him great critical appreciation and success. His song 'I See Fire' for Original Soundtracks of The Hobbit:Desolution of Smaug and 'All of Stars' for The Fault in our Stars OST proved that he has much to do in Hollywood too.

10. Justin Timberlake

    This NSYNC band member left the band in 2002 and started his solo career as music artist, actor and TV host. His debut album "Justified" debuted at No.2 with biggest hit 'Cry Me A River' and second album "Future Sex/Love Sounds" at No.1 with one of the best song of our time 'What Goes Around Comes Around'. His greatest song ever 'Mirrors' was featured in his "The 20/20 Experience" along with chartbusters like 'Suit & Tie' and 'Not A Bad Thing'.

9. Kanye West

Kanye is a songwriter, rapper, music producer. He started his music career by producing Jay-Z's album "The Blueprint". He started his solo career with "The College Dropout". He won 21 Grammy Awards and claimed as the most awarded artist of all time.  His hit singles include 'Through the Wire', 'Jesus Walks', 'Stronger' featuring Daft Punk,  'Heartless', 'All of the Lights' and 'Runaway'.

8. Linkin Park

This American Alternative Rock band reached a cult status among the Rock lovers with their hard rock drum beats, jazz mutants, electrifying bass and electric guitar strumming, Mike's rap and Chester's high pitched vocals. The career of Linkin Park may be approaching the end,  but their hard rock influence will always be on the fans through their hits 'In The End', 'Numb', 'What I've Done', 'Castle of Glass', 'Breaking The Habit', 'Waiting For The End' and 'Final Masquerade'.

7. Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is one of the richest and most successful pop star nowadays. Her fame soared high with her blockbuster singles 'Love Story', 'U belong With Me', 'Back To December', 'I Know You Were Trouble' which had country music influence. It is with her new album "1989", she locked the country music in her closet and transformed herself into a complete pop phenomena. Her hit singles from that album 'Shake It Off', 'Blank Space', 'Bad Blood' lifted her career even more higher, placing her among the most successful and influential women of the generation.

6. Adele

Adele, a British songwriter and singer. She made her musical debut with her album "19" which was a commercial and critical success, that got her two Grammy Awards. Her second album "21" was a sensation and surpassed many records. The album was certified 16 times platinum in US and UK, and hold the record for top position longer than any other album. Her singles 'Rolling In The Deep', 'Someone Like You' and "Set Fire To The Rain' reached top spots simultaneously. This album won her record breaking 6 Grammy Awards. She composed and sang the song 'Skyfall' for the James Bond movie, which won her a Golden Globe, An Oscar and a Grammy.

5. Coldplay

With two highest selling albums of the year "X&Y", "Viva La Vida" over last 10 years, this British Alternative Rock Band saw huge successes. The mellow in their tunes and depth in the lyrics, blended by Coldplay perfectly to make soulful Rock songs like 'Viva La Vida', 'Paradise', 'Yellow', 'Scientist', 'Every Teardrop is a  Waterfall', 'A Sky Full of Stars'. They are on their way in making their final cut "Head Full Of Dreams" and it's a painful truth that we can't have any more Coldplay songs after that.

4. Daft Punk

Electronic music reached new levels with these two helmet guys. With highest selling album like 'Random Access Memories' they even won Grammy Awards and got lucky. They produced some musically awesome and critically appreciated songs like 'Stronger', 'Instant Crush' and also a Grammy winning song 'Get Lucky'. They have also done music tracks for the Hollywood movie "Tron: Legacy". They are slated as the best DJs in the world.

3. Katy Perry

Katy Perry, is the most renowned name in pop world with biggest fan base, selling millions of copies all over the world. This pop star made super hit songs like 'Teenage Dream', 'Wide Awake', 'This Is How We do'. She reached the status of Pop Queen with her album "Prism" that produced her two biggest hits 'Roar' and 'Dark Horse' which got her numerous nominations, highest views on YouTube and were best sellers of the year. Her performance at the Super Bowl drew the highest crowd ever for a live performance.

2. Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars, is one of the most successful pop star who is claimed to take up the spot of Michael Jackson in the pop world. His unique voice and dance moves gained him a huge fan base. He rose to fame with his first musical venture and since then made some greatest hit songs like 'The Lazy Song', 'Just The way You Are', 'Treasure', 'When I Was Your Man', 'Locked Out of Heaven', 'It Will Rain', 'Grenade'. His collaborations with some major artists like Lil Wayne for 'Mirror', Bad Meets Evil for 'Lighters' and recently with Mark Ronson for 'Uptown Funk' created sensations in the music industry.

1. Eminem

Marshall Mathers, famously known as Eminem is an American Hip-Hop artists popularly known for his acts with "D12" and "Bad Meets Evil" before starting his solo career as a rapper. He became the best selling hip-hop artist with over 155 million copies and 10 of his albums debuting at No.1 on Billboard. From all his solo albums and collaborations, he produced some massive hit singles like 'Fast Lane', 'Lighters', 'Not Afraid', 'Love The Way You Lie', 'Stan', 'The Real Slim Shady', 'Space Bound', Rap God', 'Monster' and many more. He won an Academy Award for 'Lose Yourself' from the "8 Mile" Soundtrack.