The year was 2003. Before there was a Cardi B or a SZA dominating the game there was Missy Elliott and Erykah Badu. We all survived Y2K and were living our best lives during the bling’d out, throwback jersey, baggy jeans era when the Grammy Awards made a perfectly timed stop in New York City.
It’s a been a long while since the Grammy Awards took place in NYC, 15 years to be exact. If you recall, Norah Jones commanded the night by snagging five Grammys for her hit single at the time “Don’t Know Why,” beating out Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles” and “Dilemma” by Nelly feat. Kelly Rowland for Record of the Year. This was the first Grammy celebration without a single official host, but NYC came together for the return of music’s biggest night. The red carpet was star-studded and you’ll see that some of your faves have barely aged in over a decade (Oh, hey Ashanti!) Let’s take a sometimes hilarious trip down memory lane as we anticipate the 60th Annual Grammy Awards making it’s return to the Mecca.
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1 Erykah BaduGetty Images
Erykah Badu won Best R&B Song for “Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop)” and she’s super cute and plenty bad, ow! -
2 Missy ElliottGetty Images
Styled by Cam’ron. -
3 EveGetty Images
Who’s that girl?!? Looking all almondy! -
4 Kelly RowlandGetty Images
Kelly Rowland poses with the Grammy Award she won for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for “Dilemma.” ’Twas destiny. -
5 Harvey Fierstein and Rod StewartGetty images
Dress Code: Speak-Easy Owner meets Burlesque Chic. -
6 Sheryl CrowGetty Images
Sheryl is holding her GRAMMY Award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance. Look at the light in those eyes. -
7 The Dixie ChicksGetty Images
The Dixie Chicks holding their GRAMMY for Best Country Instrumental Performance for Lill’ Jack Slade. It was a cold day in ’2002. -
8 Norah JonesGetty Images
“I wish I had more hands!” (Dave Chappelle as Rick James voice) -
9 Robin WilliamsGetty Images
Robin Williams won a GRAMMY for Best Spoken Comedy Album for Robin Williams:Live 2002 RIP to the LEGEND. Damn, we miss him. -
10 John MayerGetty Images
Wake up John, you won! -
11 Scott StappGetty Images
When you told your girl you were staying in but spot her in the club. -
12 Foxy BrownGetty Images
That’s that cocoa butter mixed with a little Vaseline, baby! -
13 Jimmy FallonGetty Images
Jimmy ages like Ellen. Was this taken yesterday? -
14 Avril LavigneGetty Images
Because which rockstar do you know with a clean pair of Converse? -
15 PinkGetty Images
When you try to wing your eyeliner while on a roller-coaster. -
16 Celia CruzGetty Images
QUEEN -
17 Cyndi LauperGetty Images
The lipstick matching the highlight. OK Cyndi! -
18 Faith HillGetty Images
“Alright…so someone ordered a GRAMMY? Ah, Here you go!” -
19 Marc AnthonyGetty images
Gotta practice how you’re going to hold those Grammys. -
20 Bowling for SoupGetty Images
Who? Yeah, they were…nevermind. Nice pants, guys. -
21 Brian McKnightGetty Images
That velvet buttoned jacket, tho. Style has evolved. Thank baby Jesus. -
22 Charlie BaltimoreGetty Images
Serving serious shower curtain! -
23 A.J. Discala and Jamie-Lynn SiglerGetty Images
They had a blissful two years with one another. -
24 RedmanGetty Images
It wouldn’t be 2002 without a throwback jersey moment. (No Champions, authentics only!) -
25 Jill ScottGetty Images
When you’re a dominatrix, but need to stop by the prayer meeting at church first. -
26 Faith EvansGetty Images
And your homegirl is riding with you. -
27 SlashGetty Images
What is that velvet? Call it the Brian Mc-Wild-For-The-Knight effect. -
28 Cee-loGetty Images
*Walks in hair salon* “CDs! DVDS! Socks! Got that Yaki, ladies! 1B! -
29 The ClipseGetty Images
BRRRRR, What happened to that boy? Seriously, where’s No Malice? -
30 Nappy RootsGetty Images
Awnaw! -
31 AshantiGetty Images
Ashanti holds up her Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album looking like she’s about to head to her high school prom afterwards. -
32 Cash MoneyGetty Images
Birdman x Weezy. Damn, I miss my dawgs. -
33 Diana RossGetty Images
Yass, denim diva! -
34 NellyGetty Images
The moment the club lights come on and shorty you thought looked like Nia Long ends up looking like Wayne Wonder. -
35 Lance Bass and CarrahGetty Images
Lance Bass and guest during The 45th Annual GRAMMY Awards attending the BMG After-Party. Who’s ya friend? -
36 MystikalGetty Images
Danger! Been so long we’ve seen Mystikal look like this. -
37 Alicia KeysGetty Images
Them hips don’t lie. A. Keys came to get LIT at this Grammy party. -
38 Usher and ChilliGetty Images
2002 #RelationshipGoals -
39 Diddy and Justin CombsGetty Images
Justin is a whole man now. Time flies. -
40 Naomi CampbellGetty Images
Naomi, Naomi, gah-damn! Naomi. Keep strutting Nay! -
41 Gwen StefaniGetty Images
The one shoulder ’fit was definitely a thing. -
42 Pharrell WilliamsGetty Images
Meet Benjamin Button. Pharrell is like the reverse Morgan Freeman. -
43 John LeguizamoGetty Images
Which third grader did he steal those shades from? -
44 Kim CattrallGetty Images
Sam! -
45 Kelly OsbourneGetty images
Giving us all the NYC punk-rock vibes. -
46 Tony BennettGetty Images
Tony Bennett snags GRAMMY for Best Traditional Pop Album for Playin’ with My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues. -
47 Foo FightersGetty Images
Foo Fighters won a GRAMMY for Best Hard Rock Performance and took the very not so harmonious group approach to their style. -
48 No DoubtGetty Images
No Doubt takes home the GRAMMY for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for “Hey Baby.” -
49 EminemGetty Images
Eminem mid-speech accepting his GRAMMY for Best Rap Album. But do you think he gives a damn about a GRAMMY? Half of those critics couldn’t stomach him, let alone stand him. -
50 NSYNCGetty Images
NSYNC performs at the GRAMMYs. I have nothing witty for them, I was #TeamBackstreet. “Filthy” is a bop though. -
51 Gabrielle UnionGetty Images
Edges>> -
52 Faye Dunaway and Queen LatifahGetty Images
“OMG! Your hair grows so fast!” -
53 Christian Slater and Fred DurstGetty Images
Caption this. -
54 Busta RhymesGetty Images
I can hear him “wooo-hah” through the picture. -
55 India.ArieGetty Images
Because she is a queen! -
56 FloetryGetty Images
Well, alright. -
57 Aaron CarterGetty Images
A simpler time. -
58 Grupo ManiaGetty Images
Grupo Mania posing as winners for Best Merengue Album for ’Latino. Alright, I’m bringing “thumbs up” back.
The noms obviously changed but liquor remains the same! Here is the perfect drinking game to get you through the GRAMMYs, tweak and drink at your own risk!