Pop music in 2000 features a few winners, as well as losers

Some winners and losers in pop music in 2000:

Winners

Eminem: The trash-talking rapper slammed gays, fantasized about raping his mother, wrote an entire song about killing his wife -- and still became a critical and fan favorite with his multi-platinum "The Marshall Mathers LP." Eminem's twisted rhymes -- sometimes humorous, always disturbing -- and masterful production by Dr. Dre jelled for the most talked-about disc of the year.

Teen Pop: Though derided by many critics, teen sensations Britney Spears, 'N Sync and the Backstreet Boys proved they were no flash in the pan, posting record-breaking sales and dominating the charts all year.

Napster: To the chagrin of record conglomerates and acts like Metallica, the Internet music swapping service that started in the dorm room of founder Shawn Fanning remained a favorite of millions of music lovers who could pick and choose what they wanted to hear, and download it for free. At least until the lawsuits are resolved.

The Beatles: Forget the Backstreet Boys -- The Fab Four proved they are still the ultimate boy band. The group that broke up 30 years ago debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts with "1," a collection of hits in time for the holidays.

Outkast: This eclectic duo proved there's more to rap than "bling bling" with their dynamic "Stankonia." The funkadelic disc, which mixed raunchy themes with esoteric raps, was one of hip-hop's most creative of the year. It also was a refreshing break from gansta rappers more focused on their platinum rings than their rhymes.

Losers

Whitney Houston: She morphed from glamorous diva to spiraling, out-of-control superstar when last-minute show cancellations and erratic behavior fueled rumors that she had a substance-abuse problem. A pot bust in Hawaii and her failure to respond to the rumor mill didn't help her image.

Spice Girls: The fans who made the Spice Girls one of the best-selling acts in the world two years ago may still believe in "girl power," but these girls are a little long in the tooth compared to the Britneys and Christinas of today's pop world. The Spices' new album was "Forever," but its abysmal sales showed the group is so yesterday.

Lil' Kim: Maybe Lil' Kim was a little too exposed this year. Although the raunchy rap queen's nearly nude frame was everywhere, fans were underwhelmed by "The Notorious K.I.M.," the highly anticipated follow-up to her 1997 debut, "Hard Core." The sophomore effort went platinum, but it didn't have the impact one would expect from The Queen Bee.

Diana Ross: Stop, in the name of poor ticket sales! The supreme diva set out to recreate her Motown magic with a Supremes reunion tour -- but original Supreme Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong, who replaced the late Florence Ballard, were left off the bill. The tour was canceled after less than a month.