140 Fun Facts About 90s Music

Which 1991 album featuring 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' helped popularize alternative rock?

Nevermind replaced Michael Jackson's Dangerous at number one on January 11, 1992, a result nobody at Geffen had planned for: the label had hoped to sell about 250,000 copies.

Which New York rapper released the landmark debut album 'Illmatic' in 1994?

Nas released Illmatic on April 19, 1994; produced by DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Large Professor and Q-Tip, it is routinely ranked among the greatest hip-hop albums ever made.

In what year did Boyz II Men release the album with 'I'll Make Love to You' and 'On Bended Knee'?

Boyz II Men's critically acclaimed album "II" was released in 1994, spawning multiple chart-topping hits and showcasing their signature vocal harmonies.

'Firestarter' and 'Breathe' were singles from which 1997 album by The Prodigy?

The Fat of the Land went to number one in the United States, a rare feat for a British dance act; its third single, 'Smack My Bitch Up', had its video banned from daytime MTV.

Which band's self-titled 1994 debut, known as the Blue Album, produced 'Buddy Holly' and 'Say It Ain't So'?

The Spike Jonze video for 'Buddy Holly' dropped Weezer into Arnold's diner from Happy Days and won four MTV Video Music Awards in 1995; 'Undone – The Sweater Song' had been the album's first single.

Which member of the Spice Girls was nicknamed Ginger Spice?

Geri Halliwell was Ginger Spice, nicknamed for her red hair; she left the group in May 1998, at the height of their fame.

Which 1994 Soundgarden album produced the Grammy-winning single 'Black Hole Sun'?

Superunknown debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 in March 1994; 'Black Hole Sun' and 'Spoonman' both won Grammy Awards in 1995.

Mariah Carey's 1993 album that produced the number-one singles 'Dreamlover' and 'Hero' was titled what?

Music Box, released in August 1993, produced the number-one singles 'Dreamlover' and 'Hero'; 'Hero' was first written for the Dustin Hoffman film of the same name.

Which British band's 1994 debut Definitely Maybe helped define the Britpop era?

*Definitely Maybe* was the debut album by Oasis, released on August 29, 1994. It quickly became the fastest-selling debut album in British history at the time and was a cornerstone of the Britpop movement.

Alice in Chains' 1992 album featuring 'Rooster' and 'Would?' was titled what?

Dirt, released in September 1992, contains 'Rooster', which Jerry Cantrell wrote for his father, a Vietnam veteran whose childhood nickname was Rooster, and 'Would?'.

The Spice Girls famously encouraged listeners to 'zig-a-zig-ah' in which debut single?

'Wannabe' was the debut single from the Spice Girls, released in 1996, and became a global phenomenon, defining the 'girl power' ethos of the group.

What was the title of Dr. Dre's highly influential 1992 debut solo album?

'The Chronic' is considered a landmark album in West Coast hip-hop, not only launching Dr. Dre's solo career but also introducing the world to Snoop Dogg and popularizing the G-funk sound.

Which Athens, Georgia band had its biggest hit in 1991 with the mandolin-driven 'Losing My Religion'?

'Losing my religion' is a Southern expression for losing your temper, not a statement about faith. R.E.M. built the song on a mandolin riff Peter Buck wrote while teaching himself the instrument, and it won them two Grammys.

Boyz II Men topped the charts for an extended period with which 1992 ballad?

'End of the Road' set a record for the longest-running number one song in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 at the time, spending 13 weeks at the top.

Which Canadian singer's 1995 album Jagged Little Pill, with 'You Oughta Know' and 'Ironic', sold more than 33 million copies?

Alanis Morissette had been a teen dance-pop act in Canada before Jagged Little Pill; the album won Album of the Year at the 1996 Grammys and has sold more than 33 million copies.

'Basket Case' and 'When I Come Around' both topped the Modern Rock chart from which 1994 Green Day album?

Green Day cut Dookie in three weeks, and the major-label debut went diamond, dragging pop-punk onto MTV; 'Longview', 'Basket Case' and 'When I Come Around' all reached number one on the Modern Rock chart.

TLC's 1994 album, which featured the hit singles 'Waterfalls' and 'Creep,' was titled what?

'CrazySexyCool' is one of the best-selling albums by an American girl group, earning a Diamond certification and multiple Grammy Awards.

Which electronic music duo released their debut album 'Homework' in 1997?

Daft Punk released Homework in January 1997; its singles 'Da Funk' and 'Around the World' established the French duo as leaders of the house revival.

The hit song 'Gangsta's Paradise' by Coolio was famously featured in which 1995 film?

'Gangsta's Paradise' was the lead single from the soundtrack of the film 'Dangerous Minds,' starring Michelle Pfeiffer, and became one of the best-selling singles of all time.

Which British band released the Britpop anthem 'Common People' in 1995?

Pulp released 'Common People' in May 1995 as the lead single from Different Class; it reached number two in the UK and became a defining Britpop track.

Jay-Z's 1996 debut album, released on his own Roc-A-Fella label with The Notorious B.I.G. guesting, was titled what?

Reasonable Doubt came out on Roc-A-Fella, the label Jay-Z co-founded after no major would sign him; it had beats from DJ Premier and a verse from The Notorious B.I.G., and Jay-Z was already 26 years old.

Which country star released 'No Fences' (1990), featuring 'Friends in Low Places'?

'No Fences' became one of the best-selling albums in country music history and solidified Garth Brooks' status as a global phenomenon.

Which 1998 debut single launched Britney Spears?

'...Baby One More Time', written and produced by Max Martin, was released in October 1998 as Britney Spears's debut single and topped the Billboard Hot 100 in January 1999.

What was Pearl Jam's record-breaking second studio album, released in 1993, titled?

'Vs.' debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and set a record for the most copies sold in its first week for a rock album at the time.

What was Tupac Shakur's 1996 double album, his last released in his lifetime?

'All Eyez on Me' featured numerous hit singles and is one of the best-selling hip-hop albums of all time, becoming certified Diamond.

Which Danish-Norwegian group's 1997 hit 'Barbie Girl' prompted toymaker Mattel to sue over its plastic-fantastic lyrics?

Mattel sued over 'Barbie Girl' and lost; the judge's opinion ended 'The parties are advised to chill.' Aqua's novelty hit topped charts across Europe and reached the US top ten.

Mariah Carey collaborated with Boyz II Men on which record-breaking 1995 single?

'One Sweet Day' spent a record 16 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, a record that stood for over two decades.

Nine Inch Nails released 'The Downward Spiral' in what year?

It followed the EP Broken, made after a falling-out with TVT pushed the band to Interscope; The Fragile came five years later.

In which year did the Fugees release 'The Score'?

The Fugees released The Score in February 1996; 'Killing Me Softly' and 'Fu-Gee-La' carried it to number one on the Billboard 200.

Which 1996 Beck album won the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Performance?

Odelay, released in June 1996, won Best Alternative Music Performance at the 1997 Grammys, and its single 'Where It's At' won Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.

The Smashing Pumpkins released 'Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness' in what year?

It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 after its October 23, 1995 release on Virgin.

Radiohead's critically acclaimed album 'OK Computer' was released in what year?

'OK Computer' is widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, praised for its experimental sound and lyrical depth.

What was Madonna's Grammy-winning 1998 album, which marked a shift towards electronica?

Ray of Light, produced with William Orbit and released in March 1998, won four Grammys in 1999, including Best Pop Album and Best Dance Recording.

Which Boy Band had a major hit with 'I Want It That Way' in 1999?

'I Want It That Way', written by Max Martin and Andreas Carlsson, led the Backstreet Boys' 1999 album Millennium, which sold over 1.1 million US copies in its first week.

In what year did No Doubt release 'Tragic Kingdom', featuring 'Don't Speak'?

'Tragic Kingdom' propelled No Doubt to international stardom and established Gwen Stefani as a prominent frontwoman.

Which singer released the 1993 album Debut, featuring 'Human Behaviour'?

Björk released Debut in July 1993 after leaving the Sugarcubes; produced with Nellee Hooper, it opened with the single 'Human Behaviour'.

Seal's Grammy-winning power ballad 'Kiss from a Rose' was famously featured in which 1995 superhero film?

'Kiss from a Rose' became a huge hit after its inclusion in the soundtrack for 'Batman Forever,' earning Seal multiple Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year.

In what year did Hanson release 'MMMBop'?

The lead single from the brothers' first full-length album, Middle of Nowhere, came out March 24, 1997, on Mercury.

'I get knocked down, but I get up again' — which British anarcho-punk collective had that unlikely 1997 hit with 'Tubthumping'?

Chumbawamba had spent fifteen years as an anarchist collective before 'Tubthumping' made them a worldwide one-hit wonder; the chorus is about getting back up after a night in the pub.

Fatboy Slim's 1998 album that produced 'The Rockafeller Skank' and 'Praise You' was titled what?

You've Come a Long Way, Baby, released in October 1998, sent all four of its singles into the UK top ten, and Spike Jonze's 'Praise You' video won three MTV Video Music Awards.

Which English duo, kings of 'big beat', released Dig Your Own Hole in 1997 with 'Block Rockin' Beats' and 'Setting Sun'?

The Chemical Brothers were the Dust Brothers until the American producers of that name objected; Dig Your Own Hole put Noel Gallagher on 'Setting Sun' and won 'Block Rockin' Beats' a Grammy.

Which band released 'August and Everything After,' featuring 'Mr. Jones,' in 1993?

'August and Everything After' was a hugely successful debut for Counting Crows, selling millions of copies and becoming a staple of 90s alternative rock radio.

Whose 1997 debut 'Baduizm' helped define neo-soul?

Erykah Badu's Baduizm, released in February 1997, won Best R&B Album at the 1998 Grammys, and its single 'On & On' won Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

What was the title of Janet Jackson's sixth studio album, released in 1997?

Its single 'Got 'til It's Gone' won the 1998 Grammy for Best Music Video, and 'I Get Lonely' became her 18th consecutive US top-ten hit.

Which band released its final studio album, In Utero, in 1993?

Nirvana recorded In Utero with engineer Steve Albini in February 1993; deliberately starker than Nevermind, it nonetheless debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 that September.

The Notorious B.I.G.'s second and final studio album, released posthumously in 1997, was titled what?

'Life After Death' was a massive commercial success, becoming one of the best-selling hip-hop albums of all time and earning multiple Grammy nominations.

'Blue (Da Ba Dee)', the 1999 Eurodance hit about a man who lives in a blue world, came from which Italian group?

Eiffel 65 came from Turin, and 'Blue (Da Ba Dee)' went to number one in the UK and across Europe before reaching the US top ten, carried by a vocoder chorus of pure nonsense syllables.

Whitney Houston's 1992 hit 'I Will Always Love You' featured in which film?

Whitney Houston's rendition of 'I Will Always Love You' from 'The Bodyguard' soundtrack became one of the best-selling singles of all time.

Which alternative rock band, known for their eclectic sound, released 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' in 1991?

'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' was a commercial and critical success for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, featuring hit singles like 'Under the Bridge' and 'Give It Away.'

Which 1995 Mariah Carey album included 'Fantasy' and 'Always Be My Baby'?

Daydream, released in October 1995, opened with 'Fantasy', the first single by a female artist to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100; 'Always Be My Baby' also reached number one.

How many weeks did the Bayside Boys mix of 'Macarena' top the Hot 100 in 1996?

The Bayside Boys mix of 'Macarena' spent 14 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, from August 3 to November 2, 1996, before 'No Diggity' replaced it.

The original 'Macarena' was recorded in 1993 by which Spanish duo, already three decades into their career?

Los del Río, a duo from Seville performing together since 1962, recorded the original 'Macarena' in 1993; the Bayside Boys' Miami remix added English lyrics and sent it to number one in the US.

Which composer wrote the music for Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On'?

James Horner composed 'My Heart Will Go On' with lyricist Will Jennings for Titanic; it won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 1998 and Record of the Year at the 1999 Grammys.

Cher's 1998 hit 'Believe' pioneered which software effect, later dubbed the 'Cher effect'?

'Believe' ran Cher's vocal through Antares Auto-Tune at an extreme setting, a robotic warble so widely copied it became known as the 'Cher effect'; the single won the 2000 Grammy for Best Dance Recording.

Which songwriter co-wrote Ricky Martin's 'Livin' la Vida Loca' with Desmond Child?

Draco Rosa, Martin's former Menudo bandmate, co-wrote and co-produced 'Livin' la Vida Loca' with Desmond Child; it topped the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks in 1999.

Which producer handled Elton John's 1997 tribute 'Candle in the Wind 1997'?

George Martin, the Beatles' producer, produced 'Candle in the Wind 1997', which sold about 4.9 million copies in the UK and became the biggest-selling single in UK chart history.

'Candle in the Wind 1997' was the first single to receive which US certification?

'Candle in the Wind 1997' became the first single certified Diamond by the RIAA, for 11 million US shipments, and topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 14 weeks.

Which Ace of Base member wrote 'The Sign'?

Jonas Berggren wrote 'The Sign', which spent six weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1994 and was Billboard's number-one single of that year.

Vanilla Ice's 'Ice Ice Baby' samples the bassline of which song?

'Ice Ice Baby' lifted the bassline of Queen and David Bowie's 1981 hit 'Under Pressure'; after an out-of-court settlement, Queen and Bowie received songwriting credit.

'Ice Ice Baby' was first released as the B-side to Vanilla Ice's cover of which song?

'Ice Ice Baby' was the B-side of Vanilla Ice's cover of Wild Cherry's 'Play That Funky Music'; a Georgia DJ flipped the record, and the B-side reached number one in November 1990.

MC Hammer's 'U Can't Touch This' samples the opening riff of which Rick James single?

'U Can't Touch This' built its riff on Rick James's 1981 single 'Super Freak'; James sued and received a co-writing credit, and the song became the first rap record nominated for the Record of the Year Grammy.

Sinéad O'Connor's 1990 hit 'Nothing Compares 2 U' was written by which musician?

Prince wrote 'Nothing Compares 2 U' and first released it in 1985 with his side project The Family; Sinéad O'Connor's 1990 version topped the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks.

Whose scrawled phrase gave Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' its title?

Hanna was referring to the deodorant Teen Spirit; Cobain took it for a revolutionary slogan.

Which band's soft-and-loud dynamics inspired 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'?

Cobain said he was basically trying to rip off the Pixies, whose quiet-verse, loud-chorus dynamics he admired, when he wrote 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'.

Whose 'Wonderwall' video won British Video of the Year at the 1996 Brit Awards?

In 2020 it became the first 1990s song to reach a billion streams on Spotify.

What peak did Oasis's 'Wonderwall' reach on the UK Singles Chart?

'Wonderwall' peaked at No. 2 in the UK in November 1995, held off the top by Robson & Jerome's 'I Believe'; it did reach number one in Australia and New Zealand.

The Verve's 'Bitter Sweet Symphony' samples an orchestral take of which Stones song?

'Bitter Sweet Symphony' sampled the Andrew Loog Oldham Orchestra's 1965 recording of the Rolling Stones' 'The Last Time'; Jagger and Richards kept the royalties until ceding them to Richard Ashcroft in 2019.

Which Radiohead album is the 1992 debut single 'Creep' taken from?

'Creep' appeared on Radiohead's 1993 debut Pablo Honey; the single flopped in 1992, then caught on via Israeli radio and became a hit when reissued in September 1993.

Which 1972 song earned Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood credits on 'Creep'?

'Creep' borrowed its chord progression and a melodic line from 'The Air That I Breathe', written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood in 1972 and made famous by the Hollies in 1974.

Which town's bombing inspired the Cranberries' 1994 protest song 'Zombie'?

Dolores O'Riordan wrote 'Zombie' after the IRA's March 1993 Warrington bombing killed two boys, Johnathan Ball and Tim Parry; the song topped charts across Europe in 1994.

Which independent label first released Beck's 'Loser' on 12-inch vinyl in 1993?

Bong Load Custom Records pressed 500 copies of 'Loser' on 12-inch vinyl in March 1993; Los Angeles radio play led to Beck's DGC deal and the single's 1994 reissue.

Goo Goo Dolls wrote 'Iris' for the soundtrack of which 1998 film?

John Rzeznik wrote 'Iris' for City of Angels, imagining Nicolas Cage's angel giving up immortality for Meg Ryan; it spent 18 weeks atop Billboard's Hot 100 Airplay chart.

Which Danish singer gave 'Torn' its first formal release, in 1993, as 'Brændt'?

Lis Sørensen recorded 'Torn' as 'Brændt' with Danish lyrics in 1993; Ednaswap's English version followed in 1995, and Natalie Imbruglia's 1997 cover became the best known.

Which actor starred with Brandy and Monica in the video for 'The Boy Is Mine'?

Mekhi Phifer played the two-timing boyfriend in the 'The Boy Is Mine' video; the duet spent 13 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1998.

Blackstreet's 'No Diggity' samples which Bill Withers song?

'No Diggity' is built on a sample of Bill Withers's 1971 'Grandma's Hands'; Teddy Riley sang the first verse himself after the rest of Blackstreet passed on the track, and it hit number one in 1996.

'This Is How We Do It' knocked which Madonna song off the Hot 100 top spot in 1995?

Montell Jordan's 'This Is How We Do It' ended the seven-week run of Madonna's 'Take a Bow' at number one in April 1995, then spent seven weeks at the top itself.

Sir Mix-a-Lot's 'Baby Got Back' appears on which 1992 album?

'Baby Got Back' led Sir Mix-a-Lot's 1992 album Mack Daddy; MTV restricted the video to late-night play, yet the single spent five weeks at number one and won the Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance.

Singer Haddaway, of 'What Is Love' fame, was born in which country?

Haddaway was born in Trinidad and Tobago in 1965 and later settled in Cologne, where Coconut Records' Dee Dee Halligan and Junior Torello wrote and produced 'What Is Love' in 1993.

Which Cuban bandleader recorded the original 'Mambo No. 5' that Lou Bega sampled in 1999?

Pérez Prado, the Cuban-born 'King of Mambo', recorded the instrumental 'Mambo No. 5' in 1949; Lou Bega's 1999 version spent 20 weeks at number one in France.

Which 1999 superhero film's characters appear in the video for Smash Mouth's 'All Star'?

The 'All Star' video features Ben Stiller, William H. Macy and other Mystery Men cast members in costume, because the song was on that 1999 film's soundtrack; Shrek later turned it into a meme.

Which Smash Mouth member wrote 'All Star'?

Greg Camp, Smash Mouth's guitarist, wrote 'All Star' late in the Astro Lounge sessions after Interscope asked for another single; it reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1999.

How many weeks did 'Genie in a Bottle' spend at number one on the Hot 100?

'Genie in a Bottle' spent five weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the summer of 1999, Christina Aguilera's first chart-topper; a Spanish version, 'Genio Atrapado', followed in 2000.

Puff Daddy's 'I'll Be Missing You' samples which 1983 song by the Police?

'I'll Be Missing You' lifts the guitar figure and melody of the Police's 'Every Breath You Take'; Sting, its sole writer, received the songwriting royalties, and Faith Evans sang the adapted chorus.

Which R&B group is featured on Puff Daddy and Faith Evans's 'I'll Be Missing You'?

Bad Boy quartet 112 sang the bridge on 'I'll Be Missing You', the 1997 tribute to the Notorious B.I.G., which spent eleven consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Much of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was recorded at which Kingston studio?

Lauryn Hill recorded much of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill at Tuff Gong Studios, the Marley family's Kingston studio, with the musicians' collective New Ark, who later sued over credits.

Which singer fronted Santana's 12-week number one 'Smooth' in 1999?

Rob Thomas co-wrote 'Smooth' with Itaal Shur and sang it over Santana's guitar; the single spent 12 weeks at number one and won Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 2000 Grammys.

Which record executive, who had first signed Santana in 1969, backed 1999's Supernatural?

Clive Davis signed Santana to Columbia in 1969 and, as Arista's president, signed them again for Supernatural, pairing Carlos Santana with guest vocalists; the album was certified 15x platinum in the US.

Which producer, then her husband, made Shania Twain's 1997 album Come On Over?

Mutt Lange, Twain's husband from 1993 to 2010, produced and co-wrote Come On Over, which yielded 12 singles, including 'Man! I Feel Like a Woman!', and is certified 20x platinum in the US.

Which producer clashed with Metallica while making the 1991 'Black Album'?

Bob Rock, hired after producing Mötley Crüe's Dr. Feelgood, pushed Metallica to record together live and rewrite songs; the resulting 1991 Black Album became the band's first Billboard 200 number one.

Which drummer replaced Steven Adler in Guns N' Roses before the Use Your Illusion albums?

Matt Sorum, poached from the Cult in 1990, drummed on both Use Your Illusion albums, which were released on the same day, September 17, 1991.

Woodstock '94 was held on Winston Farm near which New York town?

Only 164,000 tickets were sold, but the crowd was estimated at 350,000.

Woodstock '99 took place on a former air force base in which New York city?

Woodstock '99 was staged on the former Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York, in July 1999; rioting, fires and looting overshadowed its final night.

Which Canadian musician founded the all-female Lilith Fair tour in 1997?

Sarah McLachlan founded Lilith Fair in 1997 after promoters balked at booking two female acts on one bill; it was the top-grossing touring festival of that year.

Lollapalooza began in 1991 as a farewell tour for which band?

Perry Farrell conceived Lollapalooza in 1991 as a farewell tour for his band Jane's Addiction; it toured North America annually until 1997 and was revived in 2003.

Which cellist joined Nirvana on stage for MTV Unplugged in New York?

Lori Goldston, who had toured with Nirvana in 1993, played cello on MTV Unplugged in New York; the Meat Puppets' Cris and Curt Kirkwood joined the band for three songs.

Nirvana's MTV Unplugged in New York earned the band which Grammy?

MTV Unplugged in New York won Best Alternative Music Performance at the 1996 Grammys, Nirvana's only Grammy, awarded two years after Kurt Cobain's death.

Which two people founded the file-sharing service Napster, launched in June 1999?

Shawn Fanning wrote Napster as a Northeastern University student and launched it with Sean Parker in June 1999; it shut down in July 2001 after lawsuits from the RIAA and Metallica.

Selena, killed in March 1995, was known as the queen of which music genre?

Selena, billed as the Queen of Tejano, won the Grammy for Best Mexican-American Album for Live! in 1994, and her 1995 album Dreaming of You debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.

Which member of Wu-Tang Clan produced their 1993 debut Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)?

RZA produced every track on Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), released in November 1993; its title borrows from the films Enter the Dragon and The 36th Chamber of Shaolin.

Roughly how many copies did Snoop Doggy Dogg's Doggystyle sell in its first week in 1993?

Doggystyle sold about 800,000 copies (806,858) in its first week in November 1993, debuting at number one, then a record for a debut artist and the fastest-selling hip-hop album.

Which two bands' August 1995 chart rivalry was dubbed 'The Battle of Britpop'?

Blur and Oasis released 'Country House' and 'Roll with It' on the same day, August 14, 1995; Blur's single won the chart race, and the press dubbed it the Battle of Britpop.

Which producer, known for Mellencamp and R.E.M., made Cracked Rear View?

Don Gehman, who had produced John Mellencamp's Scarecrow and R.E.M.'s Lifes Rich Pageant, produced Hootie & the Blowfish's Cracked Rear View, which is certified 21x platinum in the US.

In how many countries did the Spice Girls' 'Wannabe' reach number one?

'Wannabe' reached number one in 37 countries, including a seven-week run in the UK and four weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 in early 1997.

Which manager did the Backstreet Boys sue in 1997-98 for keeping over $10 million?

Pearlman also managed their rivals NSYNC and called himself the 'sixth Backstreet Boy'.

Which producer became a key creative partner for Blink-182 on Enema of the State?

Jerry Finn, who had mixed Green Day's Dookie, produced Enema of the State in 1999 and Blink-182's next two studio albums; it was also drummer Travis Barker's first record with the band.

Which independent label released the Offspring's 1994 breakthrough album Smash?

Epitaph, the label owned by Bad Religion's Brett Gurewitz, released Smash in April 1994; it sold more than 11 million copies, then the best-selling album ever on an independent label.

Madonna's 1990 hit 'Vogue' comes from which soundtrack album?

'Vogue' appeared on I'm Breathless, Madonna's 1990 album of songs from and inspired by Dick Tracy; its spoken middle eight name-checks Golden Age stars from Greta Garbo to Bette Davis.

Which director of Thriller also made Michael Jackson's 1991 video for 'Black or White'?

John Landis, who had directed Thriller in 1983, shot 'Black or White'; its November 1991 premiere drew an estimated 500 million viewers, and its violent four-minute coda was cut after complaints.

Bryan Adams's '(Everything I Do) I Do It for You' was the theme for which 1991 film?

'(Everything I Do) I Do It for You' was written for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner, and spent a record 16 consecutive weeks at number one in the UK in 1991.

Toni Braxton's 'Un-Break My Heart' was written by which songwriter?

Diane Warren wrote 'Un-Break My Heart', which Toni Braxton carried to eleven weeks at number one on the Hot 100 and a 1997 Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

Which director shot TLC's million-dollar video for 'Waterfalls'?

F. Gary Gray, who directed Friday the same year, shot TLC's 'Waterfalls' video; it won four MTV Video Music Awards in 1995, including Video of the Year.

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony's 1996 hit 'Tha Crossroads' is dedicated to which late rapper?

'Tha Crossroads' was dedicated to Eazy-E, the Ruthless Records founder who had signed Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and died of AIDS in March 1995; it spent eight weeks at number one.

Which musician supplied the talk-box vocals on 2Pac's 'California Love'?

Roger Troutman of Zapp supplied the talk-box hook on 'California Love'; Dr. Dre produced the track, and Hype Williams's video was modeled on Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome.

Which producer made Kris Kross's 1992 chart-topper 'Jump'?

Jermaine Dupri, then 19, discovered Kris Kross at an Atlanta mall and produced 'Jump', which spent eight weeks at number one on the Hot 100 in 1992.

Which rapper performs the rap on Deee-Lite's 1990 hit 'Groove Is in the Heart'?

Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest rapped the verse on 'Groove Is in the Heart', which also features Bootsy Collins on bass and vocals; the single reached number four in the US.

Who wrote Semisonic's 1998 hit 'Closing Time'?

Dan Wilson, Semisonic's singer, wrote 'Closing Time' partly about his daughter's impending birth; the song earned a 1999 Grammy nomination for Best Rock Song.

Which Blur member suggested speeding up 'Song 2' and playing it loudly?

Coxon has said the track was intended as a joke on the record company.

Which member of Sixpence None the Richer wrote 'Kiss Me'?

Matt Slocum, Sixpence None the Richer's guitarist and chief songwriter, wrote 'Kiss Me', which reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1999 after featuring in She's All That.

Which production duo reworked Hanson's slow original 'MMMBop' into the upbeat hit?

The Dust Brothers, the Los Angeles duo of Mike Simpson and John King, produced 'MMMBop' and most of Middle of Nowhere, turning the brothers' slower demo into the single that topped the Village Voice Pazz & Jop poll.

Mark Morrison's 'Return of the Mack' samples the beat of which Tom Tom Club song?

'Return of the Mack' rides the beat of Tom Tom Club's 1981 'Genius of Love'; it topped the UK chart in March 1996 and reached number two in the US more than a year later.

Which producer contributed a rap verse to Snow's 1992 hit 'Informer'?

MC Shan, the Queensbridge rapper who co-produced 'Informer', delivers its rap verse; the single spent seven weeks at number one in 1993 and was reworked in 2019 as Daddy Yankee's 'Con Calma'.

At which Atlanta club was Tag Team's DC the Brain Supreme DJing when 'Whoomp!' was made?

DC the Brain Supreme was a DJ at Magic City, the Atlanta strip club where 'Whoomp! (There It Is)' was first tested on the crowd; the single peaked at number two in 1993 and went quadruple platinum.

Which singer's vocals feature on Snap!'s 1992 hit 'Rhythm Is a Dancer'?

Thea Austin sang 'Rhythm Is a Dancer' alongside rapper Turbo B; it spent six weeks at number one in the UK in 1992, the year's second-biggest seller there behind 'I Will Always Love You'.

Which Irish songwriter says he wrote the first version of Robbie Williams's 'Angels'?

Ray Heffernan, who met Williams in Dublin in December 1996, was paid £7,500 to sign away his share of 'Angels' before the single's 1997 release.

Portishead's 1994 debut Dummy won which British album award in 1995?

Dummy won the 1995 Mercury Prize, beating Tricky's Maxinquaye and Supergrass's I Should Coco; it is often credited with popularising trip hop.

Jeff Buckley's Grace features a cover of which Leonard Cohen song?

Grace includes Buckley's cover of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah', modelled on John Cale's 1991 version; the album peaked at only 149 on the Billboard 200 and found its audience after his 1997 death.

Courtney Love took the title of Hole's Live Through This from a quote in which novel?

Courtney Love took Live Through This from Scarlett O'Hara's vow in Gone with the Wind; the album was released on April 12, 1994, four days after Kurt Cobain's body was found.

Sheryl Crow's 'All I Wanna Do' is based on a poem by which writer?

Wyn Cooper's 1987 poem 'Fun', found in a used bookshop, supplied most of the lyrics to 'All I Wanna Do', which reached number two on the Hot 100 in 1994 and won Record of the Year.

Ament and Gossard formed Pearl Jam after which band lost singer Andrew Wood in 1990?

Mother Love Bone ended when singer Andrew Wood died of a heroin overdose in March 1990; Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard then recruited Eddie Vedder and formed Pearl Jam, whose debut Ten came out in 1991.

Which Stone Temple Pilots single from Core won a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance?

'Plush' won Best Hard Rock Performance at the 1994 Grammys and topped Billboard's Album Rock Tracks chart; critics initially dismissed Stone Temple Pilots as Pearl Jam imitators.

Which two Sixteen Stone singles both topped the US Modern Rock chart?

'Comedown' and 'Glycerine' each reached number one on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1995; Sixteen Stone went six times platinum in the US but barely charted in Bush's native Britain.

How old were the members of Silverchair when Frogstomp was released in 1995?

Silverchair's three members were all 15 when Frogstomp came out in March 1995; recorded in nine days, it topped the Australian chart and went platinum in the US.

In how many days did Dave Grohl record the first Foo Fighters album by himself?

Dave Grohl recorded the first Foo Fighters album in six days in October 1994 at Robert Lang Studios, playing every instrument except one guitar part, and passed out cassettes under the band name to stay anonymous.

Which producer recorded Korn's 1994 debut album at Indigo Ranch in Malibu?

Ross Robinson produced Korn's self-titled debut at Indigo Ranch in Malibu in 1994, the record many consider the start of nu metal; he went on to produce Limp Bizkit and Slipknot.

Which Barenaked Ladies member wrote 'One Week' and raps its verses?

Ed Robertson wrote 'One Week' and delivers its rapid-fire verses; fittingly, it spent exactly one week at number one on the Hot 100 in October 1998.

Len's 'Steal My Sunshine' samples which 1976 disco single?

'Steal My Sunshine' is built on a sample of the Andrea True Connection's 1976 'More, More, More'; it first appeared on the soundtrack of the 1999 film Go and reached number nine in the US.

'Semi-Charmed Life' was intended as an answer song to which Lou Reed track?

Stephan Jenkins described 'Semi-Charmed Life' as an answer to Lou Reed's 'Walk on the Wild Side'; beneath the 'doo doo doo' hook, the lyrics describe a crystal meth addiction.

Which producer co-wrote and produced Alanis Morissette's 'Ironic'?

Glen Ballard co-wrote and produced 'Ironic' and the rest of Jagged Little Pill; the single peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1996 and was nominated for Record and Song of the Year.

Which vocal technique did Mariah Carey's 1990 debut 'Vision of Love' help popularise?

The New Yorker dubbed it the 'Magna Carta of melisma'.

Which Wu-Tang Clan member guests on the Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die?

Method Man is the only guest rapper on Ready to Die, trading verses with Biggie on 'The What'; the album came out in September 1994 on Bad Boy.