LOS ANGELES, Sept. 10 -- In Y2K, the compilation UNIVERSAL SMASH HITS set the tone -- a hits album from fresh, young artists who had just broken through or were about to; an album highlighted by songs from newly minted gold and platinum artists such as Nelly, 3 Doors Down, Juvenile, Stroke 9 and Eiffel 65, all from the Universal Music Group of labels. Now here comes the sequel, UNIVERSAL SMASH HITS 2 (UTV Records, a division of UMe), released September 23, 2003.
With 18 recent tracks from 18 smashin' artists, UNIVERSAL SMASH HITS 2 features hits from six platinum and three gold albums; genres from pop and rock to hip-hop, dance and country. But there's more too, what might be called "future hits" -- such as "This I Swear" from Nick Lachey (of 98 Degrees), the theme song for the upcoming MTV series "The Newlyweds," and the cutting edge track "Suga Suga" from Baby Bash.
Leading the certified hits are the chart-toppers "Miss You" (#1 R&B/#3 pop) from the late Aaliyah's #1 platinum album I CARE 4 U and "Hot In Herre" (#1 R&B/#1 pop) from Nelly's six times platinum NELLYVILLE. Other #1s are "Lights Camera Action!" (#1 R&B/#14 pop) from Mr. Cheeks' John P. Kelly album and "Love Of My Life (Original Version)" (#1 R&B/#10 pop), Erykah Badu's contribution to the soundtrack to the film BROWN SUGAR.
Other R&B hits include "Still Fly" (#4 R&B/#11 pop) from the Big Tymers' platinum HOOD RICH, "Never Leave You - Uh Ooh, Uh Oooh!" (#9 R&B/#5 pop) from Lumidee and her album ALMOST FAMOUS, "No Letting Go" (#14 R&B/#11 pop) by Jamaica's Wayne Wonder via NO HOLDING BACK, and "Video" (#14 R&B) from the platinum ACOUSTIC SOUL from neo-classical soulster India.Arie. Two unlikely hits hailed from Mississippi: Afroman's hilarious worldwide million-seller "Because I Got High," Top 20 both pop and rap from his 2001 Top 10 gold album THE GOOD TIMES, and David Banner's "Like A Pimp," the Top 10 rap track from his 2003 #1 R&B/Top 10 pop disc MISSISSIPPI: THE ALBUM.
From the rock and pop side are alt-metal heroes Godsmack with "Straight Outta Line," a Top 10 Modern Rock hit from their platinum FACELESS; 3 Doors Down with "When I'm Gone" (#4 pop) from their platinum AWAY FROM THE SUN, and Latina pop queen Paulina Rubio with "Don't Say Goodbye" from her gold English language album BORDER GIRL.
Representing contemporary country is "The Impossible," a #3 country/Top 30 pop track from Joe Nichols' gold MAN WITH A MEMORY disc, and "Wave On Wave," a country Top 30 from Pat Green that is also the title track from his most recent album. On the dance tip is "Rapture (Tastes So Sweet)," a #2 Club Play burner from iio.
As with the artists on the first compilation, many of those on UNIVERSAL SMASH HITS 2 are only beginning their visits to the top of the charts.