Posted 4 minutes agoSubscribe to BuzzFeed Daily NewsletterCaret DownThese 17 Artists Were The Biggest Things In Music 20 Years Ago, And Their "Then And Now" Stories Are FascinatingFrom foot fetish accounts to performing on sailboats to AI advocacy, the careers of these '00s artists have taken some interesting turns.by Jenna GuillaumeBuzzFeed ContributorFacebookPinterestLink These artists absolutely dominated the airwaves (and our MySpace accounts) 20 years ago, and since then, time has taken them in some interesting directions. Let's check in: 1. Akon Julia Beverly / Getty Images, Gilbert Carrasquillo / Getty Images Akon had a string of huge hits in the 2000s, including "Lonely," "Smack That," and "Right Now (Na Na Na)." Although he continued to release music over the years, in the last decade, he has focused on other projects, including the philanthropic Akon Lighting Africa organization, which provides solar energy in various African countries, as well as the now-abandoned Akon City - a planned futuristic city in Senegal that was supposed to operate on Akon's own cryptocurrency, Akoin. 2. Sum 41 Jamie Mccarthy / Getty Images, Andrew Chin / Getty Images Sum 41 formed in the '90s and grew in popularity until they were everywhere in the 2000s, with hit songs like "In Too Deep" and "Fat Lip." They went on to release more music but never quite hit the same level of fame, and they officially disbanded in March 2025. Lead singer Deryck Whibley released a memoir in 2024 and now runs a sock company. Meanwhile, former drummer Steve Jocz is now a YouTuber, bassist Jason McCaslin hosts his own radio show, and guitarist Dave Baksh has a merch company. 3. Outkast Chris Jackson / Getty Images, Paras Griffin / Getty Images, Taylor Hill / Getty Images Outkast were hugely influential in the '90s and '00s, with hits like "Ms Jackson," "So Fresh, So Clean," "Hey Ya!," and "Roses." They split up in 2007 (although temporarily reunited in 2014) and have since pursued their own things. Big Boi has released a few solo albums over the years and also dabbled in acting, while André 3000 has been more shy of the spotlight, although still exploring a range of creative outlets, including acting and instrumental music. 4. Avril Lavigne Pool Benainous / Getty Images, Noam Galai / Getty Images In the '00s, Avril Lavigne was known for her heavy eyeliner and iconic songs like "Complicated," "Sk8er Boi," and "My Happy Ending." She disappeared from the spotlight for a while - to the point that there was a whole conspiracy theory that she'd been replaced by a clone called Melissa - but she was actually recovering from Lyme disease. In recent years, she's returned to music and touring. 5. Imogen Heap Fred Hayes / Getty Images, Lorne Thomson / Getty Images While Imogen Heap was at her most famous in the mid-'00s as the "Mmmm watcha say" singer, thanks to the iconic use of her song "Hide and Seek" on The OC and the subsequent "Dear Sister" parody on Saturday Night Live, she's had a varied career. She's steadily released music, including the toddler parent fave "The Happy Song," as well as composing for projects like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. In recent years, she's shifted focus to exploring the use of technology, like blockchains and AI in music. 6. Gym Class Heroes Hal Horowitz / Getty Images, Jeremychanphotography / Getty Images The mid-'00s were huge for Gym Class Heroes, with some of their most popular songs coming from collabs with other 2000s icons like Patrick Stump ("Cupid's Chokehold") and Adam Levine ("Stereo Hearts"). They've been on hiatus for more than a decade and have all had much quieter careers since. Matt McGinley now works as a music producer for "This American Life" and also composed music for podcasts like "Serial" and "S-Town", while Eric Roberts opened a restaurant. As a group, the guys have announced plans to reunite and make new music in 2026. 7. Damien Rice James Quinton / Getty Images, Sopa Images / Getty Images Any emotional scene in the 2000s - whether it was on TV or in movies or just, you know, people's own personal lives - was sure to have a Damien Rice soundtrack at some point, particularly songs like "The Blower's Daughter" and "Cannonball" from his album O. Although more low-key, his music career has continued with new releases and touring, and in 2023 he embarked on a unique kind of tour - performing on a sailboat at various ports across Europe. 8. Lily Allen Gary Clark / Getty Images, Dave Benett / Getty Images Lily Allen was an it girl in the 2000s; her biggest musical hits include "Smile" "The Fear" and "Not Fair." In the 2010s and 2020s, she continued to release music while also exploring other creative outlets, including acting, writing a memoir, creating a sex toy, hosting a podcast, and launching a foot-centric OnlyFans. Recently, she also had a high-profile marriage - and breakup - with Stranger Things actor David Harbour. 9. My Chemical Romance Larry Marano / Getty Images, Michael Buckner / Ge