Entertainment Music Top 10 Pop Songs From the Summer of 2002 Print Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images Music Pop Music Top Picks Basics Reviews Top Artists 80s Hits 90s Hits Rock Music Alternative Music Classical Music Country Music Folk Music Rap & Hip Hop Rhythm & Blues World Music Punk Music Heavy Metal Jazz Latin Music Oldies Learn More By Bill Lamb Bill Lamb Bill Lamb is a music and arts writer with two decades of experience covering the world of entertainment and culture. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on 03/22/19 Turn back the clock a few years to the summer of 2002, turn on the radio, and it is the party-ready bounce of Nelly's "Hot in Herre," return of Eminem on "Without Me," and driving pop-rock of Jimmy Eat World's "The Middle" that are most likely to come to mind. This list of the top 10 pop songs of summer 2002 is based on data from record industry charts from the months of June, July, and August 2002. 01 of 10 Nelly - Hot in Herre Courtesy Universal Summer 2002 was the summer of Nelly. He followed his star-making album Country Grammar with this ultra-catchy party anthem. Hot on its heels was another of the summer's top hits...see below. Watch Video 02 of 10 Eminem - Without Me Courtesy Aftermath/Interscope It had only been 2 years since the release of Eminem's Marshall Mathers LP, but when he returned it was with great fanfare as he announced the world "feels so empty without me!" Watch Video 03 of 10 Jimmy Eat World - The Middle Dreamworks Jimmy Eat World had been struggling for the better half of a decade for a breakthrough when "The Middle" climbed to #1 on the Modern Rock chart in 2001 followed by top 10 pop status in the summer of 2002. Watch Video 04 of 10 Chad Kroeger featuring Josey Scott - Hero Courtesy Dreamworks Alt-rock icon and lead vocalist of Nickelback Chad Kroeger was a natural to create a big ballad for the soundtrack to the summer of 2002's top movie hit Spider-Man. Josey Scott of the group Saliva joins him in this massive pop hit. Watch Video 05 of 10 Vanessa Carlton - A Thousand Miles Courtesy A&M Vanessa Carlton is a classic success story having been discovered at an open mic night in New York City. "A Thousand Miles" was her first single release. Watch Video 06 of 10 Avril Lavigne - Complicated Courtesy Arista Avril Lavigne has proved to be the most enduring new artist who emerged in the summer of 2002. Her aggressive debut single "Complicated" riveted the attention of fellow 17-year-olds. Watch Video 07 of 10 Cam'ron featuring Juelz Santana - Oh Boy Courtesy Roc-a-Fella Rapper Cam'ron had success with album sales in the past, but 2002 was the year of his big breakthrough into the top 10 of the pop singles chart. Watch Video 08 of 10 P. Diddy & Ginuwine Featuring Loon, Mario Winans & Tammy Ruggeri - I Need a Girl Courtesy Bad Boy Entertainment Puff Daddy's (now P. Diddy) reputation took a beating in the years following the groundbreaking album Forever. The album The Saga Continues was an effort to help rebuild his reputation as a hip hop master. Pop radio responded enthusiastically. Watch Video 09 of 10 Nelly featuring Kelly Rowland - Dilemma Courtesy Universal/Columbia While everyone was still bouncing along to "Hot in Herre," (see above) this engaging duet with Destiny's Child's Kelly Rowland showcased an entirely different side of Nelly that was just as appealing to pop audiences. Watch Video 10 of 10 Jennifer Lopez featuring Nas - I'm Gonna Be Alright Courtesy Epic Jennifer Lopez exploded as a pop star in 2001. The hits continued to come from her J. Lo album well into 2002. Watch Video