FAIL all over this thread.
2002.
Mall-punk at it's peak (Avril Lavigne, NFG, GC), the
THE bands, comebacks a plenty (Korn, Justin, RHCP, Eminem) and some of the most memorable rap songs of the decade (Clipse's "Grindin'").
Plus, it was before G-Unit and Hilary Duff and all the other diseases became famous.
This year's a pretty close second from what I see though.