Icons of the decade you've forgotten (but shouldn't)

The early 2010s and the late decade produced celebrities who were all the rage but never received the same level of attention in subsequent projects. Since we are talking about recent times (e.g., not the forgotten icons of the 90s when we were millennials), most of these icons of the decade are still going strong professionally. In fact, several of them have films and songs worth checking out even today.

Below are 32 icons of the decade you may have forgotten, but shouldn't.

After Clay Aiken came in second on "American Idol" in 2003, he released many albums, appeared on Broadway ("Spamalot"), ran for office, toured with "American Idol" winner Ruben Studdard, and had a son. He also appeared in "The Masked Singer". If you like him back in the day, you should follow him.

After a successful career as a rapper and subsequent personal and professional struggles, Iggy Azalea has continued to release new music (and even retired from the music scene). She has also done modeling and fashion work and continues to be active in the media.

The "frat boy rapper," whose releases include "I Love College" and his first studio album with former manager Scooter Braun, Asleep in the Bread Aisle, released his last album in 2020. According to his social media, he continues to perform, write, and tour.

Oslo duo Nico & Vinz (Kafouri Nicolai Seleva and Vincent Derry), best known for their single "Am I Wrong," continue to release music and said they are working on a second album in 2019. And they still occasionally shout out their original hits.

You may know rapper and singer Krishawn from her viral hit "Gucci Gucci" (which was viewed nearly 3 million times in three weeks on YouTube back in 2011 and certified platinum in 2023). According to social media, she is working on new music.

Taio Cruz's debut album, Departure, and its follow-up, Rokstarr, were big hits in the late 00s and early 10s (the latter includes songs you may recognize, such as "Break Your Heart" and "Dynamite"). 10 He released songs in the late 00s, and in 2020, he released "2020."

You may know Henry Ian Cusick from his role as Desmond on "Lost" (which had its final season in 2010), but fans of "The 100" will know that he also had a continuing role in that series; according to IMDb, he appeared in "NCIS: Hawai'i" and "Big Sky," among others, and continues to work.

You may not be familiar with the name New Boys (Earl "Ben J." Benjamin and Dominic "Legacy" Thomas), but you may be familiar with their music: "You're a Jerk," "Tie Me Down," and Hot Chelle Ray's "I Like It Like That" featuring. They reunited in 2022 to release new material.

Canadian singer-songwriter Melanie Fiona actually began her career in the 00s and broke out in the late decade with "Give It to Me Right" and "It Kills Me."

Her second album in the early decade was also popular and she She released her work in the late '10s. On her social media, she is the co-host of a podcast and the founder of a lifestyle brand.

Far East Movement's 2010 debut single "Like a G6" is so catchy, you'll be humming it long after you finish reading this article. They released more songs, started their own label, and signed Korean indie rock band The Rose in 2022.

The Australian DJ and singer/songwriter has released various compilation albums as well as singles like "We Run the Night." She is a contestant on "I'm a Celebrity.Get Me Out of Here." and continues to release new music and DJ, according to her social media.

Kristin Bauer Van Straten (who sometimes goes by Kristin Bauer) was the best part of "True Blood" (i.e., Pam the grumpy, stylish vampire). She also played Maleficent in Once Upon a Time. Most recently, she co-hosted the True Blood podcast and is a social media advocate for causes she supports.

Miguel's 2010 debut album, All I Want Is You, was a sleeper hit at the time and propelled him into the mainstream for the first time. Believe it or not, the single "Sure Thing" from that album was still a hit after its release in 2023. According to social media, he has released a new song

You may most vividly remember Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls, but the singer you knew and loved is now a media personality (The X Factor, The Masked Diva ), and you may not even know that she plays Norma in the musical "Sunset Boulevard."

South Korean rapper, singer, and songwriter Psy, perhaps best known for his worldwide viral hit (and equally viral dance) "Gangnam Style," continues to release and perform very popular music. He founded his own label in 2019.

Most of Ryan Cabrera's viral hits were released in the 00s ("True," "On the Way Down," "40 Kinds of Sadness," etc.), but he released new music and launched a web series in the early 10s. On his social media, he remains both a singer and DJ.

Synergy signed Dev when her song "Booty Bounce" was sampled on "Like a G6" and released singles such as "Bass Down Low" and "In the Dark." According to social media, she continued to work and even took the stage at Lollapalooza in 2022.

Hot Chelle Ray's "I Like It Like That" (featuring the New Boys) was released in 2011, essentially an early decade song (as was their song "Tonight Tonight" released the same year). They released a new song in 2020. According to social media, they continue to release and perform new songs. [Kaci Battaglia began her musical career at the age of 11. 2001's "Paradise" catapulted her into the limelight, but most people probably know her from "Body Shots" (featuring Ludacris), which was featured on "One Tree Hill" in 2010.

Travie McCoy, co-founder and lead vocalist of Jim Class Heroes, also released "Billionaire" with Bruno Mars in 2010 to immense popularity (and was really, really catchy.) In 2021, he signed with Hopeless Records. According to social media, he is still performing.

Like the other stars on this list, Jasmine V. began performing at a young age. She appeared in the music video for "Baby" (2010) as Justin Bieber's love interest and is probably best known for "That's Me Right There," featuring Kendrick Lamar in 2014. She remains active on social media.

ILoveMakonnen is probably best known for his single "Tuesday" and subsequent remix by Drake. He retired from the music industry in 2016, leaving his record label and subsequently unretiring. He continues to release music and is still very active on social media.

You may know Tinie Temper (sometimes called Tinie) from his very popular singles such as "Pass Out," "Written in the Stars," and "Children of the Sun." He has established his own entertainment company and continues to release music. His social media

clearly shows that Carly Rae Jepson is still around and making great music. She performed at Coachella, released new music, and absolutely deserves a follow-up.

The friendly, down-to-earth Sam from "True Blood" has been a force on and off Broadway. After appearing in Blood and The Fault in Our Stars, he played the Vice President/President in Homeland and continues to act, according to IMDb. He is also active on social media.

Icona Pop, a Stockholm duo consisting of Aino Jawo and Caroline Hjelt, introduced "I Love It" to the world in 2012 (and I have been singing it ever since). Interestingly, their social media proudly proclaims, "We still don't care.

"That's Not My Name" (technically released in 2007, but popular until the early decade) will forever remain one of the catchiest songs for me. They continued to release and perform new songs well into the decade, and according to their social media, continue to do so today.

Technically, Fun was a band made up of members from other bands: Jack Antonoff (Steel Train), Andrew Dost (Anatalo), and Nate Ruth (The Format). They went on hiatus in 2015 and went their separate ways, but "We Are Young" will live forever in our hearts.

Your Eyes Don't Deceive You: Frankie Muniz Goes from Actor to Race. Technically, "Malcolm in the Middle" ended in 2006 and his acting career took a hiatus in 2008, but he still had a significant presence in racing and in bands during the decade. He still does some work as a media personality and occasionally refers to his roots.

Redfoo and Sky Blu (now TheSky), who comprised LMFAO, were responsible for the '11 mega-hits "Party Rock Anthem" and "Sexy and I Know It." They have since pursued solo careers and are active on social media.

"Somebody That I Used to Know" was the biggest hit of 2012, making Gotye (Wally De Backer) one of the few Australian artists to top the US charts. In fact, Gotye released a new song in 2024. Somebody (2024), a remix of the original song, and he has said on social media that he is working on a new song.

This may seem unfair: Taylor Lautner rose to superstardom thanks to the movie Twilight, but his subsequent projects never achieved that (massive, massive) success. These days he is a podcaster, continues to act according to his social media, and is also an avowed fan of former Taylor Swift.

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