【1981 Archives】

It’s Cheat Week at Mashable. Join us as we take a look at how liars981 Archives scammers, grifters, and everyday people take advantage of life's little loopholes in order to get ahead.

What the hell happened to trust in the late '90s?

As the dreaded millennium crept closer, brimming with the threat of the ol' Y2K bug, which was supposed to infiltrate our ice-blue iMac G3s, R&B pop artists had a whole lot to say about one thing: fidelity.

Brandy and Monica were fighting over The Boy, Toni Braxton found out the hard way about sleep-talking, and Shaggy was just straight-up encouraging hardcore gaslighting. Here are the quintessential songs about cheating from the late '90s and the year 2000 — because, you know, it's after midnight and she's on your phone.

Dru Hill - 'In My Bed'

Summmmbody’s been sleep-ing in myyyyyyyy bed. Dru Hill’s ‘In My Bed’ is theultimate cheater song, with a pleather-laden, tacky narrative video to boot. Seriously, there's enough frosted lighting, gyration, and awkwardly staged bedroom activity to rival The Room.

Destiny’s Child - 'Say My Name'

Yeh-yeh-yeh. With their video masterclass in block colour outfits that match your furnishings, Destiny’s Child would like to know why you’re acting kinda shady, and you’d better think fast. In this 1999 eternal banger, DC dances around the idea of someone being unfaithful, asking why they’ve changed all of a sudden, and ultimately leading to the big question: “Could it be that you are at the crib with another lady?” WELL? If that’s not it, say the damn name.

Toni Braxton - 'Talking in His Sleep'

Toni Braxton's 1996 ballad is so literally about cheating it's almost a seminar. In “Talking in His Sleep,” Braxton begins your quintessential '90s low-voiced monologue with two words: “The affair.” It’s like a PowerPoint presentation on cheating: “Such a petty crime of sexual indiscretion” and “Adultery that's what they call it, when you're married” are two unvarnished lyrical highlights.

Shaggy - 'It Wasn't Me'

Ah, the ultimate gaslighting anthem, Shaggy's highly problematic 2000 chart-topper will literally look you in the face, butt naked, creepin' with the girl next door, bangin' on the bathroom floor and other household surfaces, and tell you, "It wasn't me." She even caught you on camera. Don't even try taking your friend Shaggy's shitty advice, Rikrok.

Usher - 'You Make Me Wanna'

Usher's quintessential 1997 jam is more of an emotional affair than a physical one. “Before anything began between us, you were like my best friend. The one I used to run and talk to, when me and my girl was having problems." Yeah, we see you, Conveniently Supportive Friend. Look, the lyrics here are pretty polite, and somewhat considerate: “You make me wanna leave the one I'm with, start a new relationship with you, this is what you do.” But by the end of the song, “the feeling’s just too strong,” and he’s gotta let his current thing go. What a journey.

Brandy and Monica - 'The Boy Is Mine'

I'm sorry that you seem to be confused, but for some reason, some idiot thought they could play goddesses Brandy and Monica for fools. This 1998 track rudely pits the two against each other in a face-off for the same dude, who clearly hasn't told B&M about each other. "Excuse me, can I please talk to you for a minute?" says Brandy. "Sure, you know, you look kind of familiar..." answers Monica. Then, it's on. Apparently they share a wall, and a TV remote signal, too.

Mýa - 'Case of the Ex'

Now, this one asks the question before anything goes down, but there are hints of cheating, at least emotionally. Maybe by the time this came out in 2000, all-out cheating was going off-trend, who knows? “It’s after midnight and she’s on your phone, saying come over ‘cause she’s all alone.” Dude, what is it that your ex wants after midnight? What is it that she needs? And what you gon' do when you can't say no, when the feelings start to show? These are all very good questions after midnight, Mýa.

Kandi - 'Don't Think I'm Not'

Two wrongs make some kind of messed-up right in this absolute banger from Kandi. "You were so caught up doing your dirt, that you didn't notice mine," she shrugs amid that late '90s/early 2000s requisite harpsichord. Hell, Kandi's dude isn't even trying to conceal his infidelity in the video, and she looks super happy with that other guy playing video games. Get outta there, Kandi.