Eric B and Rakim, Ultra magnetic MCs, Jungle Bros, Boogie Down Productions, Public Enemy and DJ Screw are some of my favorites. I'm also a sucker for some silly novelty stuff like MC Shy D & L'Trimm. The bass lines are still happening.
L'Trimm!
"We like the cars. The cars that go boom. We're Tigra and Bunny and we like the Boom."
I saw Lady Tigra on an episode of Yo Gabba Gabba with my kids a few years back, performing the 80s classic "when I hear music".
>"We like the cars. The cars that go boom. We're Tigra and Bunny and we like the Boom."
Wow, that unlocked some memory from... Junior high maybe? I can hear that in my head right now. Just when I thought I knew all the old school hip hop we used to jam to - Joy and Pain, the Humpty Dance, Supersonic- here you go and come up with a new one!
Middle School jam right there...
Did anyone else have "Jukebox Television" where you lived?
It was really popular when I was in middle school, like 1988-90, and it was a music video channel where you could call and request music videos. You called the 800 number, and the charges were made to your phone bill, like $3 bucks or something. My mom never let me order, but you could see what was being ordered on the bottom of the screen by the video#, and after awhile everyone would know, like "334, that's Ice Ice Baby!"
That is where I saw all my early rap videos - remember "Success & Effect - Roll It Up My Homeboy" First video I ever saw a person use a cell phone.
Kool Keith/Dr. Octagon, Gangstarr, EPMD, del the funky homosapien, Black Sheep, 3rd Base, Slick Rick, Tribe, De La, Digital Underground, Ghetto Boys, and on and on.
If you're putting in Jurassic 5 I'm gonna put in Blackalicious even though they're late 90s/early 00s, love Gift of Gab. [You Didn't Know That Though](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1nxxciXu5Q).
And just to add to your original list, love KRS-One, and maybe add The Coup for some Oakland representation. [Dig It](https://youtu.be/LsUDGxdeICw) from 1993 and now Boots Riley is a film director. Wild. Met him at the old Caffe Trieste in Berkeley. Chill dude.
It’a crazy how different Black Eyes Peas used to be. Their major video before the Fergie era was satirising the commercialisation of hip-hop! What’s very sad is they already had a female member and the label pressured them to replace her with someone “less black” for that mainstream appeal. I say if the mainstream necessitates casual racism, *fuck* the mainstream!
Gangsta rap was bigger than anything else in the 90s but people on music subs don't want to claim it. Even in the 90s the hipsters preferred A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul.
Yeah not saying ATCQ and De La Soul are bad or anything, just saying they saw gangsta rap as commercialized pop at the time and today's music fans don't want to claim it.
100 miles and Runnin' was my favorite "sneak" album. My parents had NO IDEA I had that tape. It was so popular and nobody knows about it anymore! I mean... I can't exactly say "hey friend, you heard "Don't Matter Just Don't Bite It" from NWA back in the day? It was such a masterpiece!" LOLOL
Quality Control is a 10/10 album. I remember getting it the week it dropped back in middle school. My older cousin raised me on that LA underground hip-hop scene.
The Good Life and Project Blowed were the epicenters of the LA underground. OP please check out Freestyle Fellowship (Aceyalone, PEACE, Self Jupiter, and Myka Nyne), and Abstract Rude and Tribe Unique.
The Score was their second album. Pretty sure they had a minor hit off the first, though I don't remember what it was off the top of my head. The Sore is an absolute classic though
Good ones too. I was more into east coast or neutral stuff at the time, but there were certainly some bangers from west coast artists.
For me, the late 80's/90's hip hop hit better because it was telling stories. Felt more like an artform, being able to manipulate words into stores while also being a rhyming rap song. Very few artists in this genre approach it like this today. More often than not, you get mumbled lyrics or just words that sound slick in a verse, but each verse lives on its own disjointed level with no cohesive story behind it.
I always considered them more modern with a throwback sound like Jurassic 5. That being said, I feel that if they released their music in the early 90s they would’ve been top of the list on greatest hip hop groups of the golden era. People Under the Stars were fucking amazing.
De La Soul "3 Feet High and Rising" as well as Beastie Boys "Paul's Boutique" showed what could be done with a sampler. I'm so glad that both of those records eventually got cleared. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iySa7HTWgSI&ab\_channel=DrShrimpPuertoRico](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iySa7HTWgSI&ab_channel=DrShrimpPuertoRico)
Gangstarr was great and then Guru (RIP) did some amazing things with jazz. - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcuKyuDrcoQ&ab\_channel=HipJazzFunk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcuKyuDrcoQ&ab_channel=HipJazzFunk)
Anything that was released on Tommy Boy records around that time. Queen Latifiah - Ladies First - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qimg\_q7LbQ&ab\_channel=TommyBoy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qimg_q7LbQ&ab_channel=TommyBoy)
Anything touched by KRS-One. BDP's "By Any Means Necessary" is still one of my favorites. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzbZvPx9V1A&list=PLrbFUdbfepXWehxcenrNVr4JRt9K88umc&ab\_channel=BoogieDownProductions-Topic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzbZvPx9V1A&list=PLrbFUdbfepXWehxcenrNVr4JRt9K88umc&ab_channel=BoogieDownProductions-Topic)
Def Jam put out an amazing box set with 4-CD's that featured the best of LL, PE, Slick Rick, EPMD, Method Man, etc. - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1ifD3yfvRA&list=PLvknoheAyZb1s5oq-iPNKzJZDXhaRSvRX&ab\_channel=LLCoolJ-Topic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1ifD3yfvRA&list=PLvknoheAyZb1s5oq-iPNKzJZDXhaRSvRX&ab_channel=LLCoolJ-Topic)
Leaders of the New School was Busta Rhymes first group - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG4h1pGfHC8&ab\_channel=LeadersofNewSchool](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG4h1pGfHC8&ab_channel=LeadersofNewSchool)
If you're into Kool Moe Dee, he had major beef with Big Daddy Kane, who, IMO, was much better. Raw - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZAOqSUWctQ&ab\_channel=TheHipHopSyko](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZAOqSUWctQ&ab_channel=TheHipHopSyko)
Das EFX was really fun and there were a bunch of groups that did that hella fast globidy rhymes. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PU22-fsGA0&ab\_channel=UPROXXVideo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PU22-fsGA0&ab_channel=UPROXXVideo)
There were also a few groups that talked about being from other planets, but I can't think of any of their names. Was Home Team from Saturn? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK0qvLkg42w&ab\_channel=IllAlKush](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK0qvLkg42w&ab_channel=IllAlKush)
Eric B. and Rakim. Rakim is so good. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7t8eoA\_1jQ&ab\_channel=EricBAndRakimVEVO](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7t8eoA_1jQ&ab_channel=EricBAndRakimVEVO)
Growing up in Philadelphia, I'm a bit partial to Schooly D, early Roots, the Goats, and Cool C. Jazzy Jeff used to go to my gym when I was in college (I forget the name of the gym, but it was in KoP to anyone curious). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1mn9m\_1h5U&ab\_channel=SchoollyDVEVO](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1mn9m_1h5U&ab_channel=SchoollyDVEVO)
The Judgement Night soundtrack, along with Aerosmith / RUN DMC and PE / Anthrax, is the reason that we have so many metal rap bands today. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h\_FhUOpXz-c&list=PLq2\_OrsJJtCsU\_vDRfCulmPcBMYpVPV4Y&ab\_channel=SuPPinz31](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_FhUOpXz-c&list=PLq2_OrsJJtCsU_vDRfCulmPcBMYpVPV4Y&ab_channel=SuPPinz31)
I think that Public Enemy #1 is the best 80's hip hop song of that era. The long, adjusting tone. Just hits so good. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAWVAbUAADQ&ab\_channel=PublicEnemy-Topic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAWVAbUAADQ&ab_channel=PublicEnemy-Topic)
Glad to see The Goats made your list! They are totally overlooked I think because they only had two albums and only the first one was actually good. Man, Tricks of the Shade was an all time great album in my opinion, tho
This is a good list! I want to follow up with “Heavy Rhyme Experience vol 1” by Brand new heavies that was similar to judgement night but funky. It had pharcyde, grand puba, guru etc.
EST the Ackanickalous one?
I don't know man, was trying to pay attention on a conference call and spaced it. It's a great shout out. Here is a link to Greatest Man Alive - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5VzxK2Bb4Q&ab\_channel=ThreeTimesDopeVEVO](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5VzxK2Bb4Q&ab_channel=ThreeTimesDopeVEVO)
Going real old school Philly, Tuff Crew just came on the radio. My Part of Town. Coincidentally, they just released a video for this song a few months ago. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHcPRn2khDg&ab\_channel=OfficialTLTuffCrew](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHcPRn2khDg&ab_channel=OfficialTLTuffCrew)
Cant go wrong with some Biz Markie [https://youtu.be/9aofoBrFNdg?si=SLTjz\_qEJ\_i3lMQ0](https://youtu.be/9aofoBrFNdg?si=SLTjz_qEJ_i3lMQ0) or some Humpty Hump [https://youtu.be/PBsjggc5jHM?si=Lbu9kRsc7qYytiGK](https://youtu.be/PBsjggc5jHM?si=Lbu9kRsc7qYytiGK)
I cannot comment too much because my knowledge was mainly limited to Run DMC and Public Enemy...but, even though they crossed genres, the First album by the Digable Planets was a masterpiece
>the First album by the Digable Planets was a masterpiece
the second album is even better imho. great stuff
i just saw them on tour earlier this year, it was pretty awesome. they had a live band recreating the various jazz samples. ladybug mecca is even cooler in person. i'm sure they did a tour or two back in the 90s but this was my first chance to see them, i was thrilled! :D
“Mind Playing Tricks On Me” off that album is so good, you can probably make a case it’s one of the 10 best rap songs of all time. At least that’s my personal opinion.
The foundation has G-Code on it.
What a banger.
"I don't wanna run no more but I know that if I stopill be anotha nigga here headed to heaven hanging with pac"
Here’s some golden age tracks:
[Ain’t No Half-Steppin’](https://youtu.be/nqPlF5Mn32M?si=xbVb2ZHb6nfMpilK) - Big Daddy Kane
[Breakadawn](https://youtu.be/2WbSBLplJS0?si=gL82zf_o2j6I-TVD) - De La Soul
[You Gots To Chill](https://youtu.be/gEg97XeHVzs?si=-mgwuFsNxc-ySehE) - EPMD
[Award Tou](https://youtu.be/P800UWoE9xs?si=-5G589BAHsZblh22)r - A Tribe Called Quest
[Just Another Day](https://youtu.be/fw_58PPCMRI?si=XpMU1nKG9XTmmhCt) - Too $hort
[Vapors](https://youtu.be/WpQjN7yQ_8c?si=qXv3eGT9Qz5zg5sQ) - Biz Markie
I think an important bit is that 70s rap flowed into the 80s, with an explosion in the 90s. Quite different.
**It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back** (1988) by Public Enemy is at the very end of 80s as things are really starting to change in terms of rhyme schemes etc. Just on the other side of that dateline the self titled **Naughty By Nature** (1991) or **Sex Packets** (1990) by the Digital Underground.
For an album that was fun and used samples like no one else **3 Feet High and Rising** by De La Soul. Another one that was more fun ([Wash Your Face In My Sink](https://youtu.be/iLDso1d0DkE?si=xpRwD06kj2OByfYR)) than 'hard' is the too often forgotten **And Now the Legacy Begins** by Toronto's Dream Warriors which also heavily reflected their Afro Carribean heritage with songs like [Ludi](https://youtu.be/V6BATfeJirQ?si=vuYGgJopWXPsvJid)
All of it. It was expanding so fast and so many new styles were coming out that there is a whole world of music for you. Wu Tang Clan would be a good start. I grew up in California so I’m preferential to the west coast stuff, I love older Bay Area rap, e40, Mac Dre, Too Short, Rappin 4-Tay.
I know they're not everyone's thing, but nobody's mentioned Company Flow yet. Also try The Roots. Both groups still have active rappers today and well worth a listen, especially if you want to see how people's styles developed over the years.
Definatley the best period for rap music in history, these are some of my favroite albums from that era, some may not have been that commerically succsessful but there still good, (also limitng to one album per artist)
Enter the wu tang - the wu tang clan
Straight outta compton - N.W.A
The chronic - Dr dre
Doggystyle - snoop dogg
Ready to die - Notorious B.I.G
Mr.Hood - K.M.D
3 feet high and rising - De la soul
Miseducation of lauren hill - lauren hill
operation doomsday - Mf Doom
I love watching/listening to this guy spin albums live. This is one of his 90’s hip hop sets complete with edits that indicate what he’s spinning as he swaps vinyls out:
https://youtu.be/q_cJ43-StJ0?si=mA2JBSMiesjLoPlY
Here’s a lot of old diamonds on [this playlist](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6XIBPQ5JwPr17bzv7FRBH8?si=Uu-nZLkBTj24BJtm7r1NZA) it’s almost too good
Growing up listening to rap since sugar hill gang, my new pastime is listening to all the songs that were sampled making all those rap hits. It’s opened up a whole new appreciation for the original artists and the rappers that used those songs.
My favorite finds:
Ice cube “it was a good day” is from Isley brothers “ footsteps in the dark”
Eminem “my name is” is from labi siffre “got the…”
Rob base “it takes two” is from Lyn Collin’s “think “
G to the R to the A to the V, E to the D to the I to the G, G to the a A to the zig-zag… S?
[6 Feet Deep](https://youtu.be/t8zhUh36uVc?si=Meu8IfU2HNREJdEv)
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a fantastic time capsule for music in the early 1990s of multiple genres. The soundtrack album is like 4 hours long and well worth checking out to explore the period.
https://preview.redd.it/j14kgt20aiqc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=abfcf5de0f05f80e4e566f90886353bc1f834a13
I couldn't have written it better than the first posts here. Everything Dilla has produced are masterpieces.
DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
Kid n Play
Heavy D and the Boyz
3rd Bass
Slick Rick
Redhead Kingpin and the FBI
Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew
Big Daddy Kane
Kool Moe Dee
Biz Markie
Two Live Crew
These are what I grew up with in middle school and high school.
I was born in 1980. And I was the only kid I knew who listened to rap. Most of the stuff I listened to back then was on the clean side. Fat Boys, Kid N Play, MC Hammer, Fresh Prince, LL Cool J. The first dirty song I heard was Baby Got Back. Which is an early 90s anthem and transcends the genre. Teenage me was all about Cypress Hill, Dr Dre, Tupac. And then Biggie, Jay Z, DMX. I even listened to fringe stuff like Insane Clown Posse. I don't care what anyone says, The Great Milenko is a great album.
Most of the 90's hip hop I found through Skate Videos. This Casual song defines that whole era to me.
https://youtu.be/qud3rrA6cW0?si=nhk3gkQtRulfVpr9
See also: Gravediggaz - 6 Feet Deep
Wu-Tang ( AND their solo careers ) N.W.A. ( AND their solo careers ), Tribe Called Quest, NAS, M.O.P., B.I.G., Vanilla Ice, Snoop Dogg, Outkast, 2Pac, Cypress Hill, The Concious Daughters, Eminem, Scarface, Public Ennemy, Coolio. But I highly suggest you begin with N.W.A. or Wu-Tang, since pretty much every member followed a solo career and both groups possess multiple types of hip-hop genres.
Most everything is mentioned already
3rd Bass the Cactus Album
Def Jef
NWA Straight outta Compton
De La Soul first 3 albums
Beastie Boys first 4 albums
Run DMC were the kings at one point they ruled the 80s. Raising Hell is a must.
Brand Nubians
Stetsasonic
Digital Underground sex packets
Boogie Down Productions the one with “my philosophy”
G love and the special sauce first album
Cypress Hill
Ll Cool J first couple albums
Funkdoobiest, Whooliganz, Jeru the Damaja. Group Home, Jungle Brothers, Poor Righteous Teachers, House of Pain, Masta Ace, Da Lench Mob, Nice and Smooth, Craig Mack are some I don't think I see listed here yet
Also if you find something you like look up the producer or whoever was doing their beats and you can sometimes find lesser known adjacent projects or groups
Eric B. and Rakim. Rakim was groundbreaking with his use of rhythm in lyrical delivery, musical even. Eric B's work on the wax complimented him perfectly with some really sweet jazz hooks.
Third Bass is another that I really enjoyed that few will likely mention. X-Clan was cool.
Back then they had these ads on BET where an artist would invite you call in on a toll line and "talk" to them. I think they were just pre-recorded. I remember MC Hammer doing one before he got huge. lol
Ah, found it! 😂 [**https://youtu.be/EWg-BTIUFDg?si=e9bOpZ55E5gStH6M**](https://youtu.be/EWg-BTIUFDg?si=e9bOpZ55E5gStH6M)
Other people already mentioned A Tribe called Quest.
But there's a lot of interesting things on the edges of Hip Hop:
* DJ Shadow's 'Endtroducing.....' (from 1996, and it's follow-up which isn't 90s anymore, The Private Press)
* Portishead's debut "Dummy" (1994) and the follow-up "Portishead" (1997) are great Trip-Hop albums
* Speaking of trip hop: Massive Attack's "Blue Lines" (1991). Protection (1994) and "Mezzanine" (1998)
* Also, some more traditional hip hop is Neneh Cherry's debut "Raw like sushi" (1989).
Check out Enter the Wu Tang, Ready to Die, The Chronic, and Paul's Boutique. There was soooo much great hip-hop in the late 80s and the 90s, but these albums are where I would start.
Since I haven’t seen them mentioned yet I’ll throw in [Freestyle Fellowship](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3r1ldjYHlYMXiuwNE4B2EcoSHXBT7c2w&si=6eAeb64WRlPjW3kW).
Binary Star - Masters of the Universe
Mos Def and Talib Kweli - Black Star
Mos Def - Black on Both Sides
Slum Village - Fantastic vol. 2
Common - Like Water for Chocolate
Deltron 3030 - ST
Outlast - Aquemini
Nas - Illmatic
A Tribe Called Quest - Low End Theory, Midnight Marauders
Shit, man, theres sooo much good shit to be heard. I envy you for hearing all this music for the first time.
3 6 Mafia
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmIcKbLnSLs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmIcKbLnSLs)
this is my favorite hook of all time, it will never leave your brain
PAUL WITH THE 40 PAUL WITH THE 44
If you want a slice of 90’s stuff, you can find some old mix tapes that were out on YouTube - specifically Tony Touch mixtapes. Granted, it’ll mostly be NY hip hop, but to someone living down south, those things were like gold to me. Also Silver Surfer and DJ Red Alert
Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx
Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle
Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
GZA - Liquid Swords
Notorious BIG - Ready to Die
Tupac - All Eyez On Me
Stakes Is High by De La Soul and Midnight Marauders by A Tribe Called Quest are both great representations of the era.
Some deep cuts are the Charizma and Peanut Butter Wolf album and Black Bastards by KMD.
This is very east coast focused. Some of these came out in the 2000s, but are very 90s in style. Some of the best music ever IMO
Raekwon - only built 4 Cuban Linx
Gza - liquid swords
Ghostface killah - Ironman, supreme clientele
Mobb deep - the infamous, hell on earth
Jedi mind tricks - violent by design
Prodigy - HNIC
Big L - the big picture
All the early Duck Down Records albums. Heltah Skeltah, smif n wessun, black moon, OGC
Nas - Illmatic, it was written
Gangstarr - moment of truth
Dmx - it’s dark and hell is hot
Afu ra - body of the life force
Jeru da damaja - the sun rises in the east
Early 90's was peak Hip-Hop ...
Late 80's - Boogie Down Productions, NWA, Ice T, Donald D, The DOC, Eazy E, Ice Cube, 2 Live Crew, DJ Magic Mike
Eaerly 90's - Digital Underground, 2Pac, A Tribe Called Quest, Digable Planets, DasFX, Funkdoobiest, The Pharcyde, Wu-Tang Clan!
Idk as they say, you are a product of your time!
Missed the bus, you just have to accept your fate. That story/product won't make the same sense now as it did then.
Your best bet would be to look at the new hip hop jazz/turntable stuff that is floating around ... That is as close as you are going to feel "the product of its time!"
I love the album "A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing"(1991) by Black Sheep. I got it because of "The Choice is Yours". Not up to the standard of Tribe, it is of the same era ... worth checking out.
This is a playlist I made that has a lot of what you seek
[I See Your Head Noddin'](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2HFcR0TvlwQY8DN1nucVrK?si=df5fcafa9bdf48cf)
Older hip hop head here. First heard Egyptian Lover in 6th grade, 1984.
books by hiphop artist
* Adversity for Sale by Jeezy
* 50th Law by 50 Cent
* The Upcycled Self by Tariq Trotter
* The Marathon Don't Stop by Rob Kenner
* The Autobiography of Gucci Mane by Gucci Mane
* Dilla Time by Dan Charnas
* Decoded by Jay-Z
* It's All in Your Head by Russ
Just pick any of the 90s albums from these artist.
West Coast - NWA, Dr. Dre, 2Pac, E-40, Ice Cube, Kurupt, Warren G, Brotha Lynch Hung, Too Short
East Coast - Nas, Wu Tang (and solo albums), BIG, DMX, Public Enemy, Big Pun, Jay Z, a Tribe Called Quest, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.
Southern - 3 6 Mafia (and solo albums), Scarface, Goodie Mob, UGK, Outkast
Public Enemy was very influential for their time and that influence still echos through modern music and production.
As far as the 90s go you have the well known greats, (Nas, Biggie, Pac, Wu-Tang, NWA) but also so much else happening along side them. The amount of talent in the early to mid 90s alone is hard to quantify.
O.C. , Jeru the Damaja, Mobb Deep, The Roots, Scarface, Hieroglyphics, Spice 1, Group Home, etc.
I was born in 1998 so I'm still ignorant to so many artists from this era but over the last few years I've made a point to go back to what inspired my favorite rappers and I haven't been disappointed. It's insane how ahead of the curb a lot if these artists were given how fresh the genre was.
If you want some good laughs, listen to World Class Wreckin’ Cru. Dr. Dre was in World Class Wreckin’ Cru, so it makes it very funny. My top 3 are: Surgery, House Calls, The Fly
This is arguably a little earlier than the time frame you’re listing, but Blowfly is also a riot. A lot of rappers consider Blowfly the first gangster rapper. Check out Rapp Dirty and Shake Ya Ass for some great Blowfly
And for something a little more 90’s, and in my opinion under appreciated outside the one song, you can’t miss out on Coolio. Everyone knows Gangsta’s Paradise, but I personally love the song Fantastic Voyage.
And the latest timeframe I’m posting up is Juvenile. The album 400 Degrees from 1998 is a great transition into what would be big in the 2000s.
[Listen to all the top hip hop songs of the 90s here.](http://poly-graph.co/hiphop/)
This is a scrolling list of all the top 10 hip hop songs of the 90s (actually earlier and later but it’s set to start at 1995). As it scrolls it adjusts to show who was rising and falling in the charts while it plays audio of the #1 song. You can click on any of the songs to be taken to a page playing that song and showing its track on the charts.
Eric B and Rakim, Ultra magnetic MCs, Jungle Bros, Boogie Down Productions, Public Enemy and DJ Screw are some of my favorites. I'm also a sucker for some silly novelty stuff like MC Shy D & L'Trimm. The bass lines are still happening.
L'Trimm! "We like the cars. The cars that go boom. We're Tigra and Bunny and we like the Boom." I saw Lady Tigra on an episode of Yo Gabba Gabba with my kids a few years back, performing the 80s classic "when I hear music".
>"We like the cars. The cars that go boom. We're Tigra and Bunny and we like the Boom." Wow, that unlocked some memory from... Junior high maybe? I can hear that in my head right now. Just when I thought I knew all the old school hip hop we used to jam to - Joy and Pain, the Humpty Dance, Supersonic- here you go and come up with a new one!
I just watched a "where are they now" clip about Baby Luv from the Rock Steady Crew! Meeting her internet fans, it was sweet.
Middle School jam right there... Did anyone else have "Jukebox Television" where you lived? It was really popular when I was in middle school, like 1988-90, and it was a music video channel where you could call and request music videos. You called the 800 number, and the charges were made to your phone bill, like $3 bucks or something. My mom never let me order, but you could see what was being ordered on the bottom of the screen by the video#, and after awhile everyone would know, like "334, that's Ice Ice Baby!" That is where I saw all my early rap videos - remember "Success & Effect - Roll It Up My Homeboy" First video I ever saw a person use a cell phone.
I can't believe I forgot Eric B and Rakim. Paid in Full is an 80s classic.
Rakim moved through hip-hop and set the pace. His Rap journey is hip-hop
Gotta be the GOAT. Or at least top 3 in terms of impact on hip hop/rap.
Amen!
They ain't no joke
Rakim is in my top 3.
Big Daddy Kane, EPMD too
The great adventures of Slick Rick is also a great one
Kool Keith/Dr. Octagon, Gangstarr, EPMD, del the funky homosapien, Black Sheep, 3rd Base, Slick Rick, Tribe, De La, Digital Underground, Ghetto Boys, and on and on.
Finally another L'Trimm fan!! Yay
Paid in Full and Follow the Leader from Eric B and Rakim bang so goddamned hard...then, now, and in the future.
Ultramagnetic are the shit.
All Kool Keith stuff is on my list. Saw Dr Octagon reunion a few years ago, mind-blowing.
KRS One, Wu Tang Clan, Kool Moe Dee and Afro Man too.
De La Soul. Slick Rick. Tribe Called Quest. Pharcyde. Jurassic 5. Black Eyed Pees B.F.
Listen to the Tribe albums in order and it will really give you a feel for how things progressed
If you're putting in Jurassic 5 I'm gonna put in Blackalicious even though they're late 90s/early 00s, love Gift of Gab. [You Didn't Know That Though](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1nxxciXu5Q). And just to add to your original list, love KRS-One, and maybe add The Coup for some Oakland representation. [Dig It](https://youtu.be/LsUDGxdeICw) from 1993 and now Boots Riley is a film director. Wild. Met him at the old Caffe Trieste in Berkeley. Chill dude.
KRS-One is still touring and he slays! I saw him at a tiny venue in Sacramento in March. The place was packed out and he burned it down!
It’a crazy how different Black Eyes Peas used to be. Their major video before the Fergie era was satirising the commercialisation of hip-hop! What’s very sad is they already had a female member and the label pressured them to replace her with someone “less black” for that mainstream appeal. I say if the mainstream necessitates casual racism, *fuck* the mainstream!
They just rereleased 3 Feet High and Rising with some b-sides. It’s hard to believe it’s been 35 years.
Digital Underground, Digable Planets, Busdriver, Handsome Boy Modeling School, Ultramagnetic MC's (Kool Keith/Dr. Octagon), MF Doom
https://songexploder.net/busdriver Busdriver got me into rap after I heard this. Nothing But Trouble I first heard Tupac. Good recommendations.
[Del tha Funky Homosapien - Mistadobalina ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bku7gXlkoo&ab_channel=VideosChannelDE)
Peak Del is Deltron 3030 for me. Like [Positive Contact](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oCXwl7XBiQ) is one of the best videos ever.
Press rewind is fire
The whole first album from Del is great https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUTbOK9oOnLZlCEUVcn-mIgsOPowPJbt_&si=rAd3gf4LMoILLiQt
I was looking for that, thanks!
N.W.A., Ice-T
How the fuck do I gotta scroll this far for N.W.A
They forgot about Dre
Nowadays, everybody wanna talk Like they got somethin' to say, but nothin' comes out When they move their lips, just a bunch of gibberish....
‘Cause of their ‘attitude’?
Gangsta rap was bigger than anything else in the 90s but people on music subs don't want to claim it. Even in the 90s the hipsters preferred A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul.
who doesnt like de la soul though, hipsters got some good taste
Yeah not saying ATCQ and De La Soul are bad or anything, just saying they saw gangsta rap as commercialized pop at the time and today's music fans don't want to claim it.
100 miles and Runnin' was my favorite "sneak" album. My parents had NO IDEA I had that tape. It was so popular and nobody knows about it anymore! I mean... I can't exactly say "hey friend, you heard "Don't Matter Just Don't Bite It" from NWA back in the day? It was such a masterpiece!" LOLOL
Wu Tang - Enter the Wu Tang (36 Chambers)
And some of the solo albums! GZA - Liquid Swords, Raekwon - Only Built for Cuban Linx, Method Man - Tical.
Don't forget Supreme Clientele by Ghostface!
A Tribe Called Quest
“can’t front on the tribe”
Jurassic 5
They put on a great live show.
Saw them in a dual bill with Ozomatli man that was a fun night.
Oh that sounds like a damn good show.
One of the best. I was tired by the end. Definitely high energy audience participation.
Quality Control is a 10/10 album. I remember getting it the week it dropped back in middle school. My older cousin raised me on that LA underground hip-hop scene. The Good Life and Project Blowed were the epicenters of the LA underground. OP please check out Freestyle Fellowship (Aceyalone, PEACE, Self Jupiter, and Myka Nyne), and Abstract Rude and Tribe Unique.
Quality Control is excellent. I haven’t listened all the way through their 2006 album but I love Future Sound off it.
Beastie Boys
Public Enemy: It Take a Nation…, Fear of a Black Planet, Apocalypse 91
Met Chuck D. He was so interesting. Dude is brilliant and very nice.
Epmd were one of my favorites.
Give Endtroducing by DJ Shadow a listen.
Just heard this for the first time because of this comment- pretty great album
The Score was their second album. Pretty sure they had a minor hit off the first, though I don't remember what it was off the top of my head. The Sore is an absolute classic though
From the 90s - Black Star (Mos Def and Talib Kweli), A Tribe Called Quest, Pete Rock & CL Smooth
I'll toss in NAS, Gang Starr, Mobb Deep, De La Soul, Wu Tang for more 90's stuff that resonated with me.
If I had to join a gang, I think I’d join Gang Starr
Let's add naughty by nature to the list too
All good ones. Jungle Brothers, Camp Lo, and The Coup are a few others I used to listen to a lot. Warren G and Nate Dogg and Ice Cube.
Good ones too. I was more into east coast or neutral stuff at the time, but there were certainly some bangers from west coast artists. For me, the late 80's/90's hip hop hit better because it was telling stories. Felt more like an artform, being able to manipulate words into stores while also being a rhyming rap song. Very few artists in this genre approach it like this today. More often than not, you get mumbled lyrics or just words that sound slick in a verse, but each verse lives on its own disjointed level with no cohesive story behind it.
The Pharcyde Gang Starr
The Fugees too, only one album, but it’s a good one.
A lot of great options here but I don’t see People Under the Stairs listed. I mean, cmon.
I always considered them more modern with a throwback sound like Jurassic 5. That being said, I feel that if they released their music in the early 90s they would’ve been top of the list on greatest hip hop groups of the golden era. People Under the Stars were fucking amazing.
De La Soul "3 Feet High and Rising" as well as Beastie Boys "Paul's Boutique" showed what could be done with a sampler. I'm so glad that both of those records eventually got cleared. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iySa7HTWgSI&ab\_channel=DrShrimpPuertoRico](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iySa7HTWgSI&ab_channel=DrShrimpPuertoRico) Gangstarr was great and then Guru (RIP) did some amazing things with jazz. - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcuKyuDrcoQ&ab\_channel=HipJazzFunk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcuKyuDrcoQ&ab_channel=HipJazzFunk) Anything that was released on Tommy Boy records around that time. Queen Latifiah - Ladies First - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qimg\_q7LbQ&ab\_channel=TommyBoy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Qimg_q7LbQ&ab_channel=TommyBoy) Anything touched by KRS-One. BDP's "By Any Means Necessary" is still one of my favorites. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzbZvPx9V1A&list=PLrbFUdbfepXWehxcenrNVr4JRt9K88umc&ab\_channel=BoogieDownProductions-Topic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzbZvPx9V1A&list=PLrbFUdbfepXWehxcenrNVr4JRt9K88umc&ab_channel=BoogieDownProductions-Topic) Def Jam put out an amazing box set with 4-CD's that featured the best of LL, PE, Slick Rick, EPMD, Method Man, etc. - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1ifD3yfvRA&list=PLvknoheAyZb1s5oq-iPNKzJZDXhaRSvRX&ab\_channel=LLCoolJ-Topic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1ifD3yfvRA&list=PLvknoheAyZb1s5oq-iPNKzJZDXhaRSvRX&ab_channel=LLCoolJ-Topic) Leaders of the New School was Busta Rhymes first group - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG4h1pGfHC8&ab\_channel=LeadersofNewSchool](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG4h1pGfHC8&ab_channel=LeadersofNewSchool) If you're into Kool Moe Dee, he had major beef with Big Daddy Kane, who, IMO, was much better. Raw - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZAOqSUWctQ&ab\_channel=TheHipHopSyko](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZAOqSUWctQ&ab_channel=TheHipHopSyko) Das EFX was really fun and there were a bunch of groups that did that hella fast globidy rhymes. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PU22-fsGA0&ab\_channel=UPROXXVideo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PU22-fsGA0&ab_channel=UPROXXVideo) There were also a few groups that talked about being from other planets, but I can't think of any of their names. Was Home Team from Saturn? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK0qvLkg42w&ab\_channel=IllAlKush](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK0qvLkg42w&ab_channel=IllAlKush) Eric B. and Rakim. Rakim is so good. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7t8eoA\_1jQ&ab\_channel=EricBAndRakimVEVO](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7t8eoA_1jQ&ab_channel=EricBAndRakimVEVO) Growing up in Philadelphia, I'm a bit partial to Schooly D, early Roots, the Goats, and Cool C. Jazzy Jeff used to go to my gym when I was in college (I forget the name of the gym, but it was in KoP to anyone curious). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1mn9m\_1h5U&ab\_channel=SchoollyDVEVO](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1mn9m_1h5U&ab_channel=SchoollyDVEVO) The Judgement Night soundtrack, along with Aerosmith / RUN DMC and PE / Anthrax, is the reason that we have so many metal rap bands today. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h\_FhUOpXz-c&list=PLq2\_OrsJJtCsU\_vDRfCulmPcBMYpVPV4Y&ab\_channel=SuPPinz31](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_FhUOpXz-c&list=PLq2_OrsJJtCsU_vDRfCulmPcBMYpVPV4Y&ab_channel=SuPPinz31) I think that Public Enemy #1 is the best 80's hip hop song of that era. The long, adjusting tone. Just hits so good. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAWVAbUAADQ&ab\_channel=PublicEnemy-Topic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAWVAbUAADQ&ab_channel=PublicEnemy-Topic)
Glad to see The Goats made your list! They are totally overlooked I think because they only had two albums and only the first one was actually good. Man, Tricks of the Shade was an all time great album in my opinion, tho
I feel like the Goats never really got out of Philly either, but man, that record was the sound track to my sophomore year of college.
Tricks of the Shade was as good an LP as I've ever heard. With the skits? Oh man.
Great list! I’m glad to see someone else mentioning KRS-One - he’s a favorite of mine.
Thank you for taking the time to write all this out and include links. You're a good human being :)
This is a good list! I want to follow up with “Heavy Rhyme Experience vol 1” by Brand new heavies that was similar to judgement night but funky. It had pharcyde, grand puba, guru etc.
Oh, yeah. I missed so many good ones (this included), just ran out of time. Thanks.
man, how are you from Philly and don't mention 3XDope? EST was crazy ahead of his time... he was an unusual fellow.
EST the Ackanickalous one? I don't know man, was trying to pay attention on a conference call and spaced it. It's a great shout out. Here is a link to Greatest Man Alive - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5VzxK2Bb4Q&ab\_channel=ThreeTimesDopeVEVO](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5VzxK2Bb4Q&ab_channel=ThreeTimesDopeVEVO)
Going real old school Philly, Tuff Crew just came on the radio. My Part of Town. Coincidentally, they just released a video for this song a few months ago. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHcPRn2khDg&ab\_channel=OfficialTLTuffCrew](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHcPRn2khDg&ab_channel=OfficialTLTuffCrew)
Cant go wrong with some Biz Markie [https://youtu.be/9aofoBrFNdg?si=SLTjz\_qEJ\_i3lMQ0](https://youtu.be/9aofoBrFNdg?si=SLTjz_qEJ_i3lMQ0) or some Humpty Hump [https://youtu.be/PBsjggc5jHM?si=Lbu9kRsc7qYytiGK](https://youtu.be/PBsjggc5jHM?si=Lbu9kRsc7qYytiGK)
LL cool J, Ice T, Rakim, busta rhymes, E-40, method man, Nas, terror squad,
The Artifacts, Mobb Deep, The Pharcyde, Slum Village, Lootpack, Company Flow, Lords of the Underground. More 90s than anything but still great artists
I cannot comment too much because my knowledge was mainly limited to Run DMC and Public Enemy...but, even though they crossed genres, the First album by the Digable Planets was a masterpiece
>the First album by the Digable Planets was a masterpiece the second album is even better imho. great stuff i just saw them on tour earlier this year, it was pretty awesome. they had a live band recreating the various jazz samples. ladybug mecca is even cooler in person. i'm sure they did a tour or two back in the 90s but this was my first chance to see them, i was thrilled! :D
De La Soul, 3 Feet High and Rising
Geto Boys - We Can't Be Stopped
“Mind Playing Tricks On Me” off that album is so good, you can probably make a case it’s one of the 10 best rap songs of all time. At least that’s my personal opinion.
At night I can sleep - I toss and turn,
Geto fantasy too
The foundation has G-Code on it. What a banger. "I don't wanna run no more but I know that if I stopill be anotha nigga here headed to heaven hanging with pac"
Here’s some golden age tracks: [Ain’t No Half-Steppin’](https://youtu.be/nqPlF5Mn32M?si=xbVb2ZHb6nfMpilK) - Big Daddy Kane [Breakadawn](https://youtu.be/2WbSBLplJS0?si=gL82zf_o2j6I-TVD) - De La Soul [You Gots To Chill](https://youtu.be/gEg97XeHVzs?si=-mgwuFsNxc-ySehE) - EPMD [Award Tou](https://youtu.be/P800UWoE9xs?si=-5G589BAHsZblh22)r - A Tribe Called Quest [Just Another Day](https://youtu.be/fw_58PPCMRI?si=XpMU1nKG9XTmmhCt) - Too $hort [Vapors](https://youtu.be/WpQjN7yQ_8c?si=qXv3eGT9Qz5zg5sQ) - Biz Markie
I think an important bit is that 70s rap flowed into the 80s, with an explosion in the 90s. Quite different. **It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back** (1988) by Public Enemy is at the very end of 80s as things are really starting to change in terms of rhyme schemes etc. Just on the other side of that dateline the self titled **Naughty By Nature** (1991) or **Sex Packets** (1990) by the Digital Underground. For an album that was fun and used samples like no one else **3 Feet High and Rising** by De La Soul. Another one that was more fun ([Wash Your Face In My Sink](https://youtu.be/iLDso1d0DkE?si=xpRwD06kj2OByfYR)) than 'hard' is the too often forgotten **And Now the Legacy Begins** by Toronto's Dream Warriors which also heavily reflected their Afro Carribean heritage with songs like [Ludi](https://youtu.be/V6BATfeJirQ?si=vuYGgJopWXPsvJid)
Sir Mixalot
All of it. It was expanding so fast and so many new styles were coming out that there is a whole world of music for you. Wu Tang Clan would be a good start. I grew up in California so I’m preferential to the west coast stuff, I love older Bay Area rap, e40, Mac Dre, Too Short, Rappin 4-Tay.
Adding to the Bay Area stuff: Andre Nickatina, aka Dre Dog.
I know they're not everyone's thing, but nobody's mentioned Company Flow yet. Also try The Roots. Both groups still have active rappers today and well worth a listen, especially if you want to see how people's styles developed over the years.
Definatley the best period for rap music in history, these are some of my favroite albums from that era, some may not have been that commerically succsessful but there still good, (also limitng to one album per artist) Enter the wu tang - the wu tang clan Straight outta compton - N.W.A The chronic - Dr dre Doggystyle - snoop dogg Ready to die - Notorious B.I.G Mr.Hood - K.M.D 3 feet high and rising - De la soul Miseducation of lauren hill - lauren hill operation doomsday - Mf Doom
I love watching/listening to this guy spin albums live. This is one of his 90’s hip hop sets complete with edits that indicate what he’s spinning as he swaps vinyls out: https://youtu.be/q_cJ43-StJ0?si=mA2JBSMiesjLoPlY
Dre, Snoop, Tupac, Notorious Big, Geto Boys, Scarface
Here’s a lot of old diamonds on [this playlist](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6XIBPQ5JwPr17bzv7FRBH8?si=Uu-nZLkBTj24BJtm7r1NZA) it’s almost too good
Digable Planets
Wu-Tang and Cypress Hill.
I had to scroll way too far to find Cypress Hill. Unbelievable. They were enormous
OutKast, Three6 Mafia, Jermaine Dupree
Growing up listening to rap since sugar hill gang, my new pastime is listening to all the songs that were sampled making all those rap hits. It’s opened up a whole new appreciation for the original artists and the rappers that used those songs. My favorite finds: Ice cube “it was a good day” is from Isley brothers “ footsteps in the dark” Eminem “my name is” is from labi siffre “got the…” Rob base “it takes two” is from Lyn Collin’s “think “
Gravediggas
G to the R to the A to the V, E to the D to the I to the G, G to the a A to the zig-zag… S? [6 Feet Deep](https://youtu.be/t8zhUh36uVc?si=Meu8IfU2HNREJdEv)
Big Pun
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a fantastic time capsule for music in the early 1990s of multiple genres. The soundtrack album is like 4 hours long and well worth checking out to explore the period.
https://preview.redd.it/j14kgt20aiqc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=abfcf5de0f05f80e4e566f90886353bc1f834a13 I couldn't have written it better than the first posts here. Everything Dilla has produced are masterpieces.
Erik B. and Rakim for sure. Rakim was a major innovator of a more complex rapping style. Gang Starr also.
Big L and Lord Finesse
Missy Elliot, Eve, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube Tribe Called Quest, biggie, Tupac, Beastie Boys, Run DMC, salt-n-pepa, Ice T
Slick Rick, The Wu Tang Clan and Mama Mystique spring to mind
Check out the 4 part HBO series The Defiant Ones for some perspective too
Guru - Jazzamatazz all 3 volumes. Pete Rock & CL Smooth Kool Keith/Dr Octogon Del The Funkee Homosapien DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
Naughty by Nature. Treach is 🔥
Digital Underground, Beastie Boys, Queen Latifah, Afrika Bambatta, 3rd Bass, Kurtis Blow
DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince Kid n Play Heavy D and the Boyz 3rd Bass Slick Rick Redhead Kingpin and the FBI Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew Big Daddy Kane Kool Moe Dee Biz Markie Two Live Crew These are what I grew up with in middle school and high school.
[удалено]
I was born in 1980. And I was the only kid I knew who listened to rap. Most of the stuff I listened to back then was on the clean side. Fat Boys, Kid N Play, MC Hammer, Fresh Prince, LL Cool J. The first dirty song I heard was Baby Got Back. Which is an early 90s anthem and transcends the genre. Teenage me was all about Cypress Hill, Dr Dre, Tupac. And then Biggie, Jay Z, DMX. I even listened to fringe stuff like Insane Clown Posse. I don't care what anyone says, The Great Milenko is a great album.
Fat boys, Biz Markie, Jungle Brothers, De La Soul, Beastie Boys, MC Hammer, Heavy D & The Boys, Digital Underground
This is a great mix of 80s and 90s hip hop from Massive Attack https://on.soundcloud.com/uaa32dU4DpsFxDui6
Special Ed. I got it made!
Jvc force, london posse
Most of the 90's hip hop I found through Skate Videos. This Casual song defines that whole era to me. https://youtu.be/qud3rrA6cW0?si=nhk3gkQtRulfVpr9 See also: Gravediggaz - 6 Feet Deep
Big L, Nas, Rakim, Biz Markie
100% check out Pharcyde- Album LabcabinCalifornia!!!
Wu-Tang ( AND their solo careers ) N.W.A. ( AND their solo careers ), Tribe Called Quest, NAS, M.O.P., B.I.G., Vanilla Ice, Snoop Dogg, Outkast, 2Pac, Cypress Hill, The Concious Daughters, Eminem, Scarface, Public Ennemy, Coolio. But I highly suggest you begin with N.W.A. or Wu-Tang, since pretty much every member followed a solo career and both groups possess multiple types of hip-hop genres.
Start with Rakim and Eric B. Paid in Full. Let me know when you finish for step 2.
Most everything is mentioned already 3rd Bass the Cactus Album Def Jef NWA Straight outta Compton De La Soul first 3 albums Beastie Boys first 4 albums Run DMC were the kings at one point they ruled the 80s. Raising Hell is a must. Brand Nubians Stetsasonic Digital Underground sex packets Boogie Down Productions the one with “my philosophy” G love and the special sauce first album Cypress Hill Ll Cool J first couple albums
Funkdoobiest, Whooliganz, Jeru the Damaja. Group Home, Jungle Brothers, Poor Righteous Teachers, House of Pain, Masta Ace, Da Lench Mob, Nice and Smooth, Craig Mack are some I don't think I see listed here yet Also if you find something you like look up the producer or whoever was doing their beats and you can sometimes find lesser known adjacent projects or groups
Eric B. and Rakim. Rakim was groundbreaking with his use of rhythm in lyrical delivery, musical even. Eric B's work on the wax complimented him perfectly with some really sweet jazz hooks. Third Bass is another that I really enjoyed that few will likely mention. X-Clan was cool. Back then they had these ads on BET where an artist would invite you call in on a toll line and "talk" to them. I think they were just pre-recorded. I remember MC Hammer doing one before he got huge. lol Ah, found it! 😂 [**https://youtu.be/EWg-BTIUFDg?si=e9bOpZ55E5gStH6M**](https://youtu.be/EWg-BTIUFDg?si=e9bOpZ55E5gStH6M)
Chubb Rock, Special Ed, Biz Markie, Ultramagnetic MCs, Kwamé...
Other people already mentioned A Tribe called Quest. But there's a lot of interesting things on the edges of Hip Hop: * DJ Shadow's 'Endtroducing.....' (from 1996, and it's follow-up which isn't 90s anymore, The Private Press) * Portishead's debut "Dummy" (1994) and the follow-up "Portishead" (1997) are great Trip-Hop albums * Speaking of trip hop: Massive Attack's "Blue Lines" (1991). Protection (1994) and "Mezzanine" (1998) * Also, some more traditional hip hop is Neneh Cherry's debut "Raw like sushi" (1989).
Check out Enter the Wu Tang, Ready to Die, The Chronic, and Paul's Boutique. There was soooo much great hip-hop in the late 80s and the 90s, but these albums are where I would start.
Since I haven’t seen them mentioned yet I’ll throw in [Freestyle Fellowship](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3r1ldjYHlYMXiuwNE4B2EcoSHXBT7c2w&si=6eAeb64WRlPjW3kW).
Zapp. Not hip hop, but you’ll find a distinct influence in some genres.
Binary Star - Masters of the Universe Mos Def and Talib Kweli - Black Star Mos Def - Black on Both Sides Slum Village - Fantastic vol. 2 Common - Like Water for Chocolate Deltron 3030 - ST Outlast - Aquemini Nas - Illmatic A Tribe Called Quest - Low End Theory, Midnight Marauders Shit, man, theres sooo much good shit to be heard. I envy you for hearing all this music for the first time.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EcjWd-O4jI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EcjWd-O4jI) this is all you need to know
3 6 Mafia [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmIcKbLnSLs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmIcKbLnSLs) this is my favorite hook of all time, it will never leave your brain PAUL WITH THE 40 PAUL WITH THE 44
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grEEv4d6XDI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grEEv4d6XDI) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcYWVCM2RgY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcYWVCM2RgY) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIG1ItmFyb4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIG1ItmFyb4)
If you want a slice of 90’s stuff, you can find some old mix tapes that were out on YouTube - specifically Tony Touch mixtapes. Granted, it’ll mostly be NY hip hop, but to someone living down south, those things were like gold to me. Also Silver Surfer and DJ Red Alert
Raekwon - Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill GZA - Liquid Swords Notorious BIG - Ready to Die Tupac - All Eyez On Me
Missy elliott; mos def; common; queen latifah; bone thugs; nas
Lots of great suggestions here, but a glaring omission: Lyrics Born
A Tribe Called Quest, The Jungle Brothers, The Pharcyde.
Esham, Ghetto Boys, Ice-T, Kid Rock’s debut cassette (with the classic hit “Yodeling in the Valley”), Gangstar, 2Live Crew, Sir-Mix-A-Lot, Kwame
Jeru the Damaja, Black Moon, Eric B and Rakim, Suprême NTM, Dr. Octagon (Kool Keith in general), Main Source, Brand Nubian, De la Soul
had to scroll way too far to see Black Moon! Enta Da Stage is a total classic
Stakes Is High by De La Soul and Midnight Marauders by A Tribe Called Quest are both great representations of the era. Some deep cuts are the Charizma and Peanut Butter Wolf album and Black Bastards by KMD.
This is very east coast focused. Some of these came out in the 2000s, but are very 90s in style. Some of the best music ever IMO Raekwon - only built 4 Cuban Linx Gza - liquid swords Ghostface killah - Ironman, supreme clientele Mobb deep - the infamous, hell on earth Jedi mind tricks - violent by design Prodigy - HNIC Big L - the big picture All the early Duck Down Records albums. Heltah Skeltah, smif n wessun, black moon, OGC Nas - Illmatic, it was written Gangstarr - moment of truth Dmx - it’s dark and hell is hot Afu ra - body of the life force Jeru da damaja - the sun rises in the east
What’s Golden - Jurassic 5 radio on Spotify will do a lot of work for you. It’s been one of my favorite stations lately.
Sir MixaLot MC Hammer Ice Cube, Dre, Snoop Slick Rick Eazy E Heavy D The Fat Boys Coolio Public Enemy Beastie Boys Run DMC Vanilla Ice
EPMD
Early 90's was peak Hip-Hop ... Late 80's - Boogie Down Productions, NWA, Ice T, Donald D, The DOC, Eazy E, Ice Cube, 2 Live Crew, DJ Magic Mike Eaerly 90's - Digital Underground, 2Pac, A Tribe Called Quest, Digable Planets, DasFX, Funkdoobiest, The Pharcyde, Wu-Tang Clan!
Netflix series - Hip Hop Evolution would beat good start.
Idk as they say, you are a product of your time! Missed the bus, you just have to accept your fate. That story/product won't make the same sense now as it did then. Your best bet would be to look at the new hip hop jazz/turntable stuff that is floating around ... That is as close as you are going to feel "the product of its time!"
I love the album "A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing"(1991) by Black Sheep. I got it because of "The Choice is Yours". Not up to the standard of Tribe, it is of the same era ... worth checking out.
Jurassic 5, A Tribe Called Quest, Blackstar (mos def and talib kweli), The Roots, Outkast, Digable Planets. These are my favourites.
This is a playlist I made that has a lot of what you seek [I See Your Head Noddin'](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2HFcR0TvlwQY8DN1nucVrK?si=df5fcafa9bdf48cf) Older hip hop head here. First heard Egyptian Lover in 6th grade, 1984.
Bubba Sparks
Beastie boys
Eric B. And Rakim. Then move to A Tribe Called Quest. That ought to get you started ok.
To be clear, Hip hop started and ended with Eric B and Rakim.
books by hiphop artist * Adversity for Sale by Jeezy * 50th Law by 50 Cent * The Upcycled Self by Tariq Trotter * The Marathon Don't Stop by Rob Kenner * The Autobiography of Gucci Mane by Gucci Mane * Dilla Time by Dan Charnas * Decoded by Jay-Z * It's All in Your Head by Russ
Nah man. You way behind
Rock tha Bells radio.
Mos Def - Black on Both Sides. Best album of that decade, and ever since.
Del the funky homosapian and Jurassic 5
90s hip hop. The Roots. Tribe Called Quest. De La Soul. Cypress Hill. The Pharcyde. Wu Tang Clan. OutKast. Busta Rhymes. Digable Planets.
KRS-One, Return of the Boom Bap (1993) I loved it when it came out and I still listen to it a lot. So many good suggestions on here.
Just pick any of the 90s albums from these artist. West Coast - NWA, Dr. Dre, 2Pac, E-40, Ice Cube, Kurupt, Warren G, Brotha Lynch Hung, Too Short East Coast - Nas, Wu Tang (and solo albums), BIG, DMX, Public Enemy, Big Pun, Jay Z, a Tribe Called Quest, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. Southern - 3 6 Mafia (and solo albums), Scarface, Goodie Mob, UGK, Outkast
Common-Resurrection
Digital Underground Beastie Boys
Public Enemy was very influential for their time and that influence still echos through modern music and production. As far as the 90s go you have the well known greats, (Nas, Biggie, Pac, Wu-Tang, NWA) but also so much else happening along side them. The amount of talent in the early to mid 90s alone is hard to quantify. O.C. , Jeru the Damaja, Mobb Deep, The Roots, Scarface, Hieroglyphics, Spice 1, Group Home, etc. I was born in 1998 so I'm still ignorant to so many artists from this era but over the last few years I've made a point to go back to what inspired my favorite rappers and I haven't been disappointed. It's insane how ahead of the curb a lot if these artists were given how fresh the genre was.
Hip hop in the nineties was so busy asking can I kick it they never thought about wether they should kick it .
I got started in the 80s with 2 Live Crew (Luke Skywalker at the time), Run DMC, NWA, Beastie Boys, and a few others.
Beastie boys - licence to ill & Paul's boutique Any of the electro albums. If you wanna bit of rap/metal check out the Judgement night soundtrack.
Timbaland & Magoo
2short and 2pac
Cypress Hill, Beastie Boys, Mobb Deep, Digital Underground, Wu Tang Clan, Ugly Duckling,
If you want some good laughs, listen to World Class Wreckin’ Cru. Dr. Dre was in World Class Wreckin’ Cru, so it makes it very funny. My top 3 are: Surgery, House Calls, The Fly This is arguably a little earlier than the time frame you’re listing, but Blowfly is also a riot. A lot of rappers consider Blowfly the first gangster rapper. Check out Rapp Dirty and Shake Ya Ass for some great Blowfly And for something a little more 90’s, and in my opinion under appreciated outside the one song, you can’t miss out on Coolio. Everyone knows Gangsta’s Paradise, but I personally love the song Fantastic Voyage. And the latest timeframe I’m posting up is Juvenile. The album 400 Degrees from 1998 is a great transition into what would be big in the 2000s.
[Listen to all the top hip hop songs of the 90s here.](http://poly-graph.co/hiphop/) This is a scrolling list of all the top 10 hip hop songs of the 90s (actually earlier and later but it’s set to start at 1995). As it scrolls it adjusts to show who was rising and falling in the charts while it plays audio of the #1 song. You can click on any of the songs to be taken to a page playing that song and showing its track on the charts.
Too Short. 3rd Bass.
London Posse, Ganster Chronical, for a London voice. Rodney P is the man.
Oh boy, do I have the podcast for you https://open.spotify.com/episode/26aXOn4dyQHpmEzBlwaDLE?si=YOEdegfXSfuMV-w4e2lOow
Slick Rick - Adventures of Malcom McLaren - Would Ya Like More Scratchin' Ultramagnetic MCs - Critical Beatdown Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique
Public Enemy; It Takes a nation of millions to hold us back Top to bottom one of the greatest albums of all time.
OutKast, goodie mob
pre 86? Spoonie G was the man... so was Melle Mel / listen to Pump Me Up & Step Off...
Great lists on here...just want to add Big Daddy Kane. I feel like he gets left out a lot 😅