The 1990s was the greatest decade in hip hop history, there’s no doubt about it. Wedged in between the innovative ’80s and the over-commercialised ’00s, the ’90s was the best of both worlds.
Yes, there were albums dropped that went on to become huge sellers, but it seemed like there was still a big focus on making the best music possible while pursuing sales. Between 1990 and 1999, hip hop experienced its biggest transformation to date, with a number of legendary artists making their debut, many of them still active to this day.
From Illmatic , AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted and Aquemini to Midnight Marauders , Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… and Ready to Die , here are the 50 best hip hop albums of the 1990s.
Related:
- The 50 Best Hip Hop Albums of the 1980s
- The 50 Best Hip Hop Albums of the 2000s
- The 50 Best Hip Hop Albums of the 2010s
Honourable mentions:
OutKast – Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
Released: April 26, 1994
Label: LaFace, Arista
Singles: “Player’s Ball”, “Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik”, “Git Up, Git Out”
Nas – It Was Written
Released: July 2, 1996
Label: Columbia
Singles: “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)”, “Street Dreams”, “The Message”
Mobb Deep – Hell on Earth
Released: November 19, 1996
Label: Loud, RCA
Singles: “Still Shinin'”, “Drop a Gem on ‘Em”, “Front Lines (Hell on Earth)”, “G.O.D. Pt. III”
Jay-Z – Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life
Released: September 29, 1998
Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
Singles: “Can I Get A…”, “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)”, “Money, Cash, Hoes”, “Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)”
Compton’s Most Wanted – Music to Driveby
Released: September 29, 1992
Label: Orpheus Records, Epic, Sony
Singles: “Hood Took Me Under”, “Def Wish II”
A Tribe Called Quest – People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm
Released: April 10, 1990
Label: Jive, RCA Records
Singles: “Description of a Fool”, “I Left My Wallet in El Segundo”, “Bonita Applebum”, “Can I Kick It?”
Big L – Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
Released: March 28, 1995
Label: Columbia
Singles: “Put It On”, “M.V.P.”, “No Endz, No Skinz”
2Pac – Me Against the World
Released: March 14, 1995
Label: Interscope, Jive
Singles: “Dear Mama”, “So Many Tears”, “Temptations”
Master P – MP da Last Don
Released: June 2, 1998
Label: No Limit, Priority, EMI
Singles: “Thinkin’ Bout U”, “Hot Boys and Girls”, “Make ‘Em Say Uhh! #2”, “Goodbye to My Homies”, “Thug Girl”
Lil Kim – Hard Core
Released: November 12, 1996
Label: Undeas, Big Beat, Atlantic
Singles: “No Time”, “Crush on You (Remix)”, “Not Tonight (Ladies Night Remix)”
Eightball & MJG – Comin’ Out Hard
Released: August 17, 1993
Label: Suave House
Singles: N/A
Ghostface Killah – Ironman
Released: October 29, 1996
Label: Epic, Razor Sharp
Singles: “All That I Got Is You”, “Daytona 500”, “Motherless Child”
Mase – Harlem World
Released: October 28, 1997
Label: Bad Boy, Arista
Singles: “Feel So Good”, “What You Want”, “24 Hrs. to Live”, “Lookin’ at Me”
Digital Underground – Sex Packets
Released: March 20, 1990
Label: Tommy Boy, Warner Bros.
Singles: “Doowutchyalike”, “The Humpty Dance”
E-40 – In a Major Way
Released: March 14, 1995
Label: Jive Records, Sick Wid It
Singles: “1-Luv”, “Sprinkle Me”
Scarface – Mr. Scarface Is Back
Released: October 8, 1991
Label: Rap-A-Lot, Priority, EMI
Singles: “Scarface”, “A Minute to Pray and a Second to Die”
Common – Resurrection
Released: October 4, 1994
Label: Relativity
Singles: “I Used to Love H.E.R.”, “Resurrection”
Black Sheep – A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
Released: October 22, 1991
Label: Mercury
Singles: “Flavor of the Month”, “The Choice Is Yours”, “Strobelite Honey”, “Similak Child”
N.W.A. – Efil4zaggin
Released: May 28, 1991
Label: Ruthless, Priority
Singles: “Alwayz into Somethin'”, “Appetite for Destruction”, “The Dayz of Wayback”
Capone-N-Noreaga – The War Report
Released: June 17, 1997
Label: Penalty, Tommy Boy, Warner Bros.
Singles: “Illegal Life”, “L.A., L.A.”, “T.O.N.Y. (Top of New York)”, “Closer”
Smif-N-Wessun – Dah Shinin’
Released: January 10, 1995
Label: Wreck, Nervous
Singles: “Bucktown”/”Let’s Git It On”, “Wontime”/”Stand Strong”, “Wrekonize”/”Sound Bwoy Bureill”
Redman – Muddy Waters
Released: December 10, 1996
Label: Def Jam
Singles: “It’s Like That (My Big Brother)”, “Whateva Man”, “Pick It Up”
Brand Nubian – One for All
Released: December 4, 1990
Label: Elektra
Singles: “Brand Nubian”, “Feel So Good”, “Wake Up”, “Slow Down”, “All for One”
Beastie Boys – Check Your Head
Released: April 21, 1992
Label: Capitol
Singles: “Pass the Mic”, “So What’cha Want”, “Jimmy James”, “Gratitude”, “Professor Booty”
The Pharcyde – Labcabincalifornia
Released: November 14, 1995
Label: Delicious Vinyl
Singles: “Drop”, “Runnin'”, “She Said”
The Roots – Do You Want More?!!!??!
Released: January 17, 1995
Label: DGC, Geffen
Singles: “Distortion to Static”, “Proceed”, “Silent Treatment”
EPMD – Business As Usual
Released: December 18, 1990
Label: Def Jam, Rush, Columbia
Singles: “Gold Digger”, “Rampage”, “Give the People”
DJ Quik – Quik Is the Name
Released: January 15, 1991
Label: Profile
Singles: “Born and Raised in Compton”, “Tonite”, “Quik Is The Name”
50. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – E. 1999 Eternal
Released: July 25, 1995
Label: Ruthless, Relativity
Singles: “1st of tha Month”, “East 1999”, “Tha Crossroads”
49. Main Source – Breaking Atoms
Released: July 23, 1991
Label: Wild Pitch, EMI
Singles: “Looking at the Front Door”, “Watch Roger Do His Thing”, “Just Hangin’ Out”, “Peace Is Not the Word to Play”
48. Missy Elliott – Supa Dupa Fly
Released: July 15, 1997
Label: The Goldmind, Elektra
Singles: “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)”, “Sock It 2 Me”, “Beep Me 911”, “Hit Em wit da Hee”
47. The Pharcyde – Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde
Released: November 24, 1992
Label: Delicious Vinyl, EastWest
Singles: “Ya Mama”, “Passin’ Me By”, “4 Better or 4 Worse”, “Otha Fish”
46. O.C. – Word…Life
Released: October 18, 1994
Label: Wild Pitch
Singles: “Time’s Up”
45. Souls of Mischief – 93 ‘Til Infinity
Released: September 28, 1993
Label: Jive
Singles: “93 ’til Infinity”, “That’s When Ya Lost”, “Never No More”
44. KRS-One – Return of the Boom Bap
Released: September 28, 1993
Label: Jive
Singles: “Outta Here”, “Sound of da Police”
43. Juvenile – 400 Degreez
Released: November 3, 1998
Label: Cash Money, Universal
Singles: “Follow Me Now”, “Ha”, “Back That Thang Up”
42. Eminem – The Slim Shady LP
Released: February 23, 1999
Label: Aftermath, Interscope
Singles: “Just Don’t Give a Fuck”, “My Name Is”, “Role Model”, “Guilty Conscience”
41. DMX – It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot
Released: May 19, 1998
Label: PolyGram, Def Jam, Ruff Ryders
Singles: “Get at Me Dog”, “Stop Being Greedy”, “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem”, “How’s It Goin’ Down”
40. Big Pun – Capital Punishment
Released: April 28, 1998
Label: BMG, RCA, Loud, Terror Squad
Singles: “I’m Not a Player”, “Still Not a Player”, “Twinz (Deep Cover 98)”, “You Came Up”
39. Gang Starr – Hard to Earn
Released: March 8, 1994
Label: Chrysali, EMI Records
Singles: “Dwyck”, “Mass Appeal”, “Code of the Streets”, “Suckas Need Bodyguards”
38. Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version
Released: March 28, 1995
Label: Elektra, WMG
Singles: “Brooklyn Zoo”, “Shimmy Shimmy Ya”
37. Black Moon – Enta da Stage
Released: October 19, 1993
Label: Nervous
Singles: “Who Got da Props”, “How Many MC’s…”, “I Got Cha Opin (remix)”, “Buck Em Down (remix)”
36. Goodie Mob – Soul Food
Released: November 7, 1995
Label: LaFace
Singles: “Cell Therapy”
35. The Roots – Things Fall Apart
Released: February 23, 1999
Label: MCA
Singles: “You Got Me”, “The Next Movement”
34. Naughty by Nature – Naughty by Nature
Released: September 3, 1991
Label: Tommy Boy
Singles: “O.P.P.”, “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright”, “Uptown Anthem”
33. Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth – Funky Technician
Released: February 6, 1990
Label: Wild Pitch, EMI Records
Singles: N/A
32. UGK – Ridin’ Dirty
Released: July 30, 1996
Label: Jive
Singles: “One Day”
31. Geto Boys – We Can’t Be Stopped
Released: July 9, 1991
Label: Rap-A-Lot Records
Singles: “Mind Playing Tricks on Me”
30. Mos Def – Black on Both Side s
Released: October 12, 1999
Label: Rawkus, Priority
Singles: “Ms. Fat Booty” / “Mathematics”, “Umi Says”
29. MF Doom – Operation: Doomsday
Released: October 19, 1999
Label: Fondle ‘Em
Singles: “Dead Bent” / “Gas Drawls” / “Hey!”, “Greenbacks” / “Go with the Flow”, “The M.I.C.” / “Red & Gold”, “I Hear Voices Pt. 1”, “Tick, Tick…”
28. Dr. Dre – 2001
Released: November 16, 1999
Label: Aftermath, Interscope
Singles: “Still D.R.E.”, “Forgot About Dre”, “The Next Episode”, “The Watcher”
27. Fugees – The Score
Released: February 13, 1996
Label: Ruffhouse, Columbia
Singles: “Fu-Gee-La”, “Killing Me Softly”, “Ready or Not”, “No Woman, No Cry”
26. GZA – Liquid Swords
Released: November 7, 1995
Label: Geffen
Singles: “I Gotcha Back”, “Liquid Swords”, “Cold World”, “Shadowboxin'”
25. Scarface – The Diary
Released: October 18, 1994
Label: Rap-A-Lot, Noo Trybe
Singles: “I Seen a Man Die”, “Hand of the Dead Body”
24. Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
Released: August 25, 1998
Label: Ruffhouse, Columbia
Singles: “Doo Wop (That Thing)”, “Ex-Factor”, “Everything Is Everything”
23. Redman – Whut? Thee Album
Released: September 22, 1992
Label: Rush, Chaos
Singles: “Blow Your Mind”, “Time 4 Sum Aksion”, “Tonight’s da Night”
22. Pete Rock & CL Smooth – Mecca and the Soul Brother
Released: June 9, 1992
Label: Elektra
Singles: “They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)”, “Straighten It Out”, “Lots of Lovin'”
21. Snoop Dogg – Doggystyle
Released: November 23, 1993
Label: Death Row, Interscope
Singles: “Who Am I? (What’s My Name?)”, “Gin & Juice”, “Doggy Dogg World”
20. Cypress Hill – Cypress Hill
Released: August 13, 1991
Label: Ruffhouse, Columbia
Singles: “The Phuncky Feel One / How I Could Just Kill a Man”, “Hand on the Pump / Real Estate”, “Pigs”, “Latin Lingo”
19. OutKast – ATLiens
Released: August 27, 1996
Label: LaFace, Arista
Singles: “Elevators (Me & You)”, “ATLiens”, “Jazzy Belle”
18. Public Enemy – Fear of a Black Planet
Released: April 10, 1990
Label: Def Jam, Columbia
Singles: “Fight the Power”, “Welcome to the Terrordome”, “911 Is a Joke”, “Brothers Gonna Work it Out”, “Can’t Do Nuttin’ for Ya Man”
17. 2Pac – All Eyez on Me
Released: February 13, 1996
Label: Death Row, Interscope
Singles: “California Love”, “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted”, “How Do U Want It”, “I Ain’t Mad at Cha”
16. De La Soul – Buhloone Mindstate
Released: September 21, 1993
Label: Tommy Boy, Warner Bros.
Singles: “Breakadawn”, “Ego Trippin’ (Part Two)”
15. The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready to Die
Released: September 13, 1994
Label: Bad Boy, Arista
Singles: “Juicy”, “Big Poppa / Warning”, “One More Chance”
14. LL Cool J – Mama Said Knock You Out
Released: September 14, 1990
Label: Def Jam, Columbia
Singles: “To da Break of Dawn”, “The Boomin’ System”, “Around the Way Girl”, “Mama Said Knock You Out”, “6 Minutes of Pleasure”
13. Ice Cube – Death Certificate
Released: October 31, 1991
Label: Lench Mob, Priority
Singles: “Steady Mobbin'”, “True to the Game”
12. Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt
Released: June 25, 1996
Label: Roc-A-Fella, Priority
Singles: “Dead Presidents”, “Ain’t No Nigga”, “Can’t Knock the Hustle”, “Feelin’ It”
11. A Tribe Called Quest – The Low End Theory
Released: September 24, 1991
Label: Jive
Singles: “Check the Rhime”, “Jazz (We’ve Got)”, “Scenario”
10. 2Pac – The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory
Released: November 5, 1996
Label: Death Row, Interscope
Singles: “Toss It Up”, “To Live & Die in L.A.”, “Hail Mary”
9. Mobb Deep – The Infamous
Released: April 25, 1995
Label: Loud, RCA
Singles: “Shook Ones (Part II)”, “Survival of the Fittest”, “Temperature’s Rising”, “Give Up the Goods (Just Step)”
8. The Notorious B.I.G. – Life After Death
Released: March 25, 1997
Label: Bad Boy, Arista
Singles: “Hypnotize”, “Mo Money Mo Problems”, “Sky’s the Limit”
7. Raekwon – Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…
Released: August 1, 1995
Label: Loud, RCA
Singles: “Heaven & Hell”, “Criminology”, “Ice Cream”, “Rainy Dayz”
6. A Tribe Called Quest – Midnight Marauders
Released: November 9, 1993
Label: Jive
Singles: “Electric Relaxation”, “Award Tour”, “Oh My God”
5. OutKast – Aquemini
Released: September 29, 1998
Label: LaFace, Arista
Singles: “Skew It on the Bar-B”, “Rosa Parks”, “Da Art of Storytellin’ (Pt. 1)”
4. Ice Cube – AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted
Released: May 16, 1990
Label: Lench Mob, Priority
Singles: “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted”, “Who’s the Mack?
3. Wu-Tang Clan – Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)
Released: November 9, 1993
Label: Loud
Singles: “Protect Ya Neck”, “Method Man”, “C.R.E.A.M.”, “Can It Be All So Simple”
2. Dr. Dre – The Chronic
Released: December 15, 1992
Label: Death Row, Interscope
Singles: “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang”, “Dre Day”, “Let Me Ride”
1. Nas – Illmatic
Released: April 19, 1994
Label: Columbia
Singles: “Halftime”, “It Ain’t Hard to Tell”, “Life’s a Bitch”, “The World Is Yours”, “One Love”
