The 50 Best Hip Hop Albums of the 1990s

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 Sides

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”