After last month famous 70s Rock, this month, we're shining a light on 90s Hip-Hop.
This music style took off in the 1990s and has become the new popular music of the second millennium. Before the music industry ended up standardizing hip hop, it was all about diversity. MCs of the 90s would use samples from all origins and produce a super rich raw rap, making Rap a music genre of its own. We often hear that “Rap music was better before”. But, what is exactly “Rap from before”? In order to celebrate this month of the Hip Hop music, we're proposing you our selection of albums that we think marked the 90s year after year.
Some records to highlight East and West Coast rivalry
We start with 1990. On one side, West Coast Rap starts to get big with promising young artists like NWA and their one and only EP, 100 Miles and Runnin’. On the other side, we discover East Coast Rap with the famous KRS One, Boogie Down production teaches us its Edutainment. The Geto Boys from Texas sample Lynyrd Skynyrd in Gangsta of Love on their eponymous album The Geto Boys.
In 1991, on the West Coast side, 2Pac releases his first album 2Pacalypse Now. The same year, on the East Coast, Gang Starr produces his 2nd album, Step in the Arena. It is also the same year that A Tribe Called Quest offers us The Low End Theory seen as one of the best 500 albums of all time according to the Rolling Stone magazine.
In 1992, the legendary Dr. Dre comes up with a gem called The Chronic starring Snoop Dogg. Eastside, Redman releases Whut? Thee Album. The Beastie Boys confirm their Hip Hop music with Check Your Head.
Year 1993, after starring in Dr. Dre's albums, Snoop Dogg presents us his solo album DoggyStyle. From the East Coast, Wu-tang Clan records Enter the Wu‐Tang (36 Chambers). That year, Woop-Woop comes KRS One and his Return of the boom bap.
In 1994, Nas proposes Illmatic, still seen as a reference in East Coast Rap. It's also in 94 that Notorious BIG
is Ready to Die. On the West Coast Bone Thugs N Harmony releases Creepin on ah Come Up.
In 1995, Mobb Deep presents us The infamous. Young Big L launches his solo career in cooperation with Children of the Corn, and releases his first album Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous. Pete Rock records the album Center Of Attention with INI but the release will only be distributed in 2003 because of dark copyright issues with the publishing house of the time. From the West side The Pharcyde comes back with Labcabincalifornia.
In 1996, Ras Kass releases his album Soul on Ice and Busta Rhymes, releases The Coming. The same year, a post-mortem album by Eazy-E,Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton comes to light.
The end of 90’s: tensions relieve and Hip Hop records get more accessible
In 1997, Puff Daddy releases his first album No Way Out with The Family. At the age of 30, Will Smith
releases his first album Big Willie Style for which he receives 2 grammy awards for the best rap performance for Men In Black and Gettin jiggy wit it.
In 1998, Big Pun shoots his first album Capital Punishment. Outkast, the duo from Atlanta stops the rivalry between East and West with a never heard before style and enjoyed by everyone with Aquemini.
And to finish with the last year of the decade, Eminem presents us The Slim Shady for which he received the Grammy Award for the best rap album in 2000. Mos Def produces his first solo album with Black on Both Side and Method man & Redman become partners and release Black Out.
You can find our selection on our playlist on Spotify:
We had to make choices and we couldn't list all the gems provided during this fantastically rich HipHop decade.
Your selection of CDs and LPs that made 90s HipHop
What about your opinion... what are the 3 HipHop albums that marked the 90s according to you ?
All along the coming months, we'll lead you for a musical journey that we hope you'll enjoy. Follow us on:
