The 1990s were an important era in hip hop’s history. Here is a selection of iconic songs from this decade.
Naughty by Nature’s playful anthem about sexual infidelity features a fun jingle-like beat, making for an exciting yet timeless song.
West Coast Gangsta Rap was an immensely popular genre in the 1990s, as evidenced by this song. Its catchy rhymes depict a user, gold digger and promiscuous woman.
Salt-n-Pepa – “Let’s Talk About Sex”
Salt-n-Pepa’s tribute to safe sex was one of the all-time classics from 90s hip hop. They weren’t afraid to explore controversial subjects and their fearless lyrics made them one of the most well-liked female groups at that time.
Cheryl James and Sandra Denton initially met as school friends at Queensborough Community College with no plans of becoming rap stars. Both worked as telephone sales girls while dreaming of nursing careers; but soon enough their yin-and-yang relationship and desire to make an impression in music soon changed that trajectory. Their debut single “Show Stopper”, originally recorded under producer Hurby “Luv Bug” Azor under their original moniker of Super Nature provided just enough boost for them to become Salt-n-Pepa.
These songs, featuring powerful rhythms and vaguely feminist lyrics, made the group more like an 80s pop band than the tough East Coast rappers they replaced. Although the group disbanded in 1987, many members went on to have successful solo careers.
The song’s video begins in black-and-white with a girl turning on her radio and listening to the song. Gradually, as scenes of dancing and kissing emerge, colors become apparent.
KRS-One – “MC’s Act Like They Don’t Know”
The 1990s marked an incredible period in hip hop’s development, as its popularity skyrocketed. Amidst all this innovation and development, technologies like Akai MPC60 sampler made producing beats easier than ever using various sounds from various samples.
Although there was plenty of rowdy gangsta rap songs during this era, many artists also utilized their skills to address more substantive topics – whether romance, drugs, society or politics were discussed through hip hop lyrics that provoked thought and stirred emotion. These thought-provoking hip hop lyrics will get your brain working!
Coolio had become known for his energetic performance style before this, but here he shows more of his serious side. This song serves as something of a morality tale in which Coolio compares police officers to slave overseers while accusing them of profiling on the streets.
Mobb Deep rhymes combined with the haunting Havoc beat make this track one of Hip Hop history’s legendary tracks, taking aim at commercial rappers who dominated at the time and cementing its place as an East Coast classic.
Coolio – “Gangsta’s Paradise”
Coolio may not possess the most sophisticated rhymes or elegant rap, but his storytelling makes his songs engaging and relatable. His distinctive vocal timbre adds another level to each track. Coolio’s iconic hip hop song “Gangsta’s Paradise” stands out as one of its kind thanks to its hook and powerful narrative of young man trapped within a violent street life and fearing retribution, all the while praying for survival – although never glorifying this lifestyle as Coolio himself would never allow such criticism from other rappers or critics who might criticize his song when classified within that genre of hip hop songs!
Doug Rasheed used an amazing Sly & the Family Stone loop that QDIII had cleverly altered for Justin Warfield’s forgotten classic to provide Coolio with the perfect platform to share his street confessions, winning him an Emmy award in 1995 and earning a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1995. Additionally, Michelle Pfeiffer included it in her mid-1990s studio fare, Dangerous Minds giving its global profile and guaranteeing it would remain popular through subsequent generations.
Coolio’s A&R didn’t particularly take to his moody single “Gangsta’s Paradise,” yet record labels had no choice but to allow it after it became such an enormous success. While Coolio didn’t use any offensive language on this track or glorify gangster life in general, his song still connected with many listeners while helping bridge the gap between street rap and more mainstream pop music.
Nas – “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)”
As one of the most enduring 90’s hip hop songs that many listeners struggle to recognize, Nas’ classic tale of life on the streets can often be difficult for listeners to recognize. Utilizing an easygoing yet captivating riff and vibrant horns for chorusing purposes, this track serves as an example of how hip hop can both entertain and challenge listeners at once.
While its lyrics may be controversial, this song remains an essential listen for hip hop fans everywhere. Nikki D and DMX’s quick-witted banter gives this track its undeniable charm that stands the test of time.
Since its release on the group’s 1992 album Nuthin But A G Thang, this song has become a classic of hip hop culture. With sultry, romantic lyrics suitable for any girl who enjoys hip hop love songs and its lighthearted subject matter appealing to both male and female audiences, this track stands as proof of why these group became so beloved – taking on political and social issues of their day with equal power on and off stage as in studio sessions.
Beastie Boys – “Sabotage”
In the ’90s, music videos were an integral component of popular culture; few groups understood this better than The Beastie Boys. Starting out as hardcore punk rockers before transitioning into hip-hop artists over time – this 1994 hit from their Licensed to Ill album is an outstanding example; featuring Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz’s fuzzed guitar riff accompanied by Mike D’s drumming and MCA’s bass guitar with high-pitched rapping providing the ideal combination of hard-rock and hip hop sounds!
Spike Jonze directed an entertaining homage/parody video of classic 1970s police drama TV shows like CHiPs and Hawaii Five-O. In it, The Beasties dressed up like characters from these shows by donning wigs and mustaches to play out scenes such as driving around LA in squad cars while being arrested and interrogated by detectives while shouting about “sabotage.”
This video became so iconic, it spawned its own parodies — most notably Sesame Street version — and to mark its 25th anniversary, author Jeff Gomez wrote a five-act novel exploring what happened in it based on reading cop books and watching heist movies, studying Los Angeles police department operations and learning their lingo to craft this epic work of literature that attempts to shed light on one of hip-hop’s most famous music videos.
Big Pun – “Still Not a Player”
Christopher Rios, better known by his stage name “Big Pun,” was an accomplished lyricist who expertly expressed the true essence of hip hop through his music. This track, with its catchy beats and ad-libs inspired by Big Pun’s relationship with his mother – who had become absent due to her drug abuse – helped gain him many followers despite tragically shortening his lifespan soon after its release.
Digable Planets was an alternative rapper group who found great success through their soothing melodies and easy lyrical flow, offering audiences something refreshingly jazzy in contrast with the more aggressive sounds found throughout the South. Their song ‘Lamentations for my Sons’ became one of their signature works, making a lasting impactful impression with audiences of its time. This song remains one of their finest works today.
Finding your favorite 90s hip hop song may be challenging, as each offers something special and surprising for listeners to discover. From love songs to gangster themes and everything in between, the list of 90s hip hop music contains something for everyone; add these hits to your playlist and start rocking the dance floor immediately!
LL Cool J – “Mama Said Knock You Out”
“Mama Said Knock You Out” by LL Cool J is one of the more famous 90s hip hop songs, detailing his mother’s encouragement to him stay in rapping. Produced by Marley Marl, it served as his comeback single following an underperforming third album Walking With A Panther. Teamed up with Wu-Tang Clan member Sadat Lord Jamar and Grand Puba from Wu-Tang Clan for this rhythmic jam where Sadat, Lord Jamar and Grand Puba each rap about someone within rap (including an individual (such as user), gold digger or promiscuous woman).
At the time of its release, hip hop violence had become an increasing concern. Though LL’s lyrics make references to bombs and guns, most of his song is metaphorical in nature. Additionally, this album marked the first time his iconic mannequin portrait served as the cover art.
Before embarking on their solo careers, A Tribe Called Quest made their mark with this infectious party anthem honoring East Coast hip hop. It features a straightforward beat and repetitive chorus which showcases their lyrical skills; Busta Rhymes would later go on to have an exceptional solo career.