The 50 Greatest Rap Albums Of The 90’s [PHOTOS]

Few Hip-Hop fans can debate the importance of the 1990s to the music and culture, with the entire decade spawning bonafide classics that still get burn to this day. Although the glut of Hip-Hop was a true joy for the collectors, there has always been standout albums that most would say are essential.

The list we’ve compiled with painstaking love and care here at Hip-Hop Wired was labored over and involved long nights, plenty of debates and tough decisions. Collectively, we stand behind this list and declare what we’ve listed are albums that need to be in your collection without a doubt.

Check out our 50 Must-Own Rap Albums Of The 90’s list on the following pages. If we missed any essential albums, let us know in the comments.

Curated by Martin A. Berrios & D.L. Chandler.

—

Photo: Roc-A-Fella Records

We Can’t Be Stopped

The Geto Boys’ third album would prove to be one of their highest selling, thanks in part to smash single “Mind Playing Tricks On Me.” The group went on to make other critically acclaimed works, but this album’s gritty honesty and somber tone stands out.

Black Star

Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star

This Brooklyn super-duo combined their strong solo movements into an unstoppable force on this record. The pairing was flawless and this record is still held in high regard worldwide.

The Roots

Things Fall Apart

This album was a breakthrough moment for The Roots, boosted by the Grammy Award-winning single “You Got Me” featuring Erykah Badu. This record also featured a potent list of guest performers in this inviting work.

#47

DJ Quik

Safe + Sound

DJ Quik’s third album was when the rapper and producer came into his true sound that would define the rest of his work to come. Fans of Quik debate the Compton artist’s best work but this one comes up a lot.

Souls Of Mischief

93 Til Infinity

The Oakland quartet shocked the game with its hyper-focused battle rhymes with accents that didn’t typify the style of raps they performed. The title cut is definitely the album’s most-known track but there bars aplenty on the release.

Smif-N-Wesun

Da Shinin’

The Boot Camp Clik produced cold, tense music, perfect for headphones and long subway rides. Tek and Steele’s patoi-tinged lyrics and the dark production instantly launches this release into any conversation about classic albums.

Jay Z

Vol.2…Hard Knock Life

Jay Z became a superstar on the back of his third studio album, which remains his highest selling record. Featuring Jaz-O, Amil, Too Short, Memphis Bleek and others, Jay Z still remained the star of the show.

DMX

It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot

DMX’s debut album was aggressive, tense and full of energy that has long gone missing in much Hip-Hop. “Get At Me Dog” and “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” are definitely the most known tracks from the record.

The Roots

Do You Want More?!!!??!

The Roots’ second album was a fresh sound for Hip-Hop at the time. Live instruments, jazzy choruses and a pair of lyrical powerhouses in Black Thought and Malik B all added up to a fantastic release.

Lauryn Hill

The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill

The Fugees came and went, leaving the trio split to fend for themselves. For many, Ms. Hill was always the soul of the group and her debut record captured joy, pain, and much more.

Pharcyde

Bizarre Ride II Da The Pharcyde

Fat Lip, Bootie Brown, Imani and Slim Kid Tre weren’t your prototypical West Coast rappers. In fact, they were closer in sound to the growing alternative rap scene established by East Coast acts. The release holds up well by today’s standards.

KRS-One

Return Of The Boom Bap

Although KRS-One had been rapping solo after the death of DJ Scott La Rock, this would serve as his proper debut away from the Boogie Down Productions mantle. Paired largely with DJ Premier, this album shows off all of The Teacha’s various lanes.

Goodie Mob

Soul Food

Soul Food is one of those albums from the South that people tend to overlook for some reason. Cee-Lo, Khujo, Big Gipp, and T-Mo all brought their distinctive rap styles together for some enriching audio gumbo.

2Pac (Makaveli)

The Don Killuminati: The 7 Days Theory

2Pac’s war with the East Coast had reached a fever pitch, which some felt let to his fatal shooting in 1996. Released posthumously, The 7 Day Theory was one of 2Pac’s angriest and most commercially successful projects.

Big Punisher

Capital Punishment

Big Punisher’s wordplay and lyrics dazzled, and his breath control was legendary. Pun was the first Latin Hip-Hop artist to go platinum with his debut record, which would be the only record released while he was alive.

Juvenile

400 Degreez

New Orleans was bubbling for a while, but Cash Money Records artist Juvenile smashed the game with his debut. Two big singles, “Ha” and “Back That Azz Up” were unavoidable nationwide. Producer Mannie Fresh provided every track on the record.

Redman

Muddy Waters

The Brick City representative took two years between his last album and this record, improving on his zany punchlines and weed-scented sound.

MF DOOM

Operation: Doomsday

This album is definitely one for true Hip-Hop heads, although DOOM’s use of pop culture references and familiar samples helped the uninitiated warm up to him. This once rare album has been reissued as recently as 2011.

U.G.K.

Ridin’ Dirty

U.G.K. maintained a certain cult following in Texas and in the South, but this album helped make the duo a household name. Ridin’ Dirty was the duo’s third studio project.

Ice Cube

Death Certificate

With his solo career truly moving into a new direction, Ice Cube left his N.W.A. past in the dust and crafted a record that signaled his change in sound. The intensity and anger in his music hasn’t been the same since.

Hard To Earn

Gang Starr were seen as part of the jazz rap lineage, but this album, the duo’s fourth, turned its back on that sound in favor of a edgier sound. The results were winning, and the album spawned the hits “Mass Appeal” and “DWYCK.”

Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth

Mecca & The Soul Brother

The Chocolate Boy Wonder and the Mecca Don’s debut album is a loop-heavy excursion complete with on-point rhyme schemes. “T.R.O.Y.” definitely helps this release standout, it’s packed with other strong cuts as well.

Outkast

ATLiens

Big Boi and Andre 3000’s second album was such a departure from their pimped out debut, but their need to create new sounds would benefit the listeners ultimately in the end.

Diamond D

Stunts, Blunts and Hip Hop

Producer and rapper Diamond D’s debut album would also serve as a platform for the early appearances of fellow D.I.T.C. (Diggin’ In The Crates) members Fat Joe and the late Big L. Diamond handled much of the production, but had help from Large Professor, Showbiz and more.

#26

Wu-Tang Clan

Wu-Tang Forever

While many point to the Wu-Tang Clan’s undeniable classic debut, this double album was light on filler and heavy on dizzying pairings of the Swordsmen over hard-as-nails production. Every Clan member stepped up to the plate to deliver knockout blow after knockout blow.

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony

E. 1999 Eternal

The Cleveland quartet may not have been the originators of the fast, double-timed rhyme flows they used, but they certainly made their stamp with the sound. The album sold ten million copies worldwide according to reports.

2Pac

Me Against The World

In a calm before the storm moment, the third studio album from 2Pac was one of the most personal of his releases. Released while he was in jail, the album exploded on the charts and left an indelible mark.

2001

While Dr. Dre didn’t top The Chronic, the magic was still present throughout 2001. Ever the master orchestrator, Doc crafted several classic records on this album with the help of various superstar talent. After this performance it was clear Dre was a music titan.

Enta Da Stage

This is one of those records that signified the changing of the guards from feel good 80’s raps to the gritty street imagery that became the staple in the 90’s. Buck’s flows were the perfect compliment to Da Beatminerz’ combination of hard drums and skillfully structured samples.

#21

Moment Of Truth

The title captured the group’s struggle at that time to garner mainstream recognition without sacrificing their credibility. Guru and Premier did just that with an updated sound that was bigger but still in pocket to the Gang Starr code.

It Was Written

Honestly this wasn’t what the masses were expecting from Nas’ sophomore effort, but It Was Written was the perfect platform for him to grow as artist. A breakthrough so strong it is often heralded as his best work.

One For All

Sadat X, Grand Puba and Lord Jamar served up lyrical lessons over a vast sonic backdrop that included James Brown breaks, R&B soul loops, Reggae rhythms and New Jack Swing. When it all came together, One For All proved to be more than an introduction but rather a confirmation of their greatness.

Breaking Atoms 

Breaking Atoms was a potent debut for many reasons. The album set a tone for crate digging with its’ sample heavy production, covered an array of relevant topics and introduced a young Nasty Nas to world on “Live At The BBQ”. Enough said.

#17

Reasonable Doubt 

Jay set the standard for the hustler genre within Rap music on Reasonable Doubt. Many say that he has never sounded this good again.

The Diary 

The Diary was just that, a collection of Scarface’s thoughts that were mostly fueled by fear, tragedy, vengeance and paranoia. These tales were crafted so well, the listener lived through each memory on this somber yet enthralling effort.

Midnight Marauders 

Midnight Marauders was a brilliant extension of what the group was able to master on The Low End Theory. Each song was worthy of its’ own spotlight but at the same time flowed beautifully into one another. The production was chock full of lush jazz samples and the rhymes were first class throughout. You’ll be hard pressed to find a flaw there.

AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted 

Ice Cube’s departure from N.W.A. was a true blessing in disguise. This solo freedom allowed him to come into his own. With production from The Bomb Squad, of Public Enemy fame, Cube approached racism, punk police officers and ghetto life in an aggressive fashion that would go on to define his legacy as a rapper.

Ready To Die

With Ready To Die, we got smooth, hard, psycho, braggadocio, celebration, romance, stories, allegiance, betrayal, catchy hooks, detached flows and multi-syllabic rhyme patterns. What made this album so special was that none of it was forced or sounded one bit out of place. That’s how good B.I.G. was on this record.

The Infamous

Things got a little darker when we were reintroduced to Prodigy and Havoc on The Infamous. All the tough talk felt very real and sonically the duo crafted a bed of timeless beats that personified New York street life. A true cornerstone of 90’s east coast Hip-Hop; it was a like we were all there with them in Queensbridge.

De La Soul Is Dead

On De La Soul Is Dead, Pos, Trugoy and Maseo shed the hippie image that came with their sudden fame and showed us they were really musical technicians. Framed by innovative skits, the album was a conceptual win that was grander than the pigeon hole many placed them in.

Aquemini

If there were ever a Rap album to deserve the word breathtaking it would be Aquemini. The intelligent and well conceived implementation of live instrumentation, spirituality, extended song structure and exploration of new sounds transcended what people thought Hip-Hop music should be.

A Fear Of A Black Planet

There are certain albums that are not only solid sonically but culturally important; and we are not just talking about in Hip-Hop. The Bomb Squad provided a dense but accessible sound for Chuck and Flav to pushed the envelope in terms of messaging confronting color and racism. In 2004, the album was added to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress.

Doggystyle

As one of the most anticipated Rap albums of all time, Doggystyle picked up right where The Chronic left off. Snoop flaunted melodic styles that brought Dr. Dre’s production to life like never before. When we dig deeper there are album cuts that are more celebrated (“Tha Shiznit”, “Gz Up, Hoes Down”) than the actual singles; this album was that good.

N*ggaz4Life

As the group’s last true album, N*ggaz4Life served was proof that they could still be effective minus Ice Cube. Dr. Dre turned it up with some fiery production that complimented N.W.A.’s abrasive point of view on women, former members and the law. If we had to point to their most complete work; this would be it.

Life After Death

Sure Ready To Die was great but it was Life After Death where we saw Biggie set himself apart from his peers. His signature street narratives were given new life with more polished production. Additionally we saw Smalls assert himself in his rightful place as King of New York with inspiring concepts, skilled flows and a wide array of presented emotions that would set the standard for balancing hardcore raps and commercial appeal.

Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

The Wu came at the game like no other group had done before and that different approach is what made their debut Enter The 36 Chambers so potent. Here we have all 10 swordsmen throwing their sharpest darts while The RZA married Kung Fu movies and R&B soul samples to make a union that was vicious yet innovative.

The Chronic

Not only was The Chronic sonically impressive, but it created a massive shift in music. It introduced Dre’s new signature G-Funk sound all accompanied by visuals of an alluring West Coast culture that was difficult to escape in the 1990’s.  This album would not only launch Snoop Dogg’s career and set the tone for Death Row Records’ dominance but it also played a major part in establishing Dre as one Hip-Hop’s greatest to ever do it.

Illmatic

A young Nasty Nas dazzled the masses with a lyrical proficiency rarely seen before in Rap in guest appearances leading up to his solo debut. But it was the masterful collaboration between the Queensbridge MC, DJ Premier, Peter Rock, LES, Q-Tip  and Large Professor that made this landmark effort come together in brilliant fashion. Nas’ introspective yet complex rhymes painted a very real picture of urban poverty, street violence and the dreams of the inner city that forever shaped Hip-Hop.

Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

The Clan set the standard unbelievably high with Enter The 36 Chambers and naturally the pressure was on all the members for their solo debuts. Raekwon over delivered. Cuban Linx was Rap excellence set to a cinematic feel that could rival Carlito’s Way. We experience all of Rae and Ghost’s hustler highs and lows through their skillfully gritty but braggadocio bars over first rate production that RZA himself has yet to top.

#1

The Low End Theory 

While there a couple of gems in their catalog, The Low End Theory is Tribe at their best. This album connected Rap to Jazz music even further with stylish grooves and chunky samples. Lyrically Q-Tip and Phife addressed touchy subject matter (“The Infamous Date Rape”) while still serving enough feel good material (“Buggin’ Out”, “Scenario”) to round out the album. Everything came to outstanding results and single handedly defined the alternative Rap genre.