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The Best 90s Rappers
The best '90s rappers and rap groups brought us some of the best rap songs of all time with artists like Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre and the Notorious B.I.G. dominating the decade. Often described as the "golden age" of hip hop and rap, the 1990s introduced many rappers and rap groups that would go on to become the best rappers of all time.
During the beginning of the decade, prominent acts and rappers like Ice Cube, LL Cool J and Public Enemy led the charts as their fame, first established in the 1980s, continued. Each brought something new and interesting to the rap world, such as Ice Cube's 1991 release of "Death Certificate," which dealt with real-world issues like racism, Los Angeles gangs and drugs.
As the decade continued, one of the best rap albums of all time came along in 1992. Dr. Dre's "The Chronic" made the now-legendary producer and rapper's name, along with the name of another up-and-coming rapper, Snoop Dogg, known around the world. Snoop and Dre represented the West Coast of the United States and alongside the late Tupac Shakur and the rest of the Death Row family, these rappers dominated the genre for the next several years. But there was another coast ready to battle for that top spot on the charts.
Enter the Bad Boy family from the East Coast with top names like Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs and Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace. These two sides were crucial in the East Coast-West Coast rap rivalry that not only produced some of the top rap music of the decade but also ultimately ended the lives of 2Pac and Biggie as both were tragically murdered too soon.
All of these rappers and their music influenced and ushered in a new generation of rappers, the best rappers of the 2000s, and put up a good fight for the best decade for rap music ever. Which 90s rapper is your favorite? Vote for the ones you like the best below or add your favorite to the list!
During the beginning of the decade, prominent acts and rappers like Ice Cube, LL Cool J and Public Enemy led the charts as their fame, first established in the 1980s, continued. Each brought something new and interesting to the rap world, such as Ice Cube's 1991 release of "Death Certificate," which dealt with real-world issues like racism, Los Angeles gangs and drugs.
As the decade continued, one of the best rap albums of all time came along in 1992. Dr. Dre's "The Chronic" made the now-legendary producer and rapper's name, along with the name of another up-and-coming rapper, Snoop Dogg, known around the world. Snoop and Dre represented the West Coast of the United States and alongside the late Tupac Shakur and the rest of the Death Row family, these rappers dominated the genre for the next several years. But there was another coast ready to battle for that top spot on the charts.
Enter the Bad Boy family from the East Coast with top names like Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs and Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace. These two sides were crucial in the East Coast-West Coast rap rivalry that not only produced some of the top rap music of the decade but also ultimately ended the lives of 2Pac and Biggie as both were tragically murdered too soon.
All of these rappers and their music influenced and ushered in a new generation of rappers, the best rappers of the 2000s, and put up a good fight for the best decade for rap music ever. Which 90s rapper is your favorite? Vote for the ones you like the best below or add your favorite to the list!
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- 1Up 292Down 64Hip hop music, Gangsta rap, West Coast hip hop More
- 2Up 183Down 76Rhythm and blues, Pop music, Dub More
- 3Up 256Down 60Hip hop music, East Coast hip hop, Hardcore hip hop More
- 4Up 191Down 50Alternative hip hop, Hip hop music, Hardcore hip hop More
- 5Up 183Down 49Hip hop music, Gangsta rap, West Coast hip hop More
- 6Up 189Down 51Alternative hip hop, Hip hop music, East Coast hip hop
- 7Up 141Down 52Hip hop music, Hardcore hip hop, Gangsta rap More
- 8Up 124Down 85Hip hop music, East Coast hip hop, Gangsta rap More
- 9Up 120Down 51Hip hop music, East Coast hip hop, Hardcore hip hop More
- 10Up 61Down 21Hip hop music, East Coast hip hop, Hardcore hip hop
- 11Up 96Down 52Rock music, Alternative hip hop, Hip hop music More
- 12Up 84Down 50Hip hop music, East Coast hip hop, Hardcore hip hop
- 13Up 93Down 58Alternative rock, Rock music, Jazz fusion More
- 14Up 60Down 25Hip hop music, Hardcore hip hop, Gangsta rap More
- 15Up 74Down 44Alternative hip hop, Hip hop music, East Coast hip hop More
- 16Up 75Down 46Rhythm and blues, Alternative hip hop, Hip hop music More
- 17Up 77Down 13Hip hop music, East Coast hip hop, Hardcore hip hop More
- 18Up 77Down 38Pop music, Dancehall, Hip hop music More
- 19Up 86Down 43Rhythm and blues, Hip hop music, Contemporary R&B More
- 20Up 43Down 25Hip hop music, East Coast hip hop, Hardcore hip hop More
- 21Up 52Down 51Hip hop music, Gangsta rap, Horrorcore More
- 22Up 65Down 41Hip hop music, Contemporary R&B, East Coast hip hop More
- 23Up 61Down 43Hip hop music, East Coast hip hop, Mafioso rap
- 24Up 38Down 28Hip hop music, East Coast hip hop, Hardcore hip hop More
- 25Up 40Down 10Hip hop music, East Coast hip hop, Hardcore hip hop
- 26Up 8Down 11Hip hop music, Rap musicadded by: PaulUribe
- 27Up 13Down 10Hip hop music, Hardcore hip hop, Gangsta rap Moreadded by: bojanthebest
- 28Up 45Down 26Folk music, Soul music, Alternative hip hop More
- 29Up 24Down 4
N.W.A.
added by: clwmike“ In the beginning there was N.W.A. which set it off !!
„ - 30Up 60Down 47Dance music, Rhythm and blues, Soul music More
- 31Up 53Down 38Alternative hip hop, Hip hop music, East Coast hip hop More
- 32Up 8Down 11Hip hop music, Gangsta rap, Horrorcore More
- 33Up 7Down 11Pop rock, Hip hop music, Gangsta rap More
- 34Up 38Down 39Pop music, Hip hop music, East Coast hip hop More
- 35Up 41Down 39Alternative hip hop, Hip hop music, East Coast hip hop More
- 36Up 53Down 47Hip hop music, East Coast hip hop, Hardcore hip hop More
- 37Up 38Down 43Hip hop music, East Coast hip hop, Hardcore punk More
- 38Up 32Down 34Soul music, Jazz, Hip hop music More
- 39Up 39Down 43Folk music, Rhythm and blues, Dancehall More
- 40Up 14Down 21
Fat Joe
- 41Up 34Down 42Alternative hip hop, Hip hop music, Funk More
- 42Up 29Down 39Hip hop music, Hardcore hip hop, Gangsta rap More
- 43Up 37Down 46Alternative hip hop, Hip hop music, West Coast hip hop
- 44Up 8Down 21
the lox
- 45Up 17Down 32Indie rock, Hip hop music
- 46Up 25Down 43Hip hop music
- 47Up 25Down 47Hip hop music, Gangsta rap, Southern rap
- 48Up 17Down 33Dancehall, Hip hop music, East Coast hip hop More
- 49Up 16Down 50Hip hop music, Georgia Southern Rap Scene
- 50Up 28Down 76
Puff Daddy
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