The 90s are making a comeback, don’t roll your eyes, its true. And while the following rappers hit it big when Kangol hats, oversized jeans and Timbs were still a thing - unlike trends, these artists seized the moment and created catalogs that are not only worthy of dominating the decade but also still are regarded as great and legendary enough to see the second coming of low rise jeans.
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The likes of Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, and 2Pac had the West coast on lock, while the East coast boasted heavy-hitters such as Nas, Biggie and JAY-Z.
With an unimaginable amount of platinum records among them, the following 10 names influenced a generation and helped make rap a cultural phenomenon. In no particular order, check out the list of the 90s most successful rappers below.
Nas
The album that launched 1,000 careers. Illmatic is arguably the most influential record in rap history, but it was also just the beginning of Nas’ legacy. Few were able to match his lyricism throughout the decade… or ever. His follow up It Was Written, under-appreciated compared to its predecessor, yet still became Nas' most commercially successful album featuring several standout, including the Lauryn Hill-blessed, "If I Ruled the World,” need we say more.
JAY-Z
Now regarded as Hip Hop royalty, there was once a time when the name JAY-Z didn’t hold such clout. Even after Jay quietly dropped his classic album in 1996, few noticed. But by the end of the decade, Hov was becoming rap’s biggest player. His charisma, wit, and skillful wordplay quickly pushed him to the top where he claimed the top spot for nearly two decades. Even with his retirement in 03 with The Black Album, Jay’s relevancy and level of success has never diminished, it just transitioned to businessman and entrepreneur. So what might have started out as a “Hard Knock Life,” by the late 90s turned into a successful one.
The Notorious B.I.G
One of THE BEST EVER, and would likely still be if not for his untimely death. Notorious B.I.G. dominated the rap charts in 90s. Pitted against another great for the G.O.A.T. title, Biggie’s presence, technique and lyricism made him not just a rapper, but a storyteller. Passing at the peak of his game left his catalog smaller compared to others on the list. But with classics such as “Big Poppa,” “Juicy,” “Hypnotize,” and “Mo Money Mo Problems” — what’s that they say… quality over quantity. In fact if anything, Big’s small discography has only contributed to his iconic legacy.
2Pac
Another one of the ALL TIME GREATS, and easily Hip Hop’s most influential figure. No other artist simultaneously embodied both social consciousness and chaos quite like Pac. While his life was also cut short, during his reign he not only dropped classic albums and singles which are still buzzed about till this day, but he also became a poster child for the best and worst aspects of the art form. Basically, he was the total package.
LL Cool J
A consistent player in Hip Hop throughout the 90s, LL was alternated between radio-friendly flows to hard-hitting bars. He penned some of the decade’s most memorable songs. Speaking of, we’re feeling nostalgic, Alexa play “Around the Way Girl”
Ice Cube
Before he was a lovable character in your child’s favorite movie, and after his departure from N.W.A., Cube began one of the most remarkable solo careers in the early 90s with Amerikkka's Most Wanted. A hella feared rapper, dominating the lane, his raps were filled of politically charged lyrics and the stuff of legends. Two albums later, and after dropping No. 1 singles like “It Was A Good Day,” Cube took a brief break, but picked up right where he left off later in the decade and hasn’t taken his foot off the pedal since.
DMX
A prime example of rap not always being about flash and bling. DMX entered the conversation late into the 90’s, 1998 to be exact. And with him he brought a a level of aggression and grittiness that the genre needed a dose of. Say what you will about DMX, but “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem” is iconic, no cap.
Snoop Dogg
Name a rapper that was chiller than Snoop Doggy Dogg in the 1990s. Making his way to his now legend status, starting with his highly anticipated 1993 debut album Doggystyle an essential Hip Hop album masterminded by Dr. Dre (also listed) and executed to perfection by Snoop. You know, the album that gave us “Gin And Juice,” yeah… that one.
Master P
Master P went from Southern staple in the early 90s to mainstream superstar in the second half of the decade. What he lacked in lyrics (it’s all good, we all know he did, “Make 'Em Say Ugh” anyone?) he made up for by creating Cash Money Records. Y’know the label responsible for greats that will no doubt be featured on a future list, Lil Wanye, Drake, and Nicki Minaj, nbd or whatever.
Dr. Dre
Even though many might argue Dre gained his mega success though production rather than rap, and while yes it’s true that Dre’s most known for helping and extensively impressive list of artist including Snoop Dogg and Eminem with their come up, before all that he was responsible for his own solo come up after his departure from N.W.A. Say what you will, but there’s no denying the straight up bops he supplied in the 90s, including "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang” which actually featured Snoop and "Let Me Ride.” Not to mention, The Chronic is one of the top selling albums of all time. This man is a straight up legend any way you spin it.
WATCH MORE: Hip Hop Legends Whose Careers Span Decades
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The greats the G.O.A.T.s and whatever's in between
