1996 Music Hits: The Best Hip Hop Songs
Looking for a blast from the past? Check out our list of the best hip hop songs from 1996! From classics like “Gin and Juice” to lesser-known gems, these tracks will take you back to the good old days.
The Best Hip Hop Songs of 1996
1996 was a great year for hip hop. Some of the best songs of all time were released in 1996. If you’re a fan of hip hop, then you’ll love this list of the best hip hop songs of 1996. We’ve got songs from some of the biggest names in hip hop, including Tupac, Biggie, and Jay-Z. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the best hip hop songs of 1996.
“All Eyez on Me” – 2Pac
All Eyez on Me is the fourth studio album by American rapper 2Pac, released on February 13, 1996, by Death Row Records and Interscope Records. The album features the hits “California Love”, “How Do U Want It”, and “I Ain’t Mad at Cha”. It is considered to be one of the crowning achievements of 1990s rap music.
“The Score” – Fugees
The Score is the second and final studio album by American hip hop group Fugees, released on February 13, 1996, on Columbia Records. The album features a wide range of samples and instrumentation, with the group’s work incorporating elements of hip hop, soul, reggae and alternative rock.
Lyrically, The Score is themed around themes of social injustice and police brutality. The album was a critical and commercial success, peaking at number one on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States and selling over 18 million copies worldwide. It has been certified as six-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the United States.
In 1998, The Score was ranked number 382 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
“Ready to Die” – The Notorious B.I.G.
“Ready to Die” is the debut studio album by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., released on September 13, 1994, by Bad Boy Records. The album features production byBad Boy founder Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs, Easy Mo Bee, Chucky Thompson, DJ Prestige and Lord Finesse, among others.
The album debuted at #1 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 229,000 copies in its first week. It was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on January 10, 1996, denoting shipment of two million copies in the United States. Critical reception for Ready to Die was generally positive; AllMusic’s Steve Huey wrote that while Biggie didn’t break any new ground lyrically, his “street-poet delivery” and “conversational rapping style” made him unique.
The singles “Big Poppa”, “One More Chance / Stay with Me”, and “Juicy” all reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart. The album has been viewed as one of the greatest and most influential hip-hop albums ever released. In 2003, it was ranked number 386 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
“All That I Need” – Boyz II Men
“All That I Need” is a 1995 single by Boyz II Men. It was released on January 30, 1996 as the third single from the album II. The song peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and remained there for three weeks. It also reached number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for two weeks. The song was written by Babyface, Antonio Reid and Daryl Simmons.
“Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” – Puff Daddy
“Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” is the first single from American rapper Puff Daddy’s debut album No Way Out. It was released on January 17, 1997 and features a rap verse from Mase. The song samples “Think (About It)” by Lyn Collins, and the hook is sung by Harveybox. “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks, making it Puff Daddy’s first number-one single as a solo artist.
The Best Hip Hop Albums of 1996
1996 was a big year for hip hop music. Some of the biggest and most influential albums of all time were released this year. The best hip hop albums of 1996 include Reasonable Doubt by Jay-Z, All Eyez on Me by 2Pac, and The Score by the Fugees. Let’s take a look at these classic albums and see what made them so special.
“All Eyez on Me” – 2Pac
2Pac’s fourth studio album, “All Eyez on Me,” was released on February 13, 1996. The double album was the first and only album to be released while he was alive and is considered one of the best hip hop albums of all time. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and has been certified diamond by the RIAA.
“The Score” – Fugees
The Score is the second and final studio album by the hip hop group Fugees, released on February 13, 1996 by Columbia Records. The album hit number one on the US Billboard 200 and has sold over six million copies in the United States. It features a broad spectrum of styles, including rap, R&B, reggae, and Latin music. The album was recorded at multiple studios in New York City and Los Angeles and was produced by Jerry Duplessis and Wyclef Jean.
“The Score” was a commercial and critical success. It is credited with revitalizing Lauryn Hill’s career, propelling the Fugees to mainstream success, and giving hip hop a new level of respectability. It won two Grammy Awards for Best Rap Album and Best Album of the Year, making it only the second hip hop album to win the latter award. In 2003, The Source placed it at number 48 on its list of the 100 greatest albums of all time; in 2012, Pitchfork Media named it the sixth-best album of the 1990s; and in 2014, Complex included it on its list of greatest hip-hop albums ever made.
“Ready to Die” – The Notorious B.I.G.
The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Ready to Die” is one of the best hip hop albums of 1996. It is a classic album that features some of Biggie’s biggest hits, including “Hypnotize” and “Mo Money, Mo Problems.” The album was certified Diamond by the RIAA, and has sold over 4 million copies in the United States.
“All That I Need” – Boyz II Men
“All That I Need” is a song by American R&B group Boyz II Men. It was released on August 29, 1995 as the third single from their album II. The song peaked at number one on the US Hot 100 and spent two weeks atop the chart. It also peaked at number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for three weeks.
“Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” – Puff Daddy
Puff Daddy’s debut album, “No Way Out,” was a highly anticipated release in the summer of 1997. The album did not disappoint, immediately skyrocketing to the top of the charts and spawning a number of hit singles, including “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down.” The album perfectly captures the zeitgeist of ’90s hip hop, with Puff Daddy’s signature mix of raunchy lyrics and glossy production.
