The Top 90 Hip Hop Music Hits of the ’90s
Contents
- Introduction
- The ’90s Hip Hop Hits
- “Gin and Juice” by Snoop Dogg
- “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” by Dr. Dre
- “Regulate” by Warren G
- “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” by Puff Daddy
- “Mo Money, Mo Problems” by The Notorious B.I.G.
- “H to the Izzo” by Jay-Z
- “Shoop” by Salt-N-Pepa
- “Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-a-Lot
- “Jump” by Kris Kross
- “Boom Shack-A-Lak” by Apache Indian
- Conclusion
The Top 90 Hip Hop Music Hits of the ’90s.
Introduction
The ’90s was a decade that saw the birth of a new genre of music, hip hop. This new style of music quickly spread across the globe, and soon everyone was jamming out to the latest hip hop hits. The ’90s was also a time when some of the biggest names in music rose to prominence, including Tupac, Biggie Smalls, and Snoop Dogg.
If you’re a fan of hip hop music, then you’ll love this list of the top 90 hip hop songs of the ’90s. From party anthems to smooth R&B tracks, there’s something for everyone on this list. So turn up the volume and get ready to reminisce about the good old days with these classic ’90s hip hop hits!
The ’90s Hip Hop Hits
The ’90s were a golden era for hip hop music. From the rise of the West Coast G-funk sound to the East Coast’s hardcore style, the ’90s is considered one of the most influential periods in hip hop history. Here are the top 90 hip hop songs of the ’90s.
“Gin and Juice” by Snoop Dogg
Released in early 1994 as the lead single from Snoop’s debut album Doggystyle, “Gin and Juice” peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Snoop’s first top 10 hit as a solo artist. The song, which samples Slick Rick’s “Children’s Story,” was co-written by Snoop with his producer Dr. Dre.
“Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” by Dr. Dre
“Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” is the lead single from American rapper Dr. Dre’s 1992 debut solo album, The Chronic. It features guest vocals from fellow rapper Snoop Dogg and is produced by Dre himself. The single propelled The Chronic to multi-platinum status. Along with its accompanying music video, the track popularized West Coast gangsta rap and G-funk.
“Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” was ranked number 10 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop, and number one on XXL magazine’s “Top 25 Hip-Hop Songs of the ’90s”. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 80 on its list “150 Best Tracks of the Last 15 Years”. In April 2015, Complex included the song in their ranking of the classic records of Dr. Dre.
“Regulate” by Warren G
“Regulate” is a song performed by Warren G and Nate Dogg. The song was released in 1994 as the lead single from the soundtrack to the film Above the Rim and on Warren G’s album Regulate…G Funk Era. “Regulate” peaked at number two on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. The song has been ranked as one of the greatest songs of all time by multiple publications, including Rolling Stone, who placed it at number four on their list of the “100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time”.
“Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” by Puff Daddy
“Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down” is a song recorded by American rapper Puff Daddy. It was released on January 17, 1997 as the first single from his debut album No Way Out. The song features a sample of “The Show” by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick, as well as a interpolation of “Is This the End?” by New Edition. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks, becoming Puff Daddy’s first number-one single as a lead artist. In 1998, the song won Puff Daddy and co-writer Sean Combs the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.
“Mo Money, Mo Problems” by The Notorious B.I.G.
“Mo Money, Mo Problems” is a song by The Notorious B.I.G., featuring Puff Daddy and Mase. It was released on September 29, 1997, as the second single from Biggie’s posthumous album Life After Death. The music video for the song was directed by Hype Williams and featured appearances from Lil’ Kim, Bones thugs-n-harmony, Jermaine Dupri, Diddy’s then-girlfriend Cassie, as well as models Naomi Campbell and Tyra Banks. The single hit number one on the Hot 100 on October 18, 1997, making it Biggie’s second american number-one single (the first being “Hypnotize”), as well as Puff Daddy’s third and Mase’s first.
“H to the Izzo” by Jay-Z
“H to the Izzo” is a song by American rapper Jay-Z. It was released as the first single from his sixth studio album The Blueprint (2001). The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for five weeks, becoming Jay-Z’s first number one single as a solo artist. It was produced by The Neptunes and features a guest appearance from American R&B singer Amil.
“Shoop” by Salt-N-Pepa
“Shoop” is a song recorded by American hip hop trio Salt-N-Pepa. It was released in September 1994 as the lead single from their fourth studio album, Very Necessary (1993). The song was written and produced by the group’s long-time collaborators Hurby “Luv Bug” Azor and Mark MUSIC Producer. It is a sexually charged song that features Salt-N-Pepa boasting about their sexual prowess over a sample of George Clinton’s “Atomic Dog” (1982).
The song was a commercial success, peaking at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Outside the United States, it peaked at number nine in New Zealand and number 11 in the United Kingdom. The song received positive reviews from music critics, who praised its production and lyrics. A music video for the song, directed by Hype Williams, was also released to promote the single.
“Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-a-Lot
“Baby Got Back” is a song written and recorded by American rapper and producer Sir Mix-a-Lot, released on May 15, 1992 as the second single from his album Mack Daddy. The song samples the 1986 electronic dance hit “Push It” by Salt-n-Pepa.
The song’s writing credit is shared between Sir Mix-a-Lot and Rick Rubin, who produced the Salt-n-Pepa track; it was co-written byMix’s ex-wife, Donna Dyson. The song was recorded in Los Angeles at Larrabee Sound Studios. In the rap community at the time of its release, “Baby Got Back” wasrated as one of 1992’s best rap singles.”Baby Got Back” peaked at number one on both the Billboard Hot 100 chartand the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart on June 13, 1992, holding the positionfor five weeks and two weeks, respectively. It won the 1993 Grammy Award forbest Rap Solo Performance.”
The video was directed by Walter Moise and features female dancers in double slit skirts dancing provocatively around Sir Mix-a-Lot who sings often with a big grin on his face. Most infamously, in one scene set upon a pile of piled up cardboard boxes which resemble butts/backsides, two women in gold paint (one black and one white) act out grabbing each other’s behinds then look into each other’s eyes (as if they were looking in a mirror) then smile (“wink wink”) then walk off into different directions.”
“Jump” by Kris Kross
“Jump” by Kris Kross was one of the top 90 hip hop music hits of the ’90s. Released in 1992, the song peaked at number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains one of the most iconic songs of the decade.
“Boom Shack-A-Lak” by Apache Indian
“Boom Shack-A-Lak” is a 1993 single by British-Asian musician Apache Indian. The song was a major hit in Europe, reaching number two in the United Kingdom and number one in the Netherlands. The song was also a top ten hit in Belgium, Ireland, Sweden and Switzerland. In the United States, “Boom Shack-A-Lak” peaked at number 59 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Conclusion
What a great time to be alive and listening to hip hop music! The ’90s saw the genre explode in popularity and commercial success, with artists like Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur, and The Notorious B.I.G. leading the charge.
While the ’90s are often considered the golden age of hip hop, it’s important to remember that the music of this decade was often controversial and sometimes divisive. Nonetheless, it remains an incredibly influential period in the history of pop music, and these songs are some of the most iconic and memorable hits of the decade.