The Best Hip Hop Songs of 1990
Contents
In this blog post, we’ll be taking a look at the best hip hop songs of 1990. This was a great year for the genre, with many artists putting out classic tracks.
Introduction
The early 1990s were a golden age for hip-hop. The genre was constantly evolving and expanding, with new artists and styles emerging all the time. This list celebrates the best hip-hop songs of 1990, a year that saw the releases of some truly classic tracks.
From Public Enemy’s anthemic “Fight the Power” to N.W.A.’s controversial “Fuck tha Police,” these are the tracks that defined a genre and changed popular music forever.
“U Can’t Touch This” by MC Hammer
“U Can’t Touch This” is a song co-written and recorded by American rapper MC Hammer from his 1990 album Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘Em. The track is produced by Rick James. Along with “Here Comes the Hammer”, the song was a breakthrough hit, becoming one of the most recognizable songs of the early 1990s and one of Hammer’s signature tunes.
The song samples Rick James’ 1981 hit “Super Freak”. “U Can’t Touch This” peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, making it both Hammer’s and James’ second number-one single each on that chart. The song has been used or referenced in numerous television shows, films and commercials. It was ranked number 73 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.
“Bust a Move” by Young MC
Bust a Move” is a song by American hip hop artist Young MC. The song was released in 1989 as the lead single from his album Stone Cold Rhymin’. It peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1990, making it Young MC’s only top 40 single in the United States. The song earned him a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance at the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards.
“Gangsta’s Paradise” by Coolio
In 1995, Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” topped the Billboard charts for three weeks, becoming one of the most popular songs of the 1990s. The track features a sample of Stevie Wonder’s 1976 hit “Pastime Paradise,” and Coolio’s lyrics explore the harsh realities of life in the inner city. “Gangsta’s Paradise” is widely considered to be one of the best hip hop songs of all time, and it remains an iconic representation of ’90s rap.
“Informer” by Snow
“Informer” is a 1992 song by Canadian reggae musician Snow. It features ad-libs from MC Shan, who co-wrote the track with Snow. The song became a massive commercial success, peaking at number one in eight countries and remains one of the best-selling singles of all time. In the United States, it topped the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks, becoming the first reggae song to do so.
“Regulate” by Warren G
“Regulate” is a song performed by American hip hop artist Warren G. It was released in 1994 as his debut single and appears on his album Regulate… G Funk Era. The song features Nate Dogg singing the chorus and rap verses from both artists. The track samples Michael McDonald’s song “I Keep Forgettin’ (Every Time You’re Near)”. “Regulate” was a critical and commercial success, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as topping the charts in New Zealand and Canada. The song has been certified three times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and has sold over three million copies in the United States.
“Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-a-Lot
“Baby Got Back” is a song recorded by American rapper Sir Mix-a-Lot, which was released on May 15, 1992, as the second single from his album Mack Daddy. The song samples the 1986 Rick James song “Super Freak”. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks from September 26 to October 31, 1992, making it both Sir Mix-a-Lot’s biggest hit and the top selling and radio airplay song of 1992.
The track topped Billboard’s Hot Rap Tracks chart for six weeks. The single was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of two million copies in the United States. It won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 1993 Grammy Awards, becoming only the second rap song to be honored with a Grammy Award (following MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This” in 1990). American Music Awards presented it with an award for Favorite Rap/Hip Hop Single.
“Jump” by Kris Kross
In Kris Kross’s song “Jump,” the duo encouraged listeners to, well, jump around. The track was an instant hit, jumping to the top of the Billboard charts for eight weeks. It even crossed over to the pop world, where it peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” by Dr. Dre
Released on Dre’s seminal album The Chronic, “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” was the first single and is arguably the most iconic song to come out of the West Coast hip hop scene. Featuring Snoop Dogg in his debut appearance, the track is a G-funk anthem that celebrates the gangsta lifestyle. It became one of the most commercially successful songs of Dre’s career, reaching number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
“What’s My Name?” by Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg’s “What’s My Name?” is one of the best hip hop songs of 1990. The song samples drum and bass sounds from the track “Funky Drummer” by Clyde Stubblefield, and features an interpolation of the chorus from the Beastie Boys’ song “Paul Revere”. Snoop Dogg’s rhyming is considered to be among the best of all time, and the song is credited with helping to establish his reputation as a wordsmith.
