Hip-hop has a rich history of songs to choose from when looking for the best tracks worthy of your playlist, whether you’re doing it for your own listening pleasure or going to be an MC or DJ at an event.
Kendrick Lamar and Post Malone are the names topping modern music charts, but what about classic hip-hop that was pumping up sound systems and club speakers in the 90s?
Juicy, Dear Mama, and Tha Crossroads are three 90s hip-hop tracks that are recognized internationally.
Which track do you think makes for the top 90s hip-hop song?
Stan
Eminem (feat Dido)
2000
The track Stan only dropped in May 2000, and got to the party a little too late to qualify as the master song of 90s hip-hop. Even though the song might feel like it embodies parts of the decade, it released right after the decade already ended.
My Name Is released on January 21, 1999 and might be the best contender for Eminem’s chart-topper in this decade.
What would a song in the style of 90s Eminem sound like?
AI tools like SOUNDRAW can tell you. Using its knowledge of hip-hop songs to generate new content, users can choose the flavor, style, and decade of what comes out.
Dear Mama
2Pac
1995
Dear Mama is 2Pac’s heartfelt maternal tribute with verses to his mother, Afeni Shakur. The song came out in 1995 as a track on his second studio album, and soon became one of the most-streamed hip-hop songs of all-time.
It was also chosen as the title of a 2022 documentary series about 2Pac.
Shimmy Shimmy Ya
Ol Dirty Bastard
1995
The first bars of Shimmy Shimmy Ya is enough to get anyone moving their feet. That’s what has made it one of the most popular songs for streamers, DJs, and MCs — and you can still hear it lighting up dancefloors and parties.
However, is this the best 90s hip-hop song?
The YouTube video has collected more than 14 million hits.
Tha Crossroads
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
1996
Tha Crossroads is another tribute song, recorded as a memory to Eazy-E and drawing heavily on themes of resurrection and judgment day. The YouTube video is standing at 16 million views, and this is listed as one of Spotify’s most-streamed hip-hop songs from the 90s.
Nuthin’ But A G Thang
Dr Dre feat Snoop Doggy Dogg
1992
The song Nuthin’ But a G Thang crosses Dr Dre and Snoop (then-Doggy Dogg) to create one of hip-hop’s most iconic milestone tracks. This could be played anywhere today, and still have the same evergreen popular effect that it had decades back
Life After Death
Notorious B.I.G.
1997
Life After Death was released right after Notorious B.I.G.’s death — and it made the Billboard 200’s top spot for four weeks at the time of its release. Such is his influence in the modern industry, that many artists on the list either worked alongside him or would credit Notorious B.I.G. as one of their main inspirations.
The album (and track carrying the same name) is considered the best-selling hip-hop album of the 90s as a whole. Life After Death sold more than 10 million copies, and holds the record for what might have been spinning on turntables the most during the 90s.
Want to make beats that embody the spirit of the 90s?