For many people, it's not even up for debate. The 1990s was the best decade for hip hop music. Period. During this time, the rap genre was at its all-time prime.
There isn't a single rap track that can come on today and not make you stop whatever it is that you're doing. As soon as the beat drops for these classic 1990s hits, we just want to move our bodies. The music from this decade can never get old. Not only because of their production, but because of the talented recording artists that created them.
From rappers who would soon become legendary like The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, Foxy Brown, Snoop Dogg, Queen Latifah, Puff Daddy, LL Cool J, Salt-N-Pepa and so much more; these stars were making music history without even knowing it. That brings us to another point. By making rap greatness in the 1990s, many of the top, most well-respected artists today made a name for themselves. Doing so propelled them into superstardom and would forever place them at one of the top positions of the hip hop pedestal.
Let's take a look at 26 of our favorite hip hop songs -- in no specific order -- of the 1990s. As you can imagine, this was extremely hard since the entire decade was full of flavor. But, see our picks for yourself and be sure to tell us any of yours.
**WARNING: Explicit language**
Yo Yo featuring Ice Cube - "You Can't Play With My Yo Yo"
Year released: 1991
Nas featuring Lauryn Hill - "If I Ruled The World"
Year released: 1996
House Of Pain - "Jump Around"
Year released: 1992
Foxy Brown featuring Blackstreet - "Gotta Get You Home"
Year released: 1996
Luniz - "I Got 5 On It"
Year released: 1995
Coolio featuring L.V. - "Gangsta's Paradise"
Year released: 1995
Lil Kim ā "Queen B**ch"
Year released: 1996
Naughty by Nature - "O.P.P."
Year released: 1991
Ice Cube - "It Was A Good Day"
Year released: 1992
Lauryn Hill - "Doo-Wop (That Thing)"
Year released: 1998
MC Hammer - "U Can't Touch This"
Year released: 1990
Snoop Dogg - "Gin & Juice"
Year released: 1993
Queen Latifah - "U.N.I.T.Y."
Year released: 1993
Craig Mack - "Flava In Ya Ear"
Year released: 1994
Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg - "Nothin' But a G Thang"
Year released: 1992
2pac featuring Dr.Dre - "California Love"
Year released: 1996
The Fugees - "Killing Me Softly"
Year released: 1996
The Notorious B.I.G. - "Juicy"
Year released: 1994
Warren G featuring Nate Dogg - "Regulate"
Year released: 1994
Salt-N-Pepa - "Shoop"
Year released: 1993
Puff Daddy featuring Mase - "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down"
Year released: 1995
LL Cool J - "Mama Said Knock You Out"
Year released: 1990
Da Brat ā "Funkdafied"
Year released: 1994
Sir Mix A Lot - "Baby Got Back"
Year released: 1992
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince - "Summertime"
Year released: 1991
Angie Martinez, Lil Kim, Left Eye, Da Brat & Missy Elliott - "Ladies Night"
Year released: 1997
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