3 Rap Albums From the Golden Era of the 1990s That Are Never Going Away

In the 1990s, music fans were treated to so much music. Diverse offerings from electronic bands, rap artists, rockers, grunge and alternative bands, bubblegum pop, jam bands, and much more. It was eclectic and it was fabulous. But along with all the variety on the charts, the 1990s was perhaps the golden era of hip-hop, the moment when the genre had ripened but not spoiled.

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Here below, we wanted to take a moment to explore three albums from that time period that have stood the test of time and then some. Indeed, this is a trio of LPs from the 1990s golden era of rap music that are never going away—and thank goodness!

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Illmatic by Nas (1994)

Maybe the greatest debut album of all time. Hip-hop heads are still calling this one of if not the best rap record of all time. Indeed, the debut LP from the New York City-born Nas rose up in the middle of the decade to showcase someone with exquisite writing, impeccable delivery, and the quiet confidence of an assassin. In one way, the 1990s were overshadowed by an East and West Coast rap beef. But while all of that was happening, Nas was just creating an undying work of art.

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill (1998)

When people cite their Top-5 or Top-10 favorite rappers, it always feels like a crime if Lauryn Hill isn’t mentioned. Sure, she had a relative short career between her days with the Fugees and as a solo artist, but bar for bar, she might be the best ever. Not only does she rap with poise and rhymes that seem both simple and Shakespearean, but she can sing like Nina Simone. How is someone like this possible? And on her 1998 debut solo release The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, she gives everything to each track. We only wish we lived in a world where there were 10 of these!

The Chronic by Dr. Dre (1992)

Along with Nas’ Illmatic, Dr. Dre’s The Chronic is in the running for best album of the decade, as well as all rap history. It’s the solo debut of Dr. Dre, who had just left N.W.A, and it was also the debut of Snoop Dogg, who was Dre’s most recent find. What?! The album showcases Dre’s knack for sticky song production and his fearlessness as a performer. With Snoop by his side, the duo—and the record—were unbeatable.

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