The 50 Best 90s Rap Songs, from Juicy to California Love

What is the best rap song of the 90s?

"Juicy" by The Notorious B.I.G. is often named the best rap song of the 90s, alongside "California Love" by 2Pac and Dr. Dre, "C.R.E.A.M." by Wu-Tang Clan, "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang" by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg and "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio, which was the best-selling single of 1995 in the US.

The greatest 90s hip-hop and rap songs

1. "Juicy", The Notorious B.I.G., 1994: a rags-to-riches story over a smooth sample.
2. "California Love", 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman, 1996: a West Coast party anthem and a number one.
3. "Gangsta's Paradise", Coolio featuring L.V., 1995: a dark, Stevie Wonder-based number one that won a Grammy.
4. "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang", Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg, 1992: the song that defined G-funk.
5. "C.R.E.A.M.", Wu-Tang Clan, 1994: a gritty, piano-led classic.
6. "Hypnotize", The Notorious B.I.G., 1997: a number one released just after his death.
7. "Regulate", Warren G and Nate Dogg, 1994: a smooth story song from the Above the Rim soundtrack.
8. "Tha Crossroads", Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, 1996: a melodic memorial song and a Grammy-winning number one.
9. "Dear Mama", 2Pac, 1995: a tribute to his mother, later added to the National Recording Registry.
10. "Jump Around", House of Pain, 1992: the stadium-shaking party song.

East Coast rap classics

11. "N.Y. State of Mind", Nas, 1994: a vivid portrait of Queensbridge from Illmatic.
12. "The World Is Yours", Nas, 1994: an optimistic Illmatic highlight.
13. "Shook Ones (Part II)", Mobb Deep, 1995: a menacing, minimal classic.
14. "Big Poppa", The Notorious B.I.G., 1995: a smooth, Isley Brothers-sampling hit.
15. "Can I Kick It?", A Tribe Called Quest, 1990: built on Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side".
16. "Scenario", A Tribe Called Quest featuring Leaders of the New School, 1992: a posse cut with an explosive Busta Rhymes verse.
17. "Electric Relaxation", A Tribe Called Quest, 1994: jazzy and laid back.
18. "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)", Pete Rock and CL Smooth, 1992: a horn-driven tribute to a lost friend.
19. "Shimmy Shimmy Ya", Ol' Dirty Bastard, 1995: one of the most unpredictable hits of the decade.
20. "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)", Jay-Z, 1998: built on a sample from the musical Annie.
21. "Ruff Ryders' Anthem", DMX, 1998: the barking breakthrough.
22. "Hip Hop Hooray", Naughty by Nature, 1993: a crowd-waving anthem.

West Coast rap classics

23. "Gin and Juice", Snoop Doggy Dogg, 1994: laid-back G-funk at its finest.
24. "It Was a Good Day", Ice Cube, 1993: a day when everything goes right in South Central.
25. "Still D.R.E.", Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg, 1999: the famous piano riff that closed the decade.
26. "Keep Ya Head Up", 2Pac, 1993: an uplifting song of respect for women.
27. "Changes", 2Pac, 1998: a posthumous hit about poverty and racism.
28. "Passin' Me By", The Pharcyde, 1993: a jazzy song about unrequited crushes.
29. "Insane in the Brain", Cypress Hill, 1993: a hit with a huge chant-along hook.
30. "The Humpty Dance", Digital Underground, 1990: a goofy, funky party classic.
31. "93 'til Infinity", Souls of Mischief, 1993: a mellow Oakland classic.

Southern and Midwest rap

32. "Elevators (Me and You)", OutKast, 1996: a hazy song about success from ATLiens.
33. "Rosa Parks", OutKast, 1998: a harmonica-breakdown party song.
34. "Whoomp! (There It Is)", Tag Team, 1993: an Atlanta bass anthem still played at every ballgame.
35. "Jump", Kris Kross, 1992: an eight-week number one by two Atlanta teenagers.

Pop-rap hits of the 90s

36. "U Can't Touch This", MC Hammer, 1990: built on Rick James' "Super Freak".
37. "Ice Ice Baby", Vanilla Ice, 1990: the first rap single to top the Billboard Hot 100.
38. "Baby Got Back", Sir Mix-a-Lot, 1992: a Grammy-winning number one.
39. "Summertime", DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, 1991: the ultimate summer barbecue song.
40. "Gettin' Jiggy wit It", Will Smith, 1998: a number one dance-floor filler.
41. "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down", Puff Daddy featuring Mase, 1997: a glossy number one.
42. "Mo Money Mo Problems", The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Puff Daddy and Mase, 1997: a disco-sampling number one.
43. "I'll Be Missing You", Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112, 1997: a tribute to The Notorious B.I.G.
44. "Intergalactic", Beastie Boys, 1998: a robotic, Grammy-winning favorite.
45. "My Name Is", Eminem, 1999: the cartoonish breakthrough that introduced Slim Shady.

Women of 90s rap

46. "U.N.I.T.Y.", Queen Latifah, 1993: a Grammy-winning call for respect.
47. "Shoop", Salt-N-Pepa, 1993: a playful, confident hit.
48. "Doo Wop (That Thing)", Lauryn Hill, 1998: a number one from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
49. "Ready or Not", Fugees, 1996: a haunting single led by Lauryn Hill's voice.
50. "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)", Missy Elliott, 1997: a futuristic debut built on Ann Peebles' "I Can't Stand the Rain".

The golden age of hip-hop

The early 90s are often called hip-hop's golden age. Producers like Dr. Dre, DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Q-Tip and the RZA built songs from jazz, funk and soul samples, and lyricists like Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac, Rakim and the members of Wu-Tang Clan raised the bar for storytelling and wordplay. Albums like The Chronic, Illmatic, Ready to Die, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and The Low End Theory are still studied by rappers today.

East Coast vs. West Coast

By the mid-90s, a rivalry between New York's Bad Boy Records and Los Angeles's Death Row Records, and between their biggest stars, The Notorious B.I.G. and 2Pac, dominated hip-hop. It ended in tragedy: 2Pac was killed in Las Vegas in September 1996 and Biggie in Los Angeles in March 1997, both in shootings that remained unsolved for decades. Their deaths shocked the music world, and tributes like "I'll Be Missing You" by Puff Daddy and Faith Evans were followed by calls from many artists for peace in hip-hop.

The rise of the South

By the end of the decade, the South had its own sound. OutKast, Goodie Mob and the producers Organized Noize put Atlanta on the map, while Master P's No Limit Records and Cash Money Records made New Orleans a powerhouse. At the 1995 Source Awards, a young André 3000 told a skeptical crowd that "the South got something to say", and the next decade proved him right.

The albums that defined 90s rap

• The Chronic (1992), Dr. Dre: the G-funk blueprint.
• Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993), Wu-Tang Clan: raw, cinematic and endlessly quoted.
• Illmatic (1994), Nas: a near-perfect debut.
• Ready to Die (1994), The Notorious B.I.G.: storytelling at its peak.
• All Eyez on Me (1996), 2Pac: a sprawling double album.
• The Low End Theory (1991), A Tribe Called Quest: jazz samples and effortless rhymes.
• ATLiens (1996), OutKast: the spacey album that proved the South could lead.
• The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998): the first hip-hop album to win the Grammy for Album of the Year.

90s rap songs for a party or a wedding

For a clean, crowd-pleasing 90s set, start with "Jump Around", "Whoomp! (There It Is)", "Summertime", "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" and "Hip Hop Hooray", and use the radio edits of "California Love", "Gin and Juice" and "Mo Money Mo Problems". For more, see our hip hop wedding songs, 90s wedding songs and hip hop birthday songs.

90s rap songs for Mother's Day or a memorial

"Dear Mama" is one of the most loved songs ever written for a mother, and "Keep Ya Head Up" honors the women who raise families. For a memorial, "I'll Be Missing You", "Tha Crossroads" and "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" were all written for people the artists lost. For more, see our funeral songs.

90s rap songs for a road trip or a workout

For a drive, play "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang", "Regulate", "It Was a Good Day", "Elevators (Me and You)" and "Still D.R.E.". For a workout, "Ruff Ryders' Anthem", "Jump Around", "Insane in the Brain" and "Shook Ones (Part II)" bring the energy. For more, see our road trip songs, Nelly songs for the early 2000s that followed and Tyler, the Creator songs for a newer generation.

A hip-hop song about them

The best 90s rap songs told real stories about real people and places. A personalized hip-hop song can do the same for someone you love: their name, their hometown and the stories only you two share. It makes a fun birthday, anniversary or best friend gift for anyone who grew up on 90s hip-hop.

How to create a personalized hip-hop song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: hip-hop, R&B, pop and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three memories or details about them.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $35.99, or $40.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give them a song of their own: create a song and hear four previews for free.