Mapping the Hip-Hop Nation in the 1990s
November 21, 2022
By 1990, hip-hop culture had inspired regional scenes across the United States. A series of maps attempted to mark the changes.
ALL: Hip-Hop 1990s
The 100 Best Rap Singles of 1991: 2Pac
September 15, 2022
With his debut solo single, it was clear that 2Pac would be a very different artist from his Digital Underground crew.
The 100 Best Rap Singles of 1992
March 17, 2022
The year marked the beginning of the second half of the “golden era,” when the genre’s greatest peaks and worst tragedies were just beyond the horizon.
A Company Flow Fan’s DJ Bag in 1997
February 21, 2022
As I spent the weekend revisiting Company Flow’s Funcrusher Plus, I began to wonder…what other records did I spin as an amateur DJ in 1997?
The 100 Best Rap Singles of 1991
October 9, 2021
Of all the years when rap music grew into a global movement – the golden age years – 1991 may be the most difficult to summarize.
1996: The Year of the Sista
September 10, 2021
In an essay originally written for Maura magazine, the 1996 renaissance of female rappers resonates as a time of missed opportunity.
The 100 Best Rap Singles of 1990: Chubb Rock
January 23, 2021
Chubb Rock’s reputation as a solid, oft-underrated contributor to hip-hop’s golden era is belied by his best-known hit.
The Best Rap Singles of 1990: Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E.
January 23, 2021
Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E., a Samoan family band from Los Angeles, are fondly remembered for their memorable role in early West Coast hip-hop.
The 100 Best Rap Singles of 1990: Jungle Brothers
December 23, 2020
The Jungle Brothers may have been underrated in America, but they found a receptive audience in Europe, leading to two top-40 UK hits.
The 100 Best Rap Singles of 1990: Eric B. & Rakim
December 23, 2020
While not as essential as the duo’s earlier work, this hit swings with the verve of a master craftsman stepping out of his comfort zone.
The 100 Best Rap Singles of 1990: BWP
December 23, 2020
BWP’s sharp, raunchy shot at under-performing men remains catnip for fans looking for precursors to today’s smack-talking rap women.
The 100 Best Rap Singles of 1990: Boogie Down Productions
October 10, 2020
This 12-inch is arguably Bronx heroes Boogie Down Productions’ last great single, and one of the finest story raps of the era.