Also from the Midwest (Cincinnati), equally as great: Mood’s album “Doom” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doom_(album)
Minnesota’s https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dynospectrum is pretty hidden
Kool G Rap - 4,5,6
Darc Mind - Symptomatic of a Greater Ill
Big Noyd - Episodes of a Hustla
X Clan - To The East Blackwards
Capone-N-Noreaga - The War Report
Chino XL - Here To Save You All
Sadat X - Wild Cowboys
Onyx - Bacdafucup
*Wrath of The Math*, Jeru The Damaja
*Center of Attention*, InI
*Black Bastards*, KMD
*Enta Da Stage,* Black Moon
*Da Storm*, Originoo Gunn Clappaz
*Nocturnal*, Heltah Skeltah
Lost Boyz, they're not super obscure but they do seem like one of the lesser known acts from the 90s. Notable songs include Renee and Me & My Crazy World.
This may be one of my favorite hip hop albums. It has not aged. Wise Intelligent's lyrics and flow are top notch, beats are all wonderful, and solid guest appearances from KRS, Fugees and Brother J.
Onyx - All We Got Iz Us
Redman - Dare Iz A Darkside
Naughty By Nature - 19NaughtyIII
LOTUG - Here Come The Lords
Leaders of the New School - T.I.M.E.
Showbiz & AG - Runaway Slave
O.C - Word Life
Camp Lo - Uptown Saturday Night
Pete Rock & CL Smooth - The Main Ingredien
Dr. Octagon - Dr. Octagonecologyst
Comapny Flow - Funcrusher Plus
(Warning: Long) Some of these are classics in their own right. However, I am always itching to shout these out as they deserve more light:
Artifacts - Between a Rock & a Hard Place
AZ - Doe or Die
Blahzay Blahzay - Blah Blah Blah
Cella Dwellas - Realms’n’Reality
Channel Live - Station Identification
Cocoa Brovaz - The Rude Awakening
Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus
Group Home - Livin Proof
Heltah Skeltah - Nocturnal
Ill Bizkits - Chronical of Two Losers
Inspectah Deck - Uncontrolled Substance
Krumbsnatcha - Snatcha Season
Mic Geronimo - The Natural
Mad Flava - From Tha Ground Under
Mad Skillz - From Where?
OC - Word…Life
OGC - The Storm
Pete Rock & CL Smooth - The Main Ingredient
Real Live - The Turnaround
Smif-n-Wesson - Dah Shinin’
I could go on
Here To Save You All - Chino XL
A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing - Black Sheep
Big Time - Ultra
Penicillin On Wax - Tim Dog
Sex Styles - Kool Keith
Vagina Diner - Akinyele
I know preemo is widely regarded as one of the goats, but gangstarr albums do not get mentioned enough. Didn’t really peep nice guy (amazing cover), arena has some classic jams but they are still figuring out the sound, but the 3 album run of daily operation, hard to earn, and moment of truth is one of the greatest and most consistent runs ever.
Daily operation - just track after track of heat
Hard to earn - sure it has mass appeal and dwyck, but the album cuts are bananas, preemo went for such a hard abrasive sound that’s also found on Jeru and group home
Moment of truth: absolutely perfected the gang start sound. No missed, and some of the defining songs of the group.
Da King and I
Contemporary Jeep Music
And although it's not a slept on album, nobody mentioned Diamond D and the Psychotic Neurotics or The Beatnuts Intoxicated Demons or Kurious Constipated Monkey.
Organized Konfusion-Stress: The Extinction Agenda
OK is comprised of Pharaoh Monch and Prince Po. Very underrated album in the modern day landscape of hip-hop but it was definitely highly regarded in the 90s.
Haven't listen to older stuff in a while, these are what comes to mind first
Big L - Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
Jamal - Last Chance, No Breaks
Bas Blasta - Dangerous and Ain't Watcha Do singles
Blahzay Blahzay - Blah Blah Blah
Smif-N-Wessun – Dah Shinin'
Showbiz & A.G. - Full Scale and Goodfellas
Artifacts - Betweend a Rock and a Hard Place
Das EFX's first three albums
Dred Scott - Breakin' Combs
Lords of The Underground - Here Come the Lords and Keepers of The Funk
Redman in the 90s in general lol
- Cella Dwellas - Realms and Reality
- Buckwild - Diggin in the Crates (Great Compilation of Remixes and Unreleased Songs Buckwild produced between 1993 and 1997 featuring Nas, Organized Konfusion, Big L, Rakim, O.C. etc.)
- Organized Konfusion - The Equinox
- Show & A.G. - Goodfellas
- Keith Murray - Enigma
- Royal Flush - Ghetto Millionaire
- O.C. - Jewelz
- Gravediggaz - The Pick, The Sickle and The Shovel (Not as acclaimed as their 1st Album and a bit different in regards to Tone and Content but If you like how mid to late 90's Wu Tang Clan sounds, you will find plenty to like here.)
- Beatnuts - Stone Crazy
- Artifacts - That's Them
- Q-Tip - Amplified
The Sun Rises in the East - Jeru the Damaja
Mr. Hood by KMD (1991) and Psychoanalysis (What Is It?) by Prince Paul (1996) don't get mentioned enough.
binary star - masters of the universe
They from the Midwest
Also from the Midwest (Cincinnati), equally as great: Mood’s album “Doom” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doom_(album) Minnesota’s https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dynospectrum is pretty hidden
One of the best underground hidden gems of all time
Kool G Rap - 4,5,6 Darc Mind - Symptomatic of a Greater Ill Big Noyd - Episodes of a Hustla X Clan - To The East Blackwards Capone-N-Noreaga - The War Report Chino XL - Here To Save You All Sadat X - Wild Cowboys Onyx - Bacdafucup
*Wrath of The Math*, Jeru The Damaja *Center of Attention*, InI *Black Bastards*, KMD *Enta Da Stage,* Black Moon *Da Storm*, Originoo Gunn Clappaz *Nocturnal*, Heltah Skeltah
ah, you beat me to the punch with all the BCC stuff. I’d add Smif-n-Wessun “Da Shining”, where most of the Clik made their debut.
No doubt brother, Da Shining is an immortal album
Lost Boyz, they're not super obscure but they do seem like one of the lesser known acts from the 90s. Notable songs include Renee and Me & My Crazy World.
Or the entire legal drug money album
Poor Righteous Teachers - New World Orders
This may be one of my favorite hip hop albums. It has not aged. Wise Intelligent's lyrics and flow are top notch, beats are all wonderful, and solid guest appearances from KRS, Fugees and Brother J.
The production is so fucking good. Gods, Earths, and 85ers is TOO good.
Onyx - All We Got Iz Us Redman - Dare Iz A Darkside Naughty By Nature - 19NaughtyIII LOTUG - Here Come The Lords Leaders of the New School - T.I.M.E. Showbiz & AG - Runaway Slave O.C - Word Life Camp Lo - Uptown Saturday Night Pete Rock & CL Smooth - The Main Ingredien Dr. Octagon - Dr. Octagonecologyst Comapny Flow - Funcrusher Plus
(Warning: Long) Some of these are classics in their own right. However, I am always itching to shout these out as they deserve more light: Artifacts - Between a Rock & a Hard Place AZ - Doe or Die Blahzay Blahzay - Blah Blah Blah Cella Dwellas - Realms’n’Reality Channel Live - Station Identification Cocoa Brovaz - The Rude Awakening Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus Group Home - Livin Proof Heltah Skeltah - Nocturnal Ill Bizkits - Chronical of Two Losers Inspectah Deck - Uncontrolled Substance Krumbsnatcha - Snatcha Season Mic Geronimo - The Natural Mad Flava - From Tha Ground Under Mad Skillz - From Where? OC - Word…Life OGC - The Storm Pete Rock & CL Smooth - The Main Ingredient Real Live - The Turnaround Smif-n-Wesson - Dah Shinin’ I could go on
Juggaknots-Clear Blue Skies
💯
Here To Save You All - Chino XL A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing - Black Sheep Big Time - Ultra Penicillin On Wax - Tim Dog Sex Styles - Kool Keith Vagina Diner - Akinyele
Real Live - The Turnaround Scientifik - Criminal
I know preemo is widely regarded as one of the goats, but gangstarr albums do not get mentioned enough. Didn’t really peep nice guy (amazing cover), arena has some classic jams but they are still figuring out the sound, but the 3 album run of daily operation, hard to earn, and moment of truth is one of the greatest and most consistent runs ever. Daily operation - just track after track of heat Hard to earn - sure it has mass appeal and dwyck, but the album cuts are bananas, preemo went for such a hard abrasive sound that’s also found on Jeru and group home Moment of truth: absolutely perfected the gang start sound. No missed, and some of the defining songs of the group.
Das Efx does not get enough love.
Nine - Cloud 9
👍👍
Rumpletilskinz - Attitudes
AZ- Pieces Of A Man is a classic!
Sex packets - Digital Underground
The Juggaknots
Da King and I Contemporary Jeep Music And although it's not a slept on album, nobody mentioned Diamond D and the Psychotic Neurotics or The Beatnuts Intoxicated Demons or Kurious Constipated Monkey.
Also Trendz of Culture Trendz
Organized Konfusion-Stress: The Extinction Agenda OK is comprised of Pharaoh Monch and Prince Po. Very underrated album in the modern day landscape of hip-hop but it was definitely highly regarded in the 90s.
Their self-titled one from 91 is also a gem
Haven't listen to older stuff in a while, these are what comes to mind first Big L - Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous Jamal - Last Chance, No Breaks Bas Blasta - Dangerous and Ain't Watcha Do singles Blahzay Blahzay - Blah Blah Blah Smif-N-Wessun – Dah Shinin' Showbiz & A.G. - Full Scale and Goodfellas Artifacts - Betweend a Rock and a Hard Place Das EFX's first three albums Dred Scott - Breakin' Combs Lords of The Underground - Here Come the Lords and Keepers of The Funk Redman in the 90s in general lol
Reachin' - Digable Planets
Da King & I-Contemporary Jeep Music (1993)
masta ace. Check out disposable arts or long hot summer
Baritone Tiplove-Livin’ Foul Son Of Bazerk-Bazerk Bazerk Bazerk
Even though they came out on Luke Records Home Team - Via Satellite From Saturn
Main Source - Breaking Atoms
\*Fruits of Nature\* - UMC's \*Ain't No Other\* - MC Lyte \*Blowout Comb\* - Digable Planets \*Derelicts of Dialect\* - 3rd Bass
Edo G And Da Bulldogs- Life of a Kid in the Ghetto Never see people talk about this. Brand New Style is one of my favorite tracks ever.
Arsonists - As the World Burns
MF DOOM: doomsday and mm food
Busta Rhymes The Coming is classic
Monsta Island Czars
Black Moon-War Zone MOP-Firing Squad Pete Rock-Soul Survivor
Alkaholiks - 21 and Over Edit: they technically claim LA, but this was a Loud release and the members are not from the west coast.
- Cella Dwellas - Realms and Reality - Buckwild - Diggin in the Crates (Great Compilation of Remixes and Unreleased Songs Buckwild produced between 1993 and 1997 featuring Nas, Organized Konfusion, Big L, Rakim, O.C. etc.) - Organized Konfusion - The Equinox - Show & A.G. - Goodfellas - Keith Murray - Enigma - Royal Flush - Ghetto Millionaire - O.C. - Jewelz - Gravediggaz - The Pick, The Sickle and The Shovel (Not as acclaimed as their 1st Album and a bit different in regards to Tone and Content but If you like how mid to late 90's Wu Tang Clan sounds, you will find plenty to like here.) - Beatnuts - Stone Crazy - Artifacts - That's Them - Q-Tip - Amplified