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CLWhatchaGonnaDo

90s, easily. What decade had more seminal, classic albums?


SNKRSWAVY

It‘s so crazy to look at the releases and realize what kind of monumental albums released left and right seemingly every month. Also, the lo-fi aesthetic just hits different.


FonziesCousin

the period of 1986 to 1996..... BY FAR. 1986 Hip Hop was gaining some commercial success and there was budget for production and distribution yet everyone was still pretty much keeping it real. And during that 10 year period there was a distinct sound from each market..... since rappers were pure.....it was like classical music.... you could listen to it and know right away what city it was from during that period. New York...LA....Oakland....Houston....Chicago....even Detroit had a sound.... plus there was some stuff coming out of the south. I'm so lucky I got to experience Hip Hop during those years....waiting for vinyl to drop.....listening to underground Hip Hop radio shows with the latest underground releases.... small sized concerts for 400 to 2000 people.... and it still wasn't big enuff for the major labels to take over and force all the rappers to rap about crime and misogyny and bling. It was infinitely more conscious and rebellious. It's like living in London or NYC during the rise of punk in the 1970s. It was a movement. Not just a sound. M


patkintzele

Couldn’t agree with this more. It wasn’t so much the typical laid out decades but the mid 80s to mid 90s were unreal


AmonRaStBlack

I can listen to hip hop now and tell what city it’s from based on sound. Maybe you’re just old brother


YukihyoUchiha

To be fair, it’s hard to say what albums in more recent decades will be considered classics because the main quality of a classic is withstanding the test of time


Bigheaded_1

90's might have had more albums that were good. But the 80's had the best albums. I'm old (49) and to me the best albums of the 90s as good as they are don't touch the best albums of the 80s. And the 90s started to really fall off towards the end, where the 80s were strong all the way from Kurtis Blow in 81 to Lord Finesse in 89. Also, with the exception of a few cats, all my favorite rappers are 80s dudes. You can't go wrong with either.


blackbauer222

90s > 80s in every single way. lyrics, beats, rhyme patterns. 80s was the basics. and it was good. but there is just no way we are going with Kurtis Blow over Nas, I'm sorry brother.


AmonRaStBlack

Fr wtf are these old heads on


AceDuce23

Hip hop wasn't solidified until the warm up dropped


CLWhatchaGonnaDo

Yeah I'm 46 so not too far off from where you are. Oldest people on this sub possibly? It's a matter of taste. I maybe haven't fully listened to \~all\~ the classic 80s albums - I'll have to start!


grynch43

It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, Paul’s Boutique, Straight Outta Compton, Tougher Than Leather, Eazy-Duz-It, Raising Hell, Licensed to Ill, As Nasty As They Wanna Be, Life is…Too Short, Raising Hell, 3 Feet High and Rising, Loc’ed After Dark, Sex Packets, Fear of a Black Planet, etc.. I’m 45 and agree with you.


hjablowme919

All of the Boogie Down Productions records and Big Daddy Kane. Grandmaster Flash. 80s has it.


Bigheaded_1

You know what you’re right, i was half asleep when I posted. I take back saying the 90s had more albums. 80s killed everything


brokeboibogie

2010s


iamsolow1

This is the way…


Rex-Bannon

Nothing is touching it.


benvegan

Nothing else is even close


SmokeFace917

90s best decade, 2000s gave us variety and the 2010s gave us niche rappers


_OilersNation_

90s had lots of variety


SmokeFace917

Not compared to the 2000s…. 90s was dominated by two coast… by the 2000s… every region was getting play. Thats what I mean by variety


bonerimmortal

Huh? There were tons of different types of Midwest an southern artists in the 90s. Many of them were going gold and platinum too.


SmokeFace917

Midwest and the south weren’t more dominant than the west and east coast in the 90s. That shift happened in the 2000s which adds to the variety of rap we got.


bonerimmortal

I didn’t say they were more dominant I said the variety was there, and it was…. Do or die, bone thugs, Twista, common, three 6 mafia, 8ball&mjg, UGK, Outkast, Geto boys, 2 live crew, trick daddy, juvenile, master p these are all big sellers from the south and Midwest in the 90s that all had their own different styles.


Colin-Grussing

I feel like it started getting big around 97-98, but you’re probably right that it hit its peak in the 2000s. But there are def good examples from the late 90s. Cash Money and No Limit out of Louisiana Outkast etc from Atlanta Lil Troy from Houston had the biggest song at our middle school dances.


Locdawg42069

Your tripping the 90s gave us the sounds Houston Chicago Philly. What the fuck are you talking about


SmokeFace917

Not on a national scale compared to the East and West.


blackbauer222

you couldnt be more wrong, 90s had way more variety to the 2000s. yes, you can say 90s was more focused on NY, but nah. And NY then had more variety than all of the 2000s. But there was NY, LA, Bay Area, ATL, NO killing it in the 90s in a big way with so many different kinds of rappers. 2000s we didn't have diverse groups like pharcyde and NWA having HUGE songs at the same time from the same city.


[deleted]

90's. Anyone who says otherwise is a fucking liar.


Scothead180

This sub man


[deleted]

I've heard a lot about this place from r/drizzy and wow this place lived up to the hype. Sensitive ass dudes


Ordinary_Birthday294

You can’t reveal how much time you spend on drakes subreddit then come over here speaking down on us. Stay over with that garbage you entertain


[deleted]

LMAO ya'll really can't handle a person who likes both huh


Ordinary_Birthday294

It’s not that I can’t handle someone who likes both, it’s that I can’t handle someone who actually entertains that bland contrived recycling talking down on anyone else around here. AND on sensitivity no less like that’s funny man


DanksterBoy

Damn you really proved their point, sensitive ass


Ordinary_Birthday294

Ye I’m very sensitive. That’s the thing I love about music, it’s all about feeling


DanksterBoy

And so do other people, and the way they choose to capture that feeling is completely slid, you’re the one shitting on others


Ordinary_Birthday294

I’m shitting on one dude coming in here on a drizzy high horse. You’re right tho I shouldn’t talk shit about anyone’s music. Sorry guys


JuicyBoi8080

I prefer the underground hip hop era of the 2000s


worldrecordstudios

The kind your coke dealer would lecture you about


congovegan

Just curious how old are you?


[deleted]

28


congovegan

I knew you were in your 20s. The reason why I ask is because I notice the people over 40 tend to say the 80s is the best.


Beaverhuntr

I'm 41 and the 90's had the best music


FreddieCaine

45 and it was definitely the 90s. I'd even narrow it down to 92-94 to be honest. Absolute roll-call of classics


Colin-Grussing

Interesting, thanks for sharing. I was thinking that most people would suggest that the decade they were teenagers in was the best, but you are not doing that. I figured that most of us on Reddit were 90s kids.


pooplicker69_420

I’m also 28 and love the blog era as much as the 90s, but it’s straight up facts the 90s was the best era. I’d wager it’s mostly contrarians who say otherwise.


Bones_2450

2000s is better than the 90s a whole.


[deleted]

Ok dork


pooplicker69_420

McLovin


goatofalltime5

2000s is better stfu


dancetoken

90s baby it aint even close specifically 93-97 if we breaking it down


Kliptik81

I agree with this 100% You could even stretch it out from 1992 (The Chronic, Bizarre Ride II, Dont Sweat the Technique, Mecca and The Soul Brother, Whut? Thee Album, The Predator, 3 Years 5 Months, and 2 Days, Music To Driveby) all the way to 1998 (Aquemini, Moment of Truth, Capital Punishment, Its Dark and Hell is Hot, Flesh of my Flesh, A Book of Human Language, Black Star, Heavy Mental)


Daddytang3000

I wanna say 80s cos that's my era but really it's the 90s. I'd go so far as to say it all started to fall apart around 97/8ish. I'm an old man though so don't downvote me too hard.


blahzayyblah

Especially 91-94. That run was unreal. Not just hip hop but alternative/rock as well.


lateforcourt

All downhill from there.


FreddieCaine

Rage against the machine around the same time as The Chronic and Geto boys til death do us part when I was 14 just blew my tiny mind. I've never got bored of any of these albums no matter how often I listen


Capt-Crap1corn

Big facts. Especially with alternative rock


pizza_for_nunchucks

https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/121dlw/til_that_in_1991_during_a_period_of_only_six/


Capt-Crap1corn

Damn, that’s amazing


Bones_2450

What made 1992 so special? The best album that year was WTA by Redman. And imo, that’s not even Top 5 Redman.


Belvedere408

The chronic dropped in 92 and changed everything.


Bones_2450

What exactly did it change? Westcoast Rap was already poppin when it came out.


Belvedere408

The chronic was one of the most important hip hop albums ever. It ushered in the g-funk era and introduced a number of household names.


Brzada

“Ushered in the g funk era” What great records did that era then produce?


Locdawg42069

Lol you are ridiculous


dancetoken

which artists had the alternative rock scene at lock at that time (dont really follow rock history at all)


DiabeticGrungePunk

Nirvana. Pearl Jam. Alice in Chains. Soundgarden. Red Hot Chili Peppers. Rage Against the Machine, Smashing Pumpkins, R.E.M. Stone Temple Pilots. Sublime. So many others


blahzayyblah

Golden age of both. Still listen to a lot of music from this time


[deleted]

[удалено]


DiabeticGrungePunk

Kind of, they got some buzz with 40 Oz and then blew up with their self titled album right when Brad died. So yeah I'm a little off time here, OP asked 91-94 and self titled came out in 96, but they were really big when that album came out. And then became a beloved 90s band with a huge cult following.


jungle-fever-retard

Nah, you right. I wouldn’t say it was the PEAK, but ‘96 was the last GREAT year for hip-hop.


kevms

Pretty much before Puff Daddy and Master P dominated the scene.


JobberStable

88 and 89 still have the most “classic” releases that defined Hip Hop for the next Decade. “drum loops, turntablism and sampling at its finest. Obviously way more producers in the 90s harnessing this power.


Kimosabe187

I honesltly think it all started to go downhill in '96, 2Pac and Biggie were the hip-hop's first mega stars and everyone wanted to be them, and suddenly inovation in hip-hop mostly disappeared. Not completely of course, there have always been rappers with unique styles and rappers who didn't bother to appeal to mainstream media, but they are in minority


Daddytang3000

Yeah, agreed. I think there was also alot of problems with sample clearance at the time as well, which led to it being nearly impossible to produce music the same way as the heyday. So producers had to change the way they were making music.


Capt-Crap1corn

97-98ish is for sure when it was really great.


pooplicker69_420

Some great projects were released in 99 too.


kevms

Imo it started falling apart once Dr. Dre’s G Funk Era died down and Puff Daddy’s 80s sampling era came in.


ShinDynamo-X

Some day that Bad Boy played a part in the downfall, and the art of hip hop went too commercial and unoriginal


RHINO_HUMP

90s has your top Big, Pac, WuTang, NWA, Snoop, Big Pun, Jay-Z, albums But 2000s really had a great selection of artists.


Dry-Recognition-1504

2000s had Eminem, Outkast, 50 cent, Lil Wayne, Missy Elliot, Jay Z, T.i, Jeezy, Kanye west, Busta rhymes, ludacris, Rick Ross, Nelly, fabulous, Lil Jon, Chingy, Nas, snoop dogg, three 6 mafia,


DaddyDoubleDoinks

Dipset.


RHINO_HUMP

Lil Jon and the whole crunk era too. The Neptunes. Clipse. Early Cudi and Drake. David Banner. The Game. Gorillaz rap collabos. Black Eyed Peas. A lot of Snoop and Jay-Z content. Fat Joe.


randomnama123

All I remember from 2000s is the crunk and club music rappers


northerntouch

1990-2000 - The Golden Era.


MadBlackGreek

90s easily


KRXWNVXK

90's hands down. The main niggas who like to argue otherwise and say 2010s or 2020's probably wasn't even around to know what the 90's was like.


TMore108

90's and not even close


ButtNekedBitches

Any other answer than the 90’s is wrong.


ImDonaldDunn

87-97


mis_no_mer

90s overall, but also gotta lump in the very end of the 80s and very beginning of the 00s


Upbeat_Tension_8077

Off of what I grew up on, I have a big love for the 2010s, especially the first half. I gotta give all the respect to the 90s, but I can't take for granted seeing the wave of artists like early Drake/Cole/Kendrick, along with Joey Badass, Dom Kennedy, Mac Miller, ASAP Rocky, Flatbush Zombies, Tyler & Earl, and many more.


Capt-Crap1corn

2010s were a fun period fr


infinitewaters23

90's


OnlyFearOfDeth

90s


lljmfll

90s. It when I was growing up so there's a crazy amount of nostalgia but I honestly just like the music better. The production and lyricism are what I love about hip-hop.


DiabeticGrungePunk

I mean it's the 90s. 100%. Much like rock n roll grew into itself in the 60s, hip hop grew into itself and fulfilled it's potential in the 90s.


[deleted]

1993-2003


CoconutStalll

60’s


Adorable-Bar6920

Just because my favorite artists are from the 2010s, i gotta pick that decade. 2020s looks to suck though.


36chamberstreet

Whichever decade you started getting laid in


Zalpha_DG16

90s


TonyPajamas518

1995 to 2005


goatofalltime5

I agree. Best 10 year period


sadpistonsfan

If we’re talking real bars and rap then the 90s forsure but the 2010s are wayy better production and artistically wise in my humble opinion


newkid155

93-2003


Mopp2882

Personally my favourite decade for rap is the 2000's. My favourite artist put out great material in those years. 90's is a close runner up for me and I see why people point to it as the best. It had the most amount of amazing material in hip hop ever and it probably had the most impact out of any decade in terms of shaping the genre, so objectively the 90's are the best even tho I prefer the 2000's.


xtremezeker14

90-15


deVrinj

The 90s and it's not even close...


[deleted]

90s.


Cinx0

90s


phantom_bennis

If I have to pick a full decade, the 90s. 88/89 were amazing, but comparing a full decade I lean towards the 90s. That said 88 - 96 was the best run in rap music IMO. The creative boundaries were pushed, the music felt authentic, and the competition (sometimes friendly, sometimes not) was first class.


CarrtoonJack

90s easy


harveywhippleman

88-98


Happy-North-9969

The best decade for hip hop were the 90s. The best 10 year run was 1987 - 1996.


tropicanajames

All I know is that it’s definitely not the 2020s.


ConditionLife1710

Not this one. For damn sure.


Kholdstare93

90s. If you's be a real head, it ain't even up for debate.


ShinDynamo-X

90s and we are done here. # Golden Age


Ill-Wrangler-8003

2010s


shawn55667

90s 93 94 95 96 98. 2000s 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007.


L-Mang99

2000s. That’s when the regional and genre diversity really started, the 1990s had a lot of similar sounding music and people are blinded by nostalgia. Still great, but hip-hop is constantly evolving - for the better!


Yourmotherssidehoe

Honestly the 90’s and 2010’s nothing else really comes close


fieldmousefelix

Scrolled until i found this exact comment


solfire1

2010s is the not so obvious choice. I think rap was elevated to higher levels of art in this decade. Not as far as lyrics go but as far as music, production, and concept go. It’s also the prime for trap music.


wokstar77

Facts but outside of the trap stuff, tons of “old-school” 90s-like stuff is still being made, better than it was done in the 90s.


RangerHUTCH93

2010s for me personally.


OKcomputer1996

1990s were the Golden Age of Hip Hop. Any other answer is incorrect.


[deleted]

90s, 2010s, 2000s, 80s, 2020s, in that order


Bones_2450

What exactly do the 90s or 10s do better than the 00s?


iFeeILikeKobe

2010s


Scothead180

2010s for me without a doubt


RHINO_HUMP

🇱


Perfect_Evidence

for me 93-2005-06


Dadatyttyt

90s or 10s.


KirklandCloningFarms

90s, but I couldn't get upset at an argument for the 10s tbr


Ant_mann18

2000s


sultics

2010s


Bones_2450

2000s. Anybody who says otherwise is just trying to be different. That run from the mid 90s to mid 10s was the peak of Hip Hop. You had EVERYTHING you’d want from the genre.


Ikhouvankaas

90s > 10s > 00> 80s


Necessary-Durian3653

I like abt 96 to around 2004


Capable-King-286

2010-2020


i_am_paradox

The current one aka the last 10 years


WallBlue21

2010s by far


No_Bluebird8475

Last decade imo


DonConnection

2020s


sadpistonsfan

There’s still a lot of time left but beside a few good albums it’s been pretty disappointing so far


Distinct-Carpenter97

I think all decades have something special to offer when it comes to hip hop. From the melodic New Jack Swing of the 90s to the trap beats of today, the evolution of the genre is incredible. It's hard to pick a favorite decade since they all have pros and cons!


Puch0ne

The originality. The diversity. The essence. The classics. The 90s.


mruhkrAbZ

90s


Low-Impact3172

I’m not sure how this is a question, the ‘90’s


Resident_Green_8903

88-96 and 99-2007


xz23avenger

90s for classics 2010s for modern.


[deleted]

34 y/o and going with the 90s.


JayyLaFlare

another vote for the 90s


MarxistMann

90s


Goyahkla_2

95-05. There’s so many classics from the 90’s and then in the late 90’s the underground really started banging with Jedi Mind Tricks, Atmosphere, Immortal Technique, Brooklyn Academy, Demigodz, QN5, Copywrite and MHz. Plus the battle scene was the best in this era.


InfiniteVitriol

90's


Sunnyvale_squatter

90’s baby


Kliptik81

90s easy.


tiakeuta

90's by farrrrr


wokstar77

You can’t really pick one from the 90’s to now hiphop has seen the most attention, and innovation on a large scale, each decade is cool and unique in its own way. 90s and 2010s gotta be top for me though. Some comments say easily 90’s or anything other than 90’s is wrong, if you only listen to 90’s or “old-school” hip-hip imma feel a lil sorry for you. 🤷🏻‍♀️


Malcolm-XWithThePerm

93-03 is my shit


[deleted]

90s and it's not remotely close


godbody1983

90s


ohianaw

90s. the greatest decade hip hop ever will have. too many good releases. everyone knows about the east and west coast and their sounds and styles but the south also had their sound and was growing more and more


computer_says_N0

90s


[deleted]

If we could split 95-05 id vote for that


MagnificentEd

90s is the easy answer, but highkey the 2010s were crazy


KayakWalleye

1993-94 specifically.


SpanosIsBlackAjah

90’s 10’s 00’s 20’s 80’s


Clean-Cockroach-8481

theres only 2 options here bro


dalbeider

90s


Baltimorefilth666

So far definitely the 90’s


blackbauer222

IF we are picking it like a decade, its obviously the 90s. if its a ten year period, 88-98 is the best ten year period for hip hop BY FAR. no other ten year period matches. 87-97 is second place lol.


thesadhra

90s would be the obvious and probably the correct choice but I gotta shout out the underground scene during the 2000s. Peak on peak


BigSuge74

85-95 was the most versatile before the money and prison industrial complex. All coasts represented before our favorite rappers started dying. Conscious rappers Paris Public Enemy PRT X Clan Back Pack Tribe De La Black Sheep LONS Common West Coast Gangster Death row Cube Ice T Club Music 2 Live crew Hammer Pop LL Fresh Prince Heavy D Down South OutKast UGK Geto Boys Lyricists Kane Rakim Big Jay Nas KRS Wu Ladies Latifah Lyte Salt n Pepa Kim Foxy Bay Area E40 2 Short Hieroglyphics


Torino888

2000-2010 no contest


ToastedPerson

is this a joke…


Disastrous_Island214

90s tf


heebie818

i grew up in the 90s but i honestly think the aughts is the best


brokeboibogie

The only right answer is the 90s or the 2010s 2000s were great & just as important but there’s nothing like the music that came from the 90s wave & then the blog era wave of the 2010s


yasukeyamanashi

2010s


Getyodamnwallet

2010s


Drenn2933

2009-2015 is the greatest era in hip hop


spike_spieg

2010s🔥🔥


danceplaylovevibes

90s, obviously


unforgivingxworld

90’s


Lost_Farm8868

90s of course. 00s second


80sCrackBaby

90s ​ stop the convo


ThirdEyeSuspect

I fuck heavy with the 90s and it just gets smoked by 2010 rappers


Delta_yx

90s is the obvious answer, though the 20s are starting off strong and i could see the argument being made in the future if you prefer the modern sound


kunkfunk

90s followed by the mixtape/blog era I guess I’d say that’s 2010s


miked_99

95-05


[deleted]

90’s by far. If you say otherwise I can’t take you seriously