As the 1990s began, Hip Hop experienced a surge of creativity, building on the progress made in the 80s. Our 1990 Hip Hop playlist, featuring around 700 songs and over 45 hours of music, brings together every essential album from that pivotal year, if available on Spotify.

1990 saw legendary releases that pushed Hip Hop to new heights. Public Enemy’s Fear of a Black Planet tackled racial issues with fierce intensity, while Ice Cube’s solo debut AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted combined West Coast storytelling with East Coast production from The Bomb Squad. Political themes were further explored by Paris on The Devil Made Me Do It and Poor Righteous Teachers with Holy Intellect, while Brand Nubian and X-Clan pushed Afrocentric ideas to the forefront.

A Tribe Called Quest’s People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm introduced a jazzy, alternative style, and LL Cool J silenced his critics with Mama Said Knock You Out. Other essential releases included Eric B. & Rakim’s Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em, EPMD’s Business As Usual, and Kool G Rap & DJ Polo’s Wanted: Dead or Alive. On the West Coast, Above the Law, Too Short, and Compton’s Most Wanted contributed to the development of the West Coast sound.

This playlist represents a rich tapestry of Hip Hop’s evolution, offering fans a comprehensive dive into one of the genre’s most exciting years. From politically conscious anthems to gritty street narratives, the music from 1990 set the stage for the decade ahead.