A
anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
Guest
A few folks were interested in this category in the Drake v. Meek Mills thread but I don't expect a ton of participation. Having said that, 90's rap was, IMO, rap's golden years. Also, I was in HS at the time and those songs tend to stick with you a lot more at that age. Anyway, here are the rules/considerations....
1. Three votes per person.
2. This is a very difficult and tricky category because there are a lot of guys who were part of a group but who also had solo acts. So a group like NWA wouldn't qualify because their biggest album, Straight Outta Compton, came out in the late 80's. But, Ice Cube and Dr. Dre get a spot because they both had albums that defined the 90's rap music scene.
In addition, some acts had great albums in the very early 90's, but were mostly big in the 80's (Eric B and Rakim), so I left them off. In addition, I really wanted to get Missy Elliott on this list but her best work was in the early 00's IMO. Of course, I know rap purists (are there any on this board??) will have a lot to say about the 'skill' of some of these guys, so I tried to balance the ballot with popular, beat oriented artists (Dre) as well as more pure, technique driven acts (Nas) - with everything in between.
EDIT: I realize I left Jay Z off this list, but he was a bit late to the game in the 90's (though before Eminem). So, when it came down to Jay Z vs. Eminem for the last spot, I went for the one with more talent..... But, write him in if you like.
Note, we're not voting on 'best rap album' or anything, but the group or artist had to have one important one int he 90's for consideration.
3. Write-in's welcome!
1. Dr. Dre - 'The Chronic'
2. Wu-Tang Clan - 'Enter the Wu-Tang Clan: 36 Chambers'
3. A Tribe Called Quest - 'The Low End Theory'
4. Public Enemy - 'Fear of a Black Planet'
5. Beastie Boys - 'Check Your Head'
6. Ice Cube - 'AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted'
7. Notorious B.I.G. - 'Ready to Die'
8. 2Pac - 'All Eyez On Me'
9. Nas - 'Illmatic'
10. Eminem - 'The Slim Shady LP'
1. Three votes per person.
2. This is a very difficult and tricky category because there are a lot of guys who were part of a group but who also had solo acts. So a group like NWA wouldn't qualify because their biggest album, Straight Outta Compton, came out in the late 80's. But, Ice Cube and Dr. Dre get a spot because they both had albums that defined the 90's rap music scene.
In addition, some acts had great albums in the very early 90's, but were mostly big in the 80's (Eric B and Rakim), so I left them off. In addition, I really wanted to get Missy Elliott on this list but her best work was in the early 00's IMO. Of course, I know rap purists (are there any on this board??) will have a lot to say about the 'skill' of some of these guys, so I tried to balance the ballot with popular, beat oriented artists (Dre) as well as more pure, technique driven acts (Nas) - with everything in between.
EDIT: I realize I left Jay Z off this list, but he was a bit late to the game in the 90's (though before Eminem). So, when it came down to Jay Z vs. Eminem for the last spot, I went for the one with more talent..... But, write him in if you like.
Note, we're not voting on 'best rap album' or anything, but the group or artist had to have one important one int he 90's for consideration.
3. Write-in's welcome!
1. Dr. Dre - 'The Chronic'
2. Wu-Tang Clan - 'Enter the Wu-Tang Clan: 36 Chambers'
3. A Tribe Called Quest - 'The Low End Theory'
4. Public Enemy - 'Fear of a Black Planet'
5. Beastie Boys - 'Check Your Head'
6. Ice Cube - 'AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted'
7. Notorious B.I.G. - 'Ready to Die'
8. 2Pac - 'All Eyez On Me'
9. Nas - 'Illmatic'
10. Eminem - 'The Slim Shady LP'