Rap has taken the music world by storm since it’s debut. The following are the top ten superstars and powerhouses of 1990’s rap music.
• Salt-n-Peppa
• Originated in the late 1980’s as the first all-female rap group.
• Cheryl ‘Salt’ James and Sandy ‘Pepa’ Denton worked at Sears in Queens, New York when they were approached to rap.
• Most notable hits were “Push It,” “Shake your Thang,” “Shoop,””Let’s Talk about Sex,” “None of Your Business” and “WHatta Man.”
• My favorites songs have always been “Shoop” and “WHatta Man” I love the lyrics to “WHatta Man” how they are praising their man for all the wonderful things he does and is. It’s a rap love song.
• They won a Grammy for Best Rap Performance in 1995.
• Currently they are not performing together instead are working on individual projects.
• http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/salt_n_pepa/bio.jhtml
• First hit in 1997 with “The Rain.”
• By 1999 she was collaborating with other artists and appearing on commercials for products.
• In 2001 her CD Miss E…So Addictive was released to rave reviews and huge sales.
• Missy’s music is hard to resist. When the music comes on in a club you have to dance. When you are in the shower you have to sing. I love her “Get Ur Freak On” and “One Minute Man” songs just because they were fun songs with a beat that was original and unique to the time.
• http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/elliott_missy/bio.jhtml
• LL Cool J
• He began his career in 1985 with the song, “I Can’t Live Without my Radio.”
• His style became more of a party and ‘occasionally sappy’ rap which was drastically different from the prevailing rap music in the early 1990’s.
• His biggest hit is, “Mama Said Knock You Out.” This made him a rap superstar.
• His versatility in the music world translated into a booming movie career.
• He performed for Bill Clinton’s Presidential inauguration in 1993.
• He has released several singles and albums since “Mama Said Knock You Out” but this is the song he will always be known for.
• http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/ll_cool_j/bio.jhtml
• Juvenile
• Born in New Orleans, Louisiana as Terius Gray.
• He began performing as a teenager.
• In 1995 he joined Warlock and released an album titled “Being Myself.”
• Then He met Cash Money owners and began to record for them. He had 1996’s “Solja Rags.” Tha G-Code” and “Project English.”
• Juvenile started his own label UTP in 2002 but quickly went back to Cash Money and released “Juve the Great” which is his greatest work to date. It has my favorite song “Slow Motion on it.
• http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/juvenile/bio.jhtml
• Ja Rule
• Released his debut album in 1999 entitled “Vetti Vecci.”
• Ja Rule quickly became the main star for Irv Gotti’s Murder Inc. label.
• He showed his thug side in many songs so that he would appeal to the male demographic and then he had the love duet songs that appealed to the females. He was on top of the game.
• Some of my favorite songs are “I Cry,” “Put it on me,” “Always on Time,” “Mesmerize” and “Thug Lovin.”
• http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/ja_rule/bio.jhtml
• Queen Latifa
• She was the first feminist rapper.
• Her third album “Black Reign” was the first album to ever by a female rapper to ever go gold.
• She quickly branched out from music into television and movies.
• She won a Grammy for her song “U.N.I.T.Y.” which is what I always think of when I hear her name.
• http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/queen_latifah/bio.jhtml
• He is one of the funniest rappers around.
• In 1990 he formed Leaders of the New School.
• In 1996 he broke out on his own with his songs that he is still famous for, “Woo-Hah!! Got you all in check.”
• His career has had many ups and downs. He has been in several duets that received a lot of air time. He does have a new album coming out this year.
• http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/rhymes_busta/bio.jhtml
• Snoop Dogg was gangsta rap.
• He released Doggystyle in 1993 and it was hugely successful however legal troubles kept him from following up to that success.
• In 1997 Snoop revamped his image and began collaborating with other artists.
• He continues to revamp his image as he is now a reality television star.
• http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/snoop_dogg/bio.jhtml
• They are the longest running rap groups of all time. They wrote the rules of how it works.
• They rapped about social problems that plagued the black community.
• http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/public_enemy/bio.jhtml
• Redman
• Redman burst into the scene in 1992 with “Whut? Thee Album.”
• He is influenced by reggae and funk.
• Often Redman is quite silly in his raps and his videos.
• He released albums nearly every two years after his debut.
• My favorite is the duet he did with Christina Aguilera “Dirrty.”
• http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/redman/bio.jhtml
Rap music icons of the 1990’s are still making wonderful music. It’s amazing to look back and see how things have changed.
Resources other than noted within the article:
http://www.vibe.com/bestrapperever/
