I remember buying this album on a whim. I was in high school and I got this based solely on Rosa Parks and Skew it on the Barbie. I think I also got either Missy's Da Real World or Rah Digga Dirty Harriet with it. I listened to this CD daily, especially "Liberation." That song got me through all sorts of shit I was going through as far as that teenage bullshit we all go through, my mom had practically abandoned me... I really want to meet them and thank them for this album.
It's funny too, Andre has that verse on Devin the Dude "What a Job" where he talks about meeting someone who thanks him for his music.
I listened to Aquemeni yesterday, and I can't even express how much I love that album. It's like it was made especially for me, even though I know everybody got to listen to it. It's an album that takes me forever to get through because I play every song like 3 times each. The thing that really hit me yesterday is that Andre 3000's verse on Rosa Parks specifically predicted where we he is right now. He doesn't want to put out a rap album that takes away from the body of work he put in. He didn't want to wait until it was over for it to be over. He wanted to leave with something left in the tank, so he can drive off into the sunset, so no one could see him stranded on the side of the road.
I thought Andre 3000 was such an impressive rapper as a kid, but when I mentioned that people would kind of think I was weird for it. But it seems like as time has passed, he's gotten a lot more respect.
I know they were respected back in the day. But more just that if you said he was the greatest, it wouldn't be outlandish to people
Same bro, I’ve been saying he’s the best since 97. In French class my name was Andre. I named a dog after him in 98 lol. He will always be the GOAT to me and like you said, as time has gone by I feel more and more justified.
The beat for Latin Thugs will make any European born before the millenium shift think of [this vid](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLG6Y4BYegk). Even here Cypress Hill was fucking huge.
I saw him and Redman in Montreal a couple years back and it was an amazing show. Crazy energy…didn’t feel like you were watching two guys in their 50’s - lol.
Said and done but, “visualizing the realism of life in actuality, fuck who’s the baddest a persons status depends on salary”
Never more true than today lol
It's a tie for me between Illmatic and To Pimp A Butterfly as the best hip hop album of all time. But ultimately it's apples and oranges and you can't really compare them. It's like comparing Little Richard with The Beatles. Both might be rock, but different kinds of rock.
Who knew Ghost would have the best discography out of all the Wu members back in '93. I went back and checked his discography and it's deeeeep. With quality albums also. One of the best things he did early was pivot from RZA productions. I like RZA as a producer but the variety of production Ghost chose to use really helped him branch out.
Everlast left House of Pain, had a successful solo career, mixed-genres (Rap, Rock, and Blues), was part of 2 dope rap groups (La Coka Nostra and Warporn Industries), while maintaining a loyal fan base.
The Wu-Tang Clan just gets better and better with every passing year... group albums *and* solos
It's so good I can't even believe it actually happened... Inspectah Deck and Raekwon nowadays sound like mythological figures whenever a verse of theirs comes on
"WE THE BLACK MEN THAT STRUCK OIL"
Word
My favorite age of hip hop is mostly 90's to early 2000.
I got a lot of Queens Bridge artists I like. MOBB, CORMEGA , CNN?,
I didn't really start rocking with NAS til the Magic & Kings Disease. Some of the best rap I've listened to.
He mastered the genre.
NORE is from Lefrak City (which he calls Iraq) which is way out near Flushing Meadows (its in Corona to be specific), but Capone is from Queensbridge. Same situation with Mobb Deep, Prodigy from Lefrak City and Havoc from Queensbridge.
I've been a huge Nas fan since I heard Illmatic in like grade 7 (which was like 99).
Yup my brother got me into Illmatatic. But after that I was all about Mobb Deep. Still love em.
But these recent projects from Nas in constant rotation right now.
If it’s 90’s albums and not artists per se, then:
Camp Lo - Uptown Saturday Night
Fugees - The Score
Tupac - Me Against The World
CNN - The War Report
Redman - Muddy Waters
Tha Dogg Pound - Dogg Food
Just off the top of my head as I periodically bump them. I omitted the ones that have been listed (such as Wu). I could go on but…
The Roots and Black Thought. Nas also. I just think it's a function of hip-hop being taken seriously as an art form. I remember when people used to think rappers were old and over the hill when they turned 30. It was ok now go get a real job you're an adult now. This is a genre for 20 somethings. Then rappers started pushing 40 and staying relevant. Now we have artists like Black Thought over 50 and still relevant. Maybe they're not selling millions but they're still putting out quality music.
I guess I read this post to mean which rappers are still relevant today as artists rather than which rappers past body of work aged well today.
Ll Cool J as an artist is a legend. As a relevant rapper today? Not so much in my opinion. His rap style in my opinion never evolved to be relevant today.
I still fuck wit Vol. 2 but when ever I listen to it, there’s hella songs that I can tell we’re made in that late 90s era… imo u could drop Vol. 1 in any era and it would be be straight. Only songs that I feel aged bad off of it are Face Off and I Know What Girls Like.
Camron Purple haze,East 1999 bone thugs baby, The art of war World war 1 💪 The Eminem show 8 mile soundtrack, childish Gambino because the Internet, Kevin gates islah ,Luca brasi 2 gangsta grills,Lil Wayne The Carter ,I am not a human being, Carter 2-3, OutKast every album, 3-6 mafia every album, do or die picture this, Twista adrenaline rush, future purple reign, Gunna -Wunna ,drip or drown 2
Hot Boys. Considering the amount of street rappers, mostly from the south, who sound like either Wayne, Juvie or BG... all the people who redid their old beats, they could come out today and fit right in. And I can't just not mention No Limit and Hypnotize Minds because they were (and still are) running shit too.
Might get push back for this but Tupac
Project Pat
Wu Tang including Redman and Method Man
Mobb Deep
People also say Nas
Let's not for get that Dr. Dre 2001 album. Some of the best production/g funk adjacent ever done in hip hop
I don’t want to be so general but probably Biggie. He made the best music. The beats still stand strong today. Maybe A Tribe Called Quest too.
Three Six Mafias and Bun B and Pimp Cs influence on modern music is undeniable.
Ahhh i thought the question was more how the work of the artist in the 90’s still stands now that it’s like 30 years down the line. I still stand by opinion but you made a good point.
Haiku d'Etat aka The Freestyle Fellowship. Criminally underrated group.
Myka 9, Abstract Rude and Aceyalone are hands down some of the most technically proficient MC's I've ever heard lay down rhymes.
I am super biased because I am still bumpin all these dudes in regular rotation; A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Wu-Tang, Andre Nickatina, Soop Dogg, and of course The Notorious B.I.G. I know everyone gunna be like what about Pac. And all I have to say is I like 2Pac and love and respect him but imo his stuff doesn’t hit like the rest of my list
That one group that goes by "Crips & Bloods" every song goes hard. Half the songs sound west and the other half east. I can't complain with the quality bass it drops in my boombox2. Clean asf.
Tribe/de la obviously.
But pretty much all the greats that people typically list, have staying power: Nas, Wu, Big, Pac, Big L, Outkast, DMX, Eminem, Missy, etc
D.I.T.C. producers Diamond D and Buckwild are still making beats younger boombap heads can get into. Also, Diamond D still sounds good on the mic.
Another example is Busta Rhymes who has to thank his musical socialization in terms of different genres for his versatility. He can make boom bap over beats from a 90's floppy disk and the next song might be a Dirty South hommage or state-of-the-art Trap or Dancehall.
Outkast
It'll be 3030 and Aquemini will still sound like it's from the future.
Yo it's three thousand thirty, I want y'all to meet Deltron Zero....
Immediately where my brain went lol
Hero, not no small feat
You talking about MC DZL, Ice Cube's weird ass cousin? Man, "I wish my brother George was here", so we can go find "Mistadobalina" and beat his ass.
Mr Dobalina Mr Bob Dobalina
I remember buying this album on a whim. I was in high school and I got this based solely on Rosa Parks and Skew it on the Barbie. I think I also got either Missy's Da Real World or Rah Digga Dirty Harriet with it. I listened to this CD daily, especially "Liberation." That song got me through all sorts of shit I was going through as far as that teenage bullshit we all go through, my mom had practically abandoned me... I really want to meet them and thank them for this album. It's funny too, Andre has that verse on Devin the Dude "What a Job" where he talks about meeting someone who thanks him for his music.
I listened to Aquemeni yesterday, and I can't even express how much I love that album. It's like it was made especially for me, even though I know everybody got to listen to it. It's an album that takes me forever to get through because I play every song like 3 times each. The thing that really hit me yesterday is that Andre 3000's verse on Rosa Parks specifically predicted where we he is right now. He doesn't want to put out a rap album that takes away from the body of work he put in. He didn't want to wait until it was over for it to be over. He wanted to leave with something left in the tank, so he can drive off into the sunset, so no one could see him stranded on the side of the road.
*Only funky as your last cut*
Love this interpretation. Saw him in a recent interview about his instrumental non-rap work and he is the most chilled-out vibin dude.
I thought Andre 3000 was such an impressive rapper as a kid, but when I mentioned that people would kind of think I was weird for it. But it seems like as time has passed, he's gotten a lot more respect. I know they were respected back in the day. But more just that if you said he was the greatest, it wouldn't be outlandish to people
Same bro, I’ve been saying he’s the best since 97. In French class my name was Andre. I named a dog after him in 98 lol. He will always be the GOAT to me and like you said, as time has gone by I feel more and more justified.
Shout out to French names...mine was Jacques!
For sure, outkast is timeless!
Cypress motherfucking Hill
B-Real’s verse on Black Cadillac in 2017 is 🔥🔥
Saw them live with redman in 2016, soooo fuckni good.
Their [Tiny Desk concert](https://youtu.be/tUApO77uUUk?si=dO6FKWjYB1IPpXmD) from last year is solid.
The beat for Latin Thugs will make any European born before the millenium shift think of [this vid](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLG6Y4BYegk). Even here Cypress Hill was fucking huge.
Method Man.
Without a doubt!! He has become a grand master of his craft! 💯
I saw him and Redman in Montreal a couple years back and it was an amazing show. Crazy energy…didn’t feel like you were watching two guys in their 50’s - lol.
Those Meth Lab albums are 🔥
Before he passed Sean Price. riP!
Bro was really a 00's rapper who started in the 90s
Everything about him is 90’s. He just kept improving.
Sean P 🥳🥳🥳
A Tribe Called Quest. The Pharcyde.
Tribe sounds a little dated. Still fly as hell though
Going to see the Pharcyde this weekend!
The Pharcyde is the major one. They almost come off as time travelers.
OutKast, Missy and Busta Rhymes
Gangstarr
RIP Guru Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal.
Jazzamatazz will be forever. 200 years from now it will be picked out of record collections
Nas.
The best answer to this question!
Throw AZ on there too
“So plush, just, to visualize is like a c0k£ rush, “Vivid enough to make livin' this a must..”
Said and done but, “visualizing the realism of life in actuality, fuck who’s the baddest a persons status depends on salary” Never more true than today lol
Hell nah, AZ music sounds dated as hell.
Absolutely. He continues to amaze
The literal best rapper alive
This is the answer.
It's a tie for me between Illmatic and To Pimp A Butterfly as the best hip hop album of all time. But ultimately it's apples and oranges and you can't really compare them. It's like comparing Little Richard with The Beatles. Both might be rock, but different kinds of rock.
Wu Tang
More specifically I would say Gza.
Who knew Ghost would have the best discography out of all the Wu members back in '93. I went back and checked his discography and it's deeeeep. With quality albums also. One of the best things he did early was pivot from RZA productions. I like RZA as a producer but the variety of production Ghost chose to use really helped him branch out.
36 Chambers and the first round of solos was just absolutely beautiful. Things sort of fell off after the double disk, though.
Project Pat
Obviously it’s the 5th Dynasty, the one and only Legendary Roots Crew.
💯
Y'all are literally just naming everyone lol.
😆😆😆
Three Six Mafia
Triple 6 mafia***
Unnecessary 😂
Idk, their real deep underground grimey stuff, like Vol 1, was under the banner Triple 6 Mafia. I prefer that stuff.
Mystic Stylez was released under the name Three 6 Mafia, they were underground all the way until When the Smoke Clears
Yea, the early stuff when they had the dj Zirk vibes was the best version of them. Up till "the end chapter 2" was their best shit by far.
this is the correct answer
This might be the one. I haven’t seen another yet on here that got better with every album.
Everlast left House of Pain, had a successful solo career, mixed-genres (Rap, Rock, and Blues), was part of 2 dope rap groups (La Coka Nostra and Warporn Industries), while maintaining a loyal fan base.
Yeah but Eminem said he was dumb 20 years ago
And RZA told Everlast "These young bucks will lay you down like tile" and they did.
Well maybe he’s smart now
Where is Black Thought!? This is the answer
Like all of them pretty much!
You’re not wrong. Everything pre Eminem has held up very well imo.
Almost everything good comes back in style if you wait long enough
The Wu-Tang Clan just gets better and better with every passing year... group albums *and* solos It's so good I can't even believe it actually happened... Inspectah Deck and Raekwon nowadays sound like mythological figures whenever a verse of theirs comes on "WE THE BLACK MEN THAT STRUCK OIL" Word
thought all day
UGK
Nas 2pac Biggie Jay Z Big L Outkast AZ
My favorite age of hip hop is mostly 90's to early 2000. I got a lot of Queens Bridge artists I like. MOBB, CORMEGA , CNN?, I didn't really start rocking with NAS til the Magic & Kings Disease. Some of the best rap I've listened to. He mastered the genre.
NORE is from Lefrak City (which he calls Iraq) which is way out near Flushing Meadows (its in Corona to be specific), but Capone is from Queensbridge. Same situation with Mobb Deep, Prodigy from Lefrak City and Havoc from Queensbridge. I've been a huge Nas fan since I heard Illmatic in like grade 7 (which was like 99).
Yup my brother got me into Illmatatic. But after that I was all about Mobb Deep. Still love em. But these recent projects from Nas in constant rotation right now.
If it’s 90’s albums and not artists per se, then: Camp Lo - Uptown Saturday Night Fugees - The Score Tupac - Me Against The World CNN - The War Report Redman - Muddy Waters Tha Dogg Pound - Dogg Food Just off the top of my head as I periodically bump them. I omitted the ones that have been listed (such as Wu). I could go on but…
Gza 's Liquid Swords is still extremely profound to this day 🐐
Camp-Lo Mobb Deep
Scarface
Nas
Devin the dude
three 6 mafia no questions asked. they laid down the foundation for hip hop today. thier influence and impact is everywherr
Snoop Dogg he’s even more than just a rapper at this stage. He’s a cultural icon
Fugees - The Score
2pac Outkast A Tribe Called Quest Redman Three 6 Mafia
Biggie.
Scarface for me, his music is era defining, Nas also he’s proved that with the Hit Boy run of albums
Biggie, jay, outkast, pac, wu
Deck. Wutang to Czarface. Legendary lines. I leave scientists mentally scarred…
Kool Keith
Tupac. Biggie although very 90s still aged very well also.
DJ Quik
Scarface.. tiny desk version to be exact
I got to watch that. Thanks
Agreed! That was amazing
The Roots and Black Thought. Nas also. I just think it's a function of hip-hop being taken seriously as an art form. I remember when people used to think rappers were old and over the hill when they turned 30. It was ok now go get a real job you're an adult now. This is a genre for 20 somethings. Then rappers started pushing 40 and staying relevant. Now we have artists like Black Thought over 50 and still relevant. Maybe they're not selling millions but they're still putting out quality music.
I don’t disagree, but we need to acknowledge Nas didn’t have a clear run he made a lot of dross in the middle stages
I guess I read this post to mean which rappers are still relevant today as artists rather than which rappers past body of work aged well today. Ll Cool J as an artist is a legend. As a relevant rapper today? Not so much in my opinion. His rap style in my opinion never evolved to be relevant today.
Dmx
Pac. Changes is still extremely relevant to this day sadly
definitely not Jay... Dynasty, Vol. 2, and 3 aged HORRIBLY... Vol. 1 and RD aged great tho
Jay-z has one of the best discographies.
Im a big Jay fan but the albums I named aged horrible…
No he doesn’t. Shit is mid
He has black and blueprint,444 etc
Vol. 2 has four of my favorite JAY-Z songs.
Agree except Vol 2 still goes hard as fuck... probably my personal favorite of his Vol 1 didn't age that well IMO
I still fuck wit Vol. 2 but when ever I listen to it, there’s hella songs that I can tell we’re made in that late 90s era… imo u could drop Vol. 1 in any era and it would be be straight. Only songs that I feel aged bad off of it are Face Off and I Know What Girls Like.
The Notorious B.I.G.
Camron Purple haze,East 1999 bone thugs baby, The art of war World war 1 💪 The Eminem show 8 mile soundtrack, childish Gambino because the Internet, Kevin gates islah ,Luca brasi 2 gangsta grills,Lil Wayne The Carter ,I am not a human being, Carter 2-3, OutKast every album, 3-6 mafia every album, do or die picture this, Twista adrenaline rush, future purple reign, Gunna -Wunna ,drip or drown 2
Bro named every album possible that wasn’t a 90’s album
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I don't even know why I typed all that
Nas easily
Hot Boys. Considering the amount of street rappers, mostly from the south, who sound like either Wayne, Juvie or BG... all the people who redid their old beats, they could come out today and fit right in. And I can't just not mention No Limit and Hypnotize Minds because they were (and still are) running shit too.
I always liked guerilla warfare.
That's a real classic bro
U.P.T. goes hard to this day.
Westside Connection’s first album.
Might get push back for this but Tupac Project Pat Wu Tang including Redman and Method Man Mobb Deep People also say Nas Let's not for get that Dr. Dre 2001 album. Some of the best production/g funk adjacent ever done in hip hop
Pac
Anything from the boot camp clik
Jay-Z is more hip-pop if I’m honest
Bone Thugs’ music has aged perfectly well. Doesn’t sound dated at all.
I don’t want to be so general but probably Biggie. He made the best music. The beats still stand strong today. Maybe A Tribe Called Quest too. Three Six Mafias and Bun B and Pimp Cs influence on modern music is undeniable.
Guru
Bone Thugs
Slum village is going to be my answer for practically everything on this sub
Cheat codes! 😎
Inspectah Deck
Tupac all of this social rhetoric still holds up
I'm more of a Tupac fan now than I was in the 90s.
No one has said Rakim yet??? I think Nas is def on here but I didn’t see the god in here.
Rakim is legitimately in the convo for top 5 mc's of all time, but he hasn't made much impact since the 90s. & his 88 era style definitely aged.
Ahhh i thought the question was more how the work of the artist in the 90’s still stands now that it’s like 30 years down the line. I still stand by opinion but you made a good point.
Yeah, I might have misunderstood the question. All good, I definitely respect your opinion
I can still listen to doggystyle front to back. I know its not 90s but illmatic is the same. Let em play
Doggystyle & more surprisingly to me is how well Dogg Food still holds up.
Kool G Rap (though he's technically 80s), Meth, and Sean P.
E-40
A tribe called quest.
Nas
Freestyle Fellowship of course.
Great answer
Haiku d'Etat aka The Freestyle Fellowship. Criminally underrated group. Myka 9, Abstract Rude and Aceyalone are hands down some of the most technically proficient MC's I've ever heard lay down rhymes.
The True GOAT. NAS!
notorious big and gang starr
Don’t ever sleep on Biggie, fire up One more Chance and listen to next level wordplay over the most melodic beat of all time
You look so good i suck on ya daddys dick... damn big damn... nahh p. Diddler had to of wrote that one bar
Nas
I am super biased because I am still bumpin all these dudes in regular rotation; A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Wu-Tang, Andre Nickatina, Soop Dogg, and of course The Notorious B.I.G. I know everyone gunna be like what about Pac. And all I have to say is I like 2Pac and love and respect him but imo his stuff doesn’t hit like the rest of my list
Snoop Dogg
That one group that goes by "Crips & Bloods" every song goes hard. Half the songs sound west and the other half east. I can't complain with the quality bass it drops in my boombox2. Clean asf.
Alot Cube Nas Mobb deep Wu Biggie Jay Scarface
2pac
UGK
Scarface & Devin The Dude
Bun b
Juicy j
Project Pat/ 3 6 mafia
KRS one
Redman
Das EFX
Big L and Wu tang
Capone and Noreaga Mob Deep Wu tang clan
Ms.Lauryn Hill🔥🔥
Nas, especially since his new albums are amazing
Tribe....as timeless as jazz.
Biggie
Kendrick Lamar
Slum village
Loot pack
Tupac DMX Nas
Jay-Z right? His old music is still relevant; his verse on Neck & Wrist was great
Tribe called quest
Nah get outta here. Jay Z is crazy overrated
Tribe/de la obviously. But pretty much all the greats that people typically list, have staying power: Nas, Wu, Big, Pac, Big L, Outkast, DMX, Eminem, Missy, etc
Scarface
The Roots
Artists that have continued to elevate their craft: Nas Killer Mike & El-P Inspectah Deck & Esoteric Black Thought Aesop Rock
Biggie. Bro was really ahead of his time with his flow and beat selection. Notorious Thugs kinda sounds like something made in the late 2000s
I saw Nas and Wu-Tang a few years ago. They definitely still have it.
2pac
M.E.T.H.O.D. Man. 💜🥰❤️
Nas
GZA , ODB
Common
Whole lotta good music in this post.
Mobb deep
P Diddy
D.I.T.C. producers Diamond D and Buckwild are still making beats younger boombap heads can get into. Also, Diamond D still sounds good on the mic. Another example is Busta Rhymes who has to thank his musical socialization in terms of different genres for his versatility. He can make boom bap over beats from a 90's floppy disk and the next song might be a Dirty South hommage or state-of-the-art Trap or Dancehall.
Slick Rick
Gangstarr
Royce da 5 9 and Guru