About this Playlist
This playlist is a journey through what hip hop meant to me in my 20s. It’s about encountering the music for the first time and being absolutely blown away. Hip hop has this incredible ability to renew itself—taking something old, reconstituting it, and giving it fresh life. That’s what I love most about the genre. This playlist is a celebration of that, highlighting tracks from the era between 1990 and the early 2000s, which I consider the greatest period in hip hop history. It was hip hop’s rock and roll era, full of innovation, energy, and cultural significance.
Here’s a few track highlights from the list:
Scenario – A Tribe Called Quest
“Scenario” is the ultimate posse cut. When it dropped, A Tribe Called Quest was just establishing themselves, bridging the gap between the alt-rock crowd and the hip hop crowd. This track came from The Low-End Theory, one of the greatest hip hop albums ever. It marked Busta Rhymes’ official debut as a solo artist, with his explosive energy on that last verse. The track is pure fun and kinetic energy—like a pinball machine on overload.
Chief Rocka – Lords of the Underground
“Chief Rocka” by Lords of the Underground was a low-key hit, capturing that gritty, raw energy of a time when hip hop was still all about the skills of the rapper. This was a period of anarchy in the genre, with artists pushing boundaries and creating something truly unique. This track influenced many others, with its flow being reconstituted in later works like Biggie’s “Machine Gun Funk.” It’s odd, weird, and fun—a perfect reflection of that wild era.
Runnin’ – The Pharcyde
“Runnin'” by The Pharcyde is a J Dilla track, and it’s got this beautiful, easy-going Brazilian vibe. The saxophone sample on this track is buttery smooth—it feels like sitting on a pier, watching seagulls fly by on a sunny day. The Pharcyde were to the West Coast what A Tribe Called Quest were to the East Coast, and this track is a perfect example of that laid-back, yet deeply thoughtful style.
Paid in Full – Eric B. & Rakim
“Paid in Full” is a classic closer for this playlist. Rakim is, in my view, the God MC. His flow is unmatched—cool, calculated, and utterly transformative. He’s a verbal alchemist, manipulating language in a way that’s just mesmerizing. This track is a perfect example of how powerful words can be when wielded by a master like Rakim.
This playlist could have easily been a 44-track or even a 100-track collection—there’s just so much incredible material from this era. There are endless possibilities for exploration, whether by region, year, or theme. Everyone focuses on the East Coast vs. West Coast, but there’s so much more to dive into: the Atlanta scene, Chicago rappers, the Midwest, the Houston sound, the hyphy scene from Oakland, and even the global reach in places like France, the UK, and Japan.
Hip hop’s rich history offers endless avenues for exploration, and I can’t wait to keep digging deeper and sharing more of these gems.
Track Listing
- Scenario (feat. Busta Rhymes, Dinco D & Charlie Brown) – LP Mix – A Tribe Called Quest
- Runnin’ – The Pharcyde
- The World Is Yours – Nas
- They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) – Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth
- U.N.I.T.Y. – Queen Latifah
- Floetic – Floetry
- Ms. Fat Booty – Mos Def
- Chief Rocka – Lords Of The Underground
- Jesus Walks – Kanye West
- All Caps – Madvillain
- Fu-Gee-La – Fugees
- Party And Bullshit – The Notorious B.I.G.
- Monie in the Middle – Monie Love
- The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) – Missy Elliott
- Elevators (Me & You) – Outkast
- Flava in Ya Ear Remix (feat. The Notorious B.I.G., LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Rampage) – Craig Mack
- Just To Get A Rep – Gang Starr
- What’s Up Doc? (Can We Rock) (feat. Fu-Schnickens) – Shaquille O’Neal
- Method Man – Wu-Tang Clan
- Changes – 2Pac
- Me Myself and I – De La Soul
- Paid In Full – Eric B. & Rakim
Playlist image by pxhere
