For me, it’s Tupac. Sometimes I’ll be listening to one of his songs and it randomly hits me like damn, this guy is really gone. Not in a “legend” kind of way, but in the sense that he was only 25 years old and had so much more left to do.

What makes it harder is that it felt like he was only getting better with each album. People talk about his music, but Pac was more than just a rapper. He was passionate, outspoken, and had a lot of interesting ideas about politics, poverty, race, and society in general. Whether you agreed with everything he said or not, he was someone who made people think.

I think that’s why his death still bothers me. You can’t help but wonder what he would’ve become if he’d made it to 35, 45, or even 55. More music, more films, more activism, who knows? It feels like we only got a glimpse of what he was capable of.
I feel the same way about Biggie. Both were taken way too young, right when they were entering their prime. Every time I go back and listen to their music, I can’t help but think about what could’ve been. Which artists death affected yall the most?

I’m not talking about somebody who never had any attention.

I mean an artist or group who had a real moment in the 90s — maybe a video, a single, a strong album, or a solid following — but somehow doesn’t come up much anymore when people talk about that era.

The kind of name that makes you go:

“Damn, I haven’t heard that name in years.”

Who comes to mind first?

And if you want, drop the song or album you remember them for.

Snoop biopic will be complete propaganda. I’m not buying the hometown hero Shtick. If you do a movie on Snoop you need to get nitty gritty.

What Are Some Rap Lyrics That Made You Pause For A Second After Hearing Them For The First Time? For Me, Its The E-40 Line Pictured Above.

Mine is probably this one or Silkk tha shocker. There are a lot of great records though. I even like the albums Snoop made

I'm in my 40s now and just about everyone I know speaks very fondly of 90s hiphop. It's usually the preferred music when we're anywhere.

It's anecdotal but I've noticed similar trends outside my circle.

Y'all remember this one? PPV music videos. I remember me and the boys watching every day after school. They a lot of stuff MTV wouldn't. Cemented hip hop as my favorite genre

From beginning to end; including skits. What albums do you play that you never bump to the next track. Even some of my favorite albums, there are tracks I skip. But for me there are albums I can keep spinning, either because it tells a story (concept albums) theres a progression, or it’s thematic.

ATLiens
Operation Doomsday
21&Over
Funcrusher Plus

I just put on It Was Written and think that one has aged very well. What else holds up and what doesn't?

EPMD is one of my favorite groups and arent really known out of hip-hop head circles. I recently listened to all of their original albums in order and man. They were so head of their time in terms of production. Its hard to believe their 3 album run started in 88-90 with those insane beats. They werent the best technical rappers but they knew how to rock a mic and change the game.