The Best Hip-Hop Songs & Albums: 1991

After a discussion about the golden age of hip-hop, which my brother contends is 1991-95 and I argue to include ’96 as well, I decided to go back and take a closer look at each year individually. Collectively, that six year span produced my top 5 favorite hip-hop albums of all time and some of the absolute, no doubt, no argument, can’t be disputed best hip-hop songs ever recorded. But which year reigned supreme? That’s what I wanted to figure out.

Of course I couldn’t stop at ’96, so I then looked into 1997 and then 1998, then ’99. Eventually I decided to recap every year from 1991-2010. But in doing so I was able to confirm that yes, 1991-1996 were the best years of hip-hop and no, 1997 and beyond, while still good, did not live up to the quality. Not that it was easy to live up to the standards set during those years, but the drop off after ’96 is very noticeable.

So I bring to you a year-by-year look at hip-hop music starting with 1991 and ending with 2010. These will be delivered over the course of a few weeks, but will cover the 20 best songs of each year and the 10 best albums of each year.

And before you argue, I chose songs and albums that I consider the best, or have the most meaning to me. There are going to be obvious exclusions, like Showbiz & A.G.’s Runaway Slave, but it wouldn’t be fair to go back today and add those albums just because they are popular choices amongst hip-hop critics. Truth of the matter is, I didn’t hear Runaway Slave in ’92 and to this day have had only limited exposure to the album. Hip-hop blasphemy? Maybe, but I want this to be genuine.

Also, I picked one song per album for the 20 best songs, so while I realize “Check The Rhime” and “Scenario” should both be included on the Best of ’91 song list, only “Scenario” made the cut. I was torn on doing the lists this way, but figured it would give you a better scope of what music came out that year. I’ll include some other great songs in the Best Albums portion. Got it? Good. Let’s get down to business.

Best of 1991

Best Songs

20. “Fugitive” – K-Solo
This was my first time hearing K-Solo and I loved this track as a kid. Hadn’t heard it in forever, but it was great to go back and listen to again. K-Solo’s career didn’t unfold the way some thought, but he did keep his name afloat with his appearance on EPMD’s “Head Banger” in 1992.

19. “Step In The Arena” – Gang Starr
Classic Gang Starr here off their second album. Primo is one of the greatest producers to ever do it and it showed right away. R.I.P. Guru.

18. “The Wrong Nigga To Fuck Wit” – Ice Cube
I originally had “Jackin’ For Beats” on the list, but this is a better representation of Ice Cube during the early 90’s. Cube was busy in ’91 with Death Certificate and Kill At Will both dropping that year.

17. “Fudge Pudge” – Organized Konfusion feat. O.C.
I was late to the party on this song and still haven’t heard the entire debut album from Organized. “Stress” was my first exposure to Prince Poetic and Pharoahe Monch and “Times Up” was my introduction to O.C., but this would’ve sufficed as well. Great song by three great MCs. Glad that Organized is rumored to be working on a reunion album.

16. “Case of the P.T.A.” – Leaders of the New School
Saw this video on Yo! MTV Raps and thought it was tremendous. Little did I know what career was about to launch from L.O.N.S. Busta Rhymes was the stand out then and only solidified his star later in ’91, unleashing the dungeon dragon.

15. “Ring Ring Ring (Ha Hey Hey)” – De La Soul
I always wanted to use the hook from this song for my answering machine, but I didn’t think my parents would appreciate it so I resisted the urge. Classic song off of one of De La’s finest albums.

14. “If My Homie Calls” – 2Pac
The popular choice here would be “Brenda’s Got A Baby.” But this is my list. 2Pac is my favorite rapper of all time and this is the first 2Pac song I ever heard, so it makes the list over “Brenda.”

13. “Mistadobalina” – Del The Funkee Homosapien
First impression of Del was he had the greatest name in hip-hop. The Funkee Homosapien? Really? And his album’s called I Wish My Brother George Was Here? That’s awesome. “Dr. Bombay” was my intro to Del, but “Mistadobalina” remains his biggest claim to fame.

12. “Looking At The Front Door” – Main Source
Large Professor has never been given the proper respect as one of the greats. Don’t get me wrong, Large Pro has his fair share of supporters, but in the grand scheme of things he hasn’t been given his just due. This is some real life, mature hip-hop about relationships that I will confess I couldn’t relate to in ’91. Could’ve easily picked “Live At The Barbecue” as well thanks to an appearance from Nasty Nas.

11. “Alwayz Into Something” – N.W.A.
This could’ve been on The Chronic and would’ve fit in perfectly. Dre and Ren spit some old gangsta shit and Dre introduces G-Funk to the world. The video for this track was fantastic as well.

10. “How I Could Just Kill A Man” – Cypress Hill
I previously discussed my relationship with Cypress Hill’s music on a prior post, and I can’t stress how glad I am that I changed my tune in regard to their music. If I had to pick one song as an example of Cypress Hill, this is the one I’d choose.

9. “Summertime” – DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
“Drums please.” This truly is one of the greatest summer songs ever made. If not for “Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang,” I may put this as No. 1 on that list. I loved Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince as a kid. “Parents Just Don’t Understand” was one of the first hip-hop songs I embraced. This track is timeless.

8. “New Jack Hustler” – Ice-T
This track came at a time when Ice-T was at the height of his game. “Colors” had dropped 3 years prior, and “O.G. Original Gangster” was soon to follow. The beat on this track is instantly recognizable and Ice-T shows off how good of a story teller he is.

7. “Same Song” – Digital Underground feat. 2Pac
Fresh off the heels of “The Humpty Dance,” Digital Underground brought this track from the Nothing But Trouble soundtrack. While Shock G. and Humpty Hump (or Shock G. as Humpty Hump) exchange verses, Money B. drops my favorite verse and 2Pac steps onto the scene.

6. “Sometimes I Rhyme Slow” – Nice & Smooth
Over Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” Nice & Smooth deliver one of the best songs of their career. Greg Nice starts off with his usual style, while Smooth B discusses his girl’s struggle with cocaine addiction. “Hip-Hop Junkies” deserves recognition here as well, as it could’ve easily been included on this list.

5. “Ghetto Bastard (Everything’s Gonna Be Alright)” – Naughty By Nature
Let me start by saying the significance of “O.P.P.” is not lost on me. It is the song that launched Naughty. And it’s the song that Naughty will always be famous for, along with “Hip-Hop Hooray.” But, my favorite Naughty By Nature song ever is “Ghetto Bastard.” Lyrically, I can’t think of a better performance from Treach.

4. “Mind Playing Tricks On Me” – Geto Boys
One of my favorite rap videos ever made. Bushwick Bill’s line about blood on his hands from punching on the cement conjures up a great visual. Scarface delivers two outstanding verses on this one and the beat is like no other. A true hip-hop classic.

3. “Can’t Truss It” – Public Enemy
This was listed as my favorite song in my 8th grade yearbook. I’ve always loved Public Enemy. “911 Is A Joke” got me to start paying closer attention to hip-hop music. “By The Time I Get To Arizona” and “Shut ‘Em Down” both could’ve taken this spot, but “Can’t Truss It” made me more excited than any hip-hop song at that time. I had the cassette single and couldn’t wait for Apocalypse 91 to drop.

2. “Choice Is Yours” – Black Sheep
Easy choice here. This song was, is and always will be one of the greatest songs ever. Dres absolutely slayed this one. “Engine, engine, No.9/On the New York transit line,” will get any party started. Put that line on in a club or at a party and every one will recite the rest of it.

1.“Scenario” – A Tribe Called Quest feat. Leaders of the New School
As I stated in the intro, “Check The Rhime” should be on this list. It was one of the 20 best hip-hop songs of 1991. Hell, it was one of the best hip-hop songs of the ‘90’s period. But if I’m only picking one song per album, “Scenario” gets the nod. And that’s saying something to be picked over “Check The Rhime.” Phife opens the song with one of my favorite verses ever, one that I recite constantly to this very day, and Busta steals the show. This is the greatest posse cut ever recorded and it launched the career of one of hip-hop’s brightest and most colorful stars. Here we go, yo.

Best Albums

10. Death Certificate – Ice Cube
Controversial. Introspective. Hard Hitting. Cube pulled no punches on this album, addressing everything from the racial divide to responding to his falling out with N.W.A.

9. Naughty By Nature – Naughty By Nature
The crew from Illtown burst on the scene thanks to “O.P.P.” and continued to keep momentum up with “Ghetto Bastard” as well as “Uptown Anthem.” A solid debut offering from Naughty.

8. Breaking Atoms – Main Source
The sensational “Lookin At The Front Door,” the Nas assisted “Live At The Barbeque” as well as “Just A Friendly Game of Baseball” helped highlight an album that is the perfect example of East Coast hip-hop music from the era.

7. De La Soul Is Dead – De La Soul
Prince Paul has been involved in so many great albums it’s ridiculous. Everyone that grew up with this record has fond memories of it as it had a feel good vibe that other hip-hop albums didn’t have while still maintaining top notch lyrics. De La are Hall of Famers and this is widely regarded as their greatest offering.

6. 2Pacalypse Now – 2Pac
Of his actual releases, this is my least favorite. In fact I’d rank Pac albums in descending order from All Eyez On Me, Me Against The World, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. to 2Pacalypse Now. But this was the first full offering of Pac’s music and as I’ve already said he went on to become my favorite MC of all time. Highlights are “Trapped,” “Brenda’s Got A Baby,” “If My Homie Calls” and “Rebel of the Underground.”

5. Cypress Hill – Cypress Hill
This album was a big part of my teen years and I’ve grown to truly appreciate it as time has gone on. The Soul Assassins sound was born on this album and has lived on in Cypress affiliates House of Pain, Funkdoobiest and the like. “How I Could Just Kill A Man,” “Hand on the Pump” and “The Phuncky Feel One” are among the best songs Cypress has ever put out.

4. A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing – Black Sheep
“Choice Is Yours” launched this album to the mainstream, but the Sheep had enough quality from front to back on this disc to get love from fan regardless. “Flavor of the Month” and “Strobelite Honey” both enjoyed some success as singles, while “Pass The 40” remains a must amongst hip-hop heads.

3. Efil4zaggin – N.W.A.
No more Ice Cube, no problem. N.W.A. still delivered another great album to follow the classic Straight Outta Compton. “Always Into Something,” “Appetite For Destruction,” and “Real Niggaz Don’t Die” are as hard as they come. And I’ve always loved “Automobile” and “I’d Rather F-ck You,” both of which let Eazy-E show off his comedic side.

2. Low End Theory – A Tribe Called Quest
“Buggin’ Out,” “Butter,” “Check The Rhime,” “Jazz,” “Scenario” should I just give the track list as proof that this album was sensational? They don’t make them like Tribe anymore. And I doubt we’ll ever hear any one like Tribe again. (Unless we get a reunion. Just do it fellas!)

1. Apocalypse ’91: The Enemy Strikes Black – Public Enemy
This is the album that truly turned me into a hip-hop junkie. I listened to this album every day over and over again. I was finally starting to come into my own as a hip-hop fan during the early ‘90’s and this was the album that truly put me on track. Fear of a Black Planet and It Takes A Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back are the two albums that will get the most acclaim when discussing P.E. And I understand that. Those albums are deserving of the praise heaped on them. But I refuse to gloss over the album that meant so much to me as a hip-hop fan. “Can’t Truss It,” “By The Time I Get To Arizona,” “Shut ‘Em Down” are all classics. “Lost At Birth” is one of my favorite opening tracks ever. And the rest of the album ties together perfectly.

That wraps up 1991. The Best of ’92 coming soon.