Even though the style emerged in the late 70s, it wasn’t until the late 80s and the beginning of the 90s that rap became one of the most popular musical genres ever, producing timeless hits that inspire the music industry to this day.
Modern rap artists often use the distinctive 90s vibe in their songs or music videos, and rap fans, in general, bear nostalgic feelings for the era.
The story of rap begins in the ’70s, when DJ Kool Herc, who was also hip hop’s first DJ, started simple freestyle rapping at his home parties. Completely different than anything created before, the genre really took off in the ’90s in New York City, sweeping the music scene with its unique authenticity and successfully connecting old and new musical concepts in a way that hadn’t been heard before.
Here are the best rap tracks from the genre’s golden age.
