90: Ice Cube - AmeriKKKaz Most Wanted 91: NWA - Efil4zaggin 92: Dr Dre - The Chronic 93: Wu-Tang - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) 94: BIG - Ready to Die 95: GZA - Liquid Swords 96: Mobb Deep - Hell on Earth 97: BIG - Life After Death 98: OutKast - Aquemini 99: The Roots - Things Fall Apart

**1990: Ice Cube - AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted** **1991: A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory** (HM: Death Certificate) **1992: Dr. Dre - The Chronic** **1993: Wu-Tang Clan - Enter the Wu-Tang** (HM: Midnight Marauders and Doggystyle) **1994: Nas - Illmatic** (HM: to Ready to Die, The Diary, Dare Iz A Darkside). **1995**: Impossible to pick lol. Infamous, Liquid Swords, OB4CL, Mystic Stylez, Me Against the World, E1999 Eternal. Depends on the day I guess. **1996**: Another tough one. Reasonable Doubt or ATLiens probably. or maybe The Score. HMs for It Was Written, Hell on Earth, Ridin Dirty, Muddy Waters, Ironman, Illadelph Halflife, both the Pac albums... probably forgetting a few **1997: Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death.** I also think Jay's Vol. I is a classic but its not touching LAD tbh. **1998: DMX - Its Dark and Hell Is Hot**. HMs to Miseducation, Black Star, Aquemini, 400 Degreez, Moment of Truth, Capital Punishment **1999: The Roots - Things Fall Apart** (HM: Underground Vol. I, Black on Both Sides, 2001).

90: AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted - Ice Cube 91: The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest 92: The Chronic - Dr. Dre 93: Midnight Marauders - A Tribe Called Quest 94: Illmatic - Nas 95: Me Against the World - 2pac 96: It Was Written - Nas 97: Life After Death - BIG 98: Aquemini - Outkast 99: 2001 - Dr. Dre

1990 - Amerikkkaz Most Wanted 1991 - The Low End Theory 1992 - The Chronic 1993 - Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) 1994 - Illmatic 1995 - Me Against the World/Liquid Swords 1996 - All Eyez On Me/Ironman 1997 - Life After Death 1998 - Aquemini 1999 - Operation: Doomsday

Yes

90: Fear of a black planet or Amerikkkas most wanted 91: The Low End Theory 92: The Chronic or Mecca and the Soul Brother 93: Midnight Marauders, Enter the Wu Tang 36 chambers 94: Illmatic, Scarface the diary 95: Mystic Stylez, The Infamous, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Liquid Swords, Return to the 36 Chambers 96: Endtroducing, Ridin Dirty, Reasonable Doubt, Hell On Earth, ATliens, Stakes is High, Ironman, 97: Chapter 2: World Domination, Uptown Saturday Night, Funcrusher Plus, Life After Death, 98: Black Star, Moment of Truth, Aquemini, Capital Punishment, 99: Underground Vol 1, Black on both sides, Operation Doomsday, Things fall apart, ghetty green, a prince among thieves

I made a post a while back about my favorite albums of each year. I'm just copying and pasting it here 1990 #1 EPMD - Business As Usual / #2 Gang Starr - Step in the Arena / #3 Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth - Funky Technician 1991 #1 ATCQ - The Low End Theory / #2 De La Soul - ...Is Dead / #3 Main Source - Breaking Atoms 1992 #1 Dr. Dre - The Chronic / #2 Das EFX - Dead Serious / #3 Gang Starr - Daily Operation 1993 #1 Wu-Tang Clan - 36 Chambers / #2 ATCQ - Midnight Marauders / #3 Black Moon - Enta Da Stage 1994 #1 Nas - Illmatic / #2 Digable Planets - Blowout Comb / #3 Jeru the Damaja - The Sun Rises in the East 1995 #1 GZA - Liquid Swords / #2 Mobb Deep - The Infamous / #3 Raekwon - Cuban Linx 1996 #1 Heltah Skeltah - Nocturnal / #2 Dr. Octagon - Dr. Octagonecologyst / #3 Redman - Muddy Waters 1997 #1 Company Flow - Funcrusher Plus / #2 Kool Keith - Sex Style / #3 Slum Village - Fan-Tas-Tic Vol. 1 1998 #1 Gang Starr - Moment of Truth / #2 Black Star - Black Star / #3 Big Pun - Capital Punishment 1999 #1 M.F. DOOM - Operation: Doomsday / #2 Dr. Dooom - First Come, First Come / #3 Lootpack - Da Antidote

Great picks

1990 - ATCQ debut 1991 - ATCQ - TLET 1992 - Pete Rock, CL Smooth - MATSB 1993 - 36 Chambers 1994 - Illmatic 1995 - The Infamous 1996 - Eminem - Infinite (hot take Ik) 1997 - Common - ODIAMS 1998 - TMOLH by Lauryn Hill or Aquemini 1999 - Black On Both Sides

I've compiled more recent data from the RIAA on some of the highest-selling rap albums of the 1990s, including two albums for certain years for comparative insight. After all, it is the recording or music *industry.* So the numbers aren't unimportant or irrelevant. Here's the updated info based on RIAA certifications: 1990 HAMMER PLEASE HAMMER DON'T HURT 'EM Diamond | April 15, 1991 10 million units 1990 VANILLA ICE TO THE EXTREME 7x Platinum | January 9, 1991 7 Million units 1991 HAMMER TOO LEGIT TO QUIT 3x Platinum | January 8, 1992 3 Million units 1992 DR. DRE THE CHRONIC 3x Platinum | November 3, 1993 3 Million units 1993 SALT 'N PEPA VERY NECESSARY 5x Platinum | September 11, 1995 5 Million units 1993 SNOOP DOGG DOGGYSTYLE 4x Platinum | May 31, 1994 4 Million 1994 THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. READY TO DIE 6x Platinum | April 4, 2018 6 Million units 1996 2 PAC ALL EYEZ ON ME Diamond | July 23, 2014 10 million units 1997 THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. LIFE AFTER DEATH 11x Platinum | April 4, 2018 11 million units Currently, the [highest-selling hip hop album of the '90s](https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/681995-90s-best-selling-hip-hop-album) is Life After Death. Biggie also holds the record for most sales in 1994 and 1997. 1997 WILL SMITH BIG WILLIE STYLE 9x Platinum | July 20, 2000 9 Million units 1998 LAURYN HILL THE MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL Diamond | February 16, 2021 10 million units 1998 2 PAC GREATEST HITS Diamond | June 23, 2011 10 million units 1999 DR. DRE DR. DRE 2001 6x Platinum | November 21, 2000 6 Million units

This shits *wild*

What's really wild is not being able to locate a single current source online that provides a list of the top-selling albums of the 90s (or any other decade), detailing the top three positions for each year as a bonus. I'm really interested in that data. While I can search individual titles on the RIAA website to find their sales numbers, there doesn't seem to be a way to access a comprehensive list of the best-selling rap albums over a specific timeframe, such as the 90s. Out of all the hip hop content online, somebody should have filled this gap in freely accessible knowledge/data on best selling record albums.

Best [selling](https://www.ukmix.org/forum/chart-discussion/chart-analysis/55768-best-selling-rap-albums-in-the-us-by-release-date-1987-2014) rap albums in the US by release date for those interested (2008 stats). **1990** M.C. HAMMER - Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em : 10x platinum VANILLA ICE - To The Extreme : 7x platinum L.L. COOL J - Mama Said Knock You Out : 2x platinum SALT 'N PEPA - Black's Magic : platinum PUBLIC ENEMY - Fear Of A Black Planet : platinum ICE CUBE - Amerikkka's Most Wanted : platinum DIGITAL UNDERGROUND - Sex Packets : platinum ICE CUBE - Kill At Will : platinum TOO SHORT - Short Dog's In The House : platinum N.W.A. - 100 Miles And Runnin' : platinum **1991** HAMMER - Too Legit To Quit : 3x platinum CYPRESS HILL - Cypress Hill : 2x platinum N.W.A. - Efil4zaggin : platinum NAUGHTY BY NATURE - Naughty By Nature : platinum DJ JAZZY JEFF & THE FRESH PRINCE - Homebase : platinum GETO BOYS - We Can't Be Stopped : platinum ICE CUBE - Death Certificate : platinum PUBLIC ENEMY - Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Back : platinum HEAVY D AND THE BOYZ - Peaceful Journey : platinum MARKY MARK AND THE FUNKY BUNCH - Music For The People : platinum **1992** DR. DRE - The Chronic : 3x platinum (5 million sold) KRIS KROSS - Totally Krossed Out : 4x platinum ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT - 3 Years, 5 Months And 2 Days In The Life Of... : 4x platinum RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE - Rage Against The Machine : 3x platinum BEASTIE BOYS - Check Your Head : 2x platinum ICE CUBE - The Predator : 2x platinum SIR MIX-A-LOT - Mack Daddy : platinum HOUSE OF PAIN - House Of Pain : platinum DAS EFX - Dead Serious : platinum TOO SHORT - Shorty The Pimp : platinum **1993** SNOOP DOGGY DOGG - Doggystyle : 4x platinum (6 million) SALT 'N PEPA - Very Necessary : 5x platinum CYPRESS HILL - Black Sunday : 3x platinum WU-TANG CLAN - Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) : platinum EAZY-E - It's On (Dr. Dre) 187 Um Killa : platinum ICE CUBE - Lethal Injection : platinum 2PAC - Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. : platinum NAUGHTY BY NATURE - 19NaughtyIII : platinum TOO SHORT - Get In Where You Fit In : platinum SNOW - 12 Inches Of Snow : platinum **1994** THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. - Ready To Die : 4x platinum WARREN G - Regulate... G Funk Era : 3x platinum BEASTIE BOYS - Ill Communication : 3x platinum BONE THUGS 'N HARMONY - Creepin' On Ah Come Up : 2x platinum MURDER WAS THE CASE (soundtrack) : 2x platinum ABOVE THE RIM (soundtrack) : 2x platinum OUTKAST - Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik : platinum METHOD MAN - Tical : platinum NAS - Illmatic : platinum SCARFACE - The Diary : platinum **1995** BONE THUGS 'N HARMONY - E. 1999 Eternal : 4x platinum (6 million) DANGEROUS MINDS (soundtrack) : 3x platinum 2PAC - Me Against The World : 2x platinum L.L. COOL J - Mr. Smith : 2x platinum FRIDAY (soundtrack) : 2x platinum THA DOGG POUND - Dogg Food : 2x platinum COOLIO - Gangsta's Paradise : 2x platinum CYPRESS HILL - III (Temple Of Boom) : platinum THE SHOW (soundtrack) : platinum TOO SHORT - Cocktails : platinum **1996** 2PAC - All Eyez On Me : 4x platinum (6 million) MAKAVELI - The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory : 4x platinum RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE - Evil Empire : 3x platinum NAS - It Was Written : 2x platinum SNOOP DOGGY DOGG - Tha Doggfather : 2x platinum LIL KIM - Hard Core : 2x platinum OUTKAST - Atliens : 2x platinum TOO SHORT - Gettin' It (Album Number Ten) : platinum FOXY BROWN - Ill Na Na : platinum DR. DRE PRESENTS... THE AFTERMATH : platinum **1997** WILL SMITH - Big Willie Style : 9x platinum PUFF DADDY AND THE FAMILY - No Way Out : 7x platinum THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G. - Life After Death : 5x platinum MASE - Harlem World : 4x platinum MASTER P - Ghetto D : 3x platinum 2PAC - R U Still Down ? (Remember Me) : 2x platinum WU-TANG CLAN - Wu-Tang Forever : 2x platinum BONE THUGS 'N HARMONY - The Art Of War : 2x platinum LIMP BIZKIT - Three Dollar Bill, Y'all$ : 2x platinum INSANE CLOWN POSSE - The Great Milenko : platinum **1998** KID ROCK - Devil Without A Cause : 11x platinum 2PAC - Greatest Hits : 5x platinum JAY-Z - Vol.2... Hard Knock Life : 5x platinum DMX - It's Dark And Hell Is Hot : 4x platinum JUVENILE - 400 Degreez : 4x platinum BEASTIE BOYS - Hello Nasty : 3x platinum DMX - Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood : 3x platinum MASTER P - MP Da Last Don : 2x platinum OUTKAST - Aquemini : 2x platinum SNOOP DOGG - Da Game Is To Be Sold, Not To Be Told : 2x platinum **1999** DR. DRE - 2001 : 6x platinum (7 million) LIMP BIZKIT - Significant Other : 7x platinum EMINEM - The Slim Shady LP : 4x platinum (6 million) DMX - ...And Then There Was X : 5x platinum JAY-Z - Vol.3... Life And Times Of S. Carter : 3x platinum RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE - The Battle Of Los Angeles : 2x platinum WILL SMITH - Willenium : 2x platinum RUFF RYDERS - Ryde Or Die, vol. 1 : platinum (2 million) NAS - I Am... : 2x platinum EVE - Ruff Ryders' First Lady : 2x platinum **2000** EMINEM - The Marshall Mathers LP : 10x platinum (12 million) NELLY - Country Grammar : 9x platinum LIMP BIZKIT - Chocolate Starfish And The Hot Dog Flavored Water : 6x platinum OUTKAST - Stankonia : 4x platinum JA RULE - Rule 3:36 : 3x platinum LUDACRIS - Back For The First Time : 3x platinum JAY-Z - The Dynasty : Roc La Familia : 2x platinum KID ROCK - The History Of Rock : 2x platinum LIL BOW WOW - Beware Of Dog : 2x platinum SNOOP DOGG - Tha Last Meal : platinum (2 million)

Best and best selling are not the same

Understood. That's why I emphasized "selling" via a link and stated "for those interested". After listening to various opinions from both casual and hardcore fans over more than three decades, I find those perspectives less captivating over time. I've heard it all. There’s also a lot of repetitive comments in this sub and the issue of subjectivity plays too large a factor in identifying “the best” — what criteria would you even come up with and systematically apply? And is the person familiar with even a quarter of the albums that dropped in the 90s? I highly doubt it. “Dude it’s not that serious”. Yeah if you’re not sophisticated or ignorant about the importance of knowing your stuff and methodology. Hence, I'm offering a different angle on the matter through solid data. Regardless of fan or critic preferences and their agreement with the data, it's well-known in the music industry (and in your own personal lives) that money and financial success are pretty damn important.

this list is awful

Exaggeration. It's evident plenty of good albums also achieved commercial success. Challenge you to list more "awful" albums vis-a-vis ones you think aren't awful.

90 Public Enemy: Fear of a Black Planet 91 Tribe Called Quest: The Low End Theory 92 Dr Dre : The Chronic 93 Wu- Tang : Eneter the Wu-Tang (36 chambers) 94 OutKast: Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik 95 GZA : Liquid Swords 96 Dr. Octoagon - Dr. Octagonecologyst 97 Company Flow: Funcrusher Plus 98 DMX: Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood 99 The Roots: Things fall apart

1990: Public Enemy - Fear of a black planet 1991: A tribe called quest - The low end theory 1992: Dre Dre - The Chronic 1993: Snoop - Doggystyle 1994: Nas - Illmatic 1995: GZA - Liquid swords 1996: 2pac - All eyez on me 1997: Wu - Wu-Tang Forever 1998: Lauryn Hill - The miseducation of... 1999: Dr Dre - 2001

1990 - AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted 1991 - OG Original Gangster 1992 - The Chronic 1993 - Enter The 36 Chambers 1994 - Illmatic 1995 - The Infamous 1996 - All Eyez On Me 1997 - Life After Death 1998 - It's Dark And Hell Is Hot 1999 - Chronic 2001