MY JAM SESSIONS: 90s Rap Legends
- Ravi Patel
- Mar 23, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 22
Intro
There have been discussions surrounding who is the best of the “Big 3” in rap. Is it Drake, J. Cole, or Kendrick? These guys have thrown disses towards each other, whether it is outwardly or subliminally. It seems Kendrick has beef with Drake, and J. Cole is more of a causality in that beef. Still, I’m excited to see where this goes, as J. Cole responded to Kendrick’s diss on his surprise album Might Delete Later. But anyway, I want to take you back to nearly 30 years ago when there was a different “Big 3” in rap. That “Big 3” consisted of 2Pac, Nas, and Biggie. Back then, the East Coast-West Coast beef was on a completely different level than whatever we’re seeing between this generation's best rappers. Lives were a stake and people were killed. For some background, while everyone remembers 2Pac beefing with Biggie, 2Pac actually had beef with Nas, for a little while. This was due to a misunderstanding as 2Pac believed he dissed him on “The Message.” Fortunately, they patched things up before 2Pac’s death. Today, I’m going to talk about the more prominent/underrated song from each of the 90s rap legends, as well as talk about other rappers as well, such as Jay-Z and Mobb Depp. Now, let’s press play and get into this groove session!
Nas – I Gave You Power (1996)
Nas is in my top 3 list of favorite rappers of all time. His talent for great lyricism and storytelling is phenomenal. People in the hip-hop community talk about Illmatic as one of the greatest rap albums ever, deservedly so. However, there is a misconception about Nas being a one-hit wonder which is far from the truth. His second album It Was Written is one of my rap favorite albums ever. I Gave You Power is one of the greatest storytelling songs ever written. He paints a vivid picture in your head. Here he is taking the perspective of a gun. He is literally the gun! 2Pac’s song “Me and My Girlfriend” was even inspired by I Gave You Power. For some more history, 2Pac was even going to be in Nas’s music video for Street Dreams if he didn’t pass away. I would also recommend checking out other songs of his like The Message, Nas Is Like, and One Mic.
2Pac – So Many Tears (1995)
Tupac Shakar is regarded as one of the premier rappers of the 90s. He had been regarded as a workaholic in the studio consistently pumping out music. This is likely due to Tupac believing he wouldn’t live to old age. He lived every day as if it were his last. I feel Tupac made an enormous leap with his third studio album Me Against the World. Death is also a constant theme throughout the album. With So Many Tears we get a glimpse into Tupac’s mind. This is a man who has been dealing with internal demons since childhood. A man who is indirectly praying for a way to escape this dangerous lifestyle. This is also a song for people who are just living in pain. Songs like Dear Mama, Death Around the Corner, and Lord Knows are also standouts from the album.
The Notorious B.I.G. – Gimme the Loot (1994)
Biggie Smalls is known for his vicious flow and elite lyricism. You are likely familiar with standout tracks of his like Juicy, Big Poppa, and Hypnotize. I had also finally gotten around to listening to his debut album Ready to Die and it was amazing! My favorites from the album were Things Done Change, Everyday Struggle, and Gimme the Loot. Gimme the Loot is about robbing people, which sounds pretty straightforward. However, Biggie still provides a lot of artistry in this song. He raps with two different voices, confusing listeners into thinking he featured someone on this track. I didn’t notice this on the first listen either. Additionally, Biggie wanted Nas on Ready to Die for a remix version of Gimme the Loot, which never materialized.
Jay-Z – Feelin’ It (1996)
Jay-Z dropped his debut album Reasonable Doubt in 1996. Jay-Z had initially planned on Reasonable Doubt being his only album. I believe many Jay-Z fans are glad he decided to put out more albums later. With Reasonable Doubt, you could till Jay-Z was trying to put his best foot forward. He wanted to make a name for himself as other legends like Biggie, 2Pac, Nas, Outkast, and Wu-Tang had previously done. Reasonable Doubt had classic tracks such as Brooklyn’s Finest, Dead Presidents ll, and Can’t Knock The Hustle. However, Feelin’ It is my favorite song from the album. Here Jay-Z showcases effortless wordplay and a superiority complex over this exceptional beat. This song is about Jay-Z enjoying the pleasure of wealth and success the rap game has offered him.
Mobb Deep – Survival of the Fittest (1995)
Mobb Deep released their album The Infamous on April 25th, 1995, and this album is most famous for the single Shook Ones Part ll, one of the most iconic rap songs of all time. Their second single Survival of the Fittest is also a classic and has one of the coldest beats in hip-hop history. Prodigy of Mobb Deep said you can apply this song to anything in life, even medical school. “Even if it’s medical school, you can’t get through medical school if you’re not strong enough to survive.” This song is very relatable to med-sci students, and if it means anything I believe you’re strong enough to survive. This song describes the challenges/difficulties of criminal life on the streets, and that only those with strong enough will pull through.
Closing
I hope you enjoyed this groove session! I’m glad I could keep the legacy of these 90s rap legends alive. I like finding the deeper meaning behind these tracks and sharing it with you all. In my opinion, both of these “Big 3’s” have been instrumental in the rap game! Previously, I didn’t have an intro, closing, or a fifth song to cover. I decided to include those now because I didn’t want any of my groove session posts to overshadow each other in terms of quality, as I’m always looking to put my best foot forward. Rip Tupac, Biggie, and Prodigy.
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