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4 Hip-Hop Artists From the 90s Who Sound Just As Good Today As They Did In Their Prime

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24.04.2026

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4 Hip-Hop Artists From the 90s Who Sound Just As Good Today As They Did In Their Prime

Noisey selects four underrated 90s hip-hop greats that would and still sound fresh and timeless in today’s landscape.

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It’s easy to wonder what 90s hip-hop artists would sound like if they came out today. What would Tupac rap over if he were still alive? What does Illmatic sound like if Nas were depicting a more modern version of New York? How would Biggie have approached collaborations later in his career?

Diehard rap fans will always fantasize over these ‘what ifs’ with 90s hip-hop legends. The ‘golden age’ has a very distinct sound depending on the region. Who are the rappers that would sound fresh in any era? Who are the rappers that still do?

With that question in mind, Noisey has selected four rappers you would primarily associate with the 90s and argued how they would work in modern hip-hop. There are only a couple of caveats: for starters, we challenged ourselves with not going so obvious. The charisma of Tupac and Biggie’s dexterity would’ve translated in any era. There’s a reason........

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