1996

1996 was the final year of hip hop’s golden age, marking the end of an era that shaped everything that came after. Now, I know there are only four albums on this list, but remember this is just my opinion. I’m not here to rank every release from the year,I'm just sharing my personal favourites. These are the albums that stood out to me, the ones that I keep coming back to. Hip hop was evolving fast in ‘96, and while the golden age was closing, the next wave of the genre was already taking shape.

Favourite tracks from Album

Get A Hold
Jam
1nce Again
The Hop
What Really Goes On

A Tribe Called Quest

Beats Rhymes & Life

When Beats, Rhymes and Life dropped in 1996, I could tell right away that A Tribe Called Quest was in a different space creatively. The energy was more subdued, the production smoother, and the overall vibe more introspective than their previous albums.

A lot of people weren’t feeling the shift, and I get why this wasn’t the same carefree, jazz heavy sound of The Low End Theory or Midnight Marauders. But despite the backlash, I actually really liked this album.

One thing that stood out to me is that Beats, Rhymes and Life still carries that classic Tribe summer vibe. Even with the darker tone, you can still throw this album on during a warm afternoon and just vibe out. No, this album isn’t as universally loved as their first three, but I think it’s underrated. It showed Tribe in transition more reflective, more mature, but still bringing that signature groove. For me, Beats, Rhymes and Life is still a solid addition to their legacy, and no matter what, it’s got that undeniable summer feel that keeps me coming back to it.

2Pac

All Eyez On Me

Listening to 2Pac’s All Eyez on Me feels like stepping into a whole different world compared to his earlier albums. It’s like he was fully in his zone, showing the world that he was more than just a deep thinker he was also the ultimate party starter.

What really stands out is how much he leveled up as a lyricist. His flow is crazy smooth, and his wordplay is way sharper than before. Tracks like “Ambitionz Az a Ridah” and “Got My Mind Made Up” are pure fire he’s spitting bars with so much confidence, yoEven when he’s flexing about his lifestyle or his status, it’s done with that same passion and skill he always had.

But this album definitely has a different energy compared to Me Against the World or Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z… Those were more introspective and personal, while All Eyez on Me is like rolling through Vegas with the top down, living life loud. It’s got that party vibe all over it, with beats that just make you want to move those classic West Coast sounds, G funk synths, and booming bass lines.

It’s like he found a way to balance both sides of who he was the rebel poet and the life of the party superstar. That’s what makes this album so special to me. It’s 2Pac at his most complete still deep and real, but also showing he could dominate the club scene and own the radio.

Honestly, All Eyez on Me feels like one of those albums that never ages. You can still hear the hunger, the ambition, and the celebration all in one. It’s a reminder that Pac wasn’t just one of the best of his time he’s one of the greatest to ever touch a mic.

Favourite tracks from Album

2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted (Featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg)
Heartz Of Men
Tradin War Stories (Featurning Dramacydal, C-Bo & Storm)
All Eyez on Me (Featuring Big Syke)
Ain't Hard 2 Find (Featuring E-40, B-Legit, C-Bo & Richie Rich)

Favourite tracks from Album

The Message
Street Dreams
I Gave You Power
Nas Is Coming
Live Nigga Rap (feat. Mobb Deep)

Nas

It Was Written

Listening to Nas’s second album, It Was Written, is like watching a young genius level up. His debut, Illmatic, was already iconic, but this album feels like Nas stepping up to prove he could master the game in every way possible.

The first thing that hits me is the production it’s richer and more polished than his first album. Tracks like “Street Dreams” and “If I Ruled the World” have these cinematic beats that make you feel like you’re walking through a New York movie. And even with the smoother vibe, Nas’s storytelling is still razor sharp. His lyrics paint pictures of street life, dreams, and the struggle to stay real in a world that’s trying to pull you under.

What I really love about It Was Written is how Nas balances that street wisdom with bigger ambitions. He’s still spitting bars that make you stop and rewind, but there’s also a confidence in his voice that says he knows he’s destined for more than just survival. Songs like “The Message” are straight-up poetry Nas’s wordplay is so tight, you can feel the weight of every line.

Listening to this album now, it’s wild to think how Nas predicted so much of what rap would become. He showed you could be lyrical, deep, and still make music that bangs in the car. It Was Written feels like a statement Nas wasn’t just a one album wonder he was here to build a legacy. And that’s exactly what he did.

Makaveli (2Pac)

Makaveli: The Don Killuminati The 7 Day Theory

Listening to 2Pac’s The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory feels like stepping into the last chapter of a man’s life, and it’s heavy. Compared to All Eyez on Me, which had this big, party energy, this album is raw and angry. The beats are darker and more menacing, setting the tone for Pac’s fiercest lyrics yet.

He’s going in hard on this one, taking shots at pretty much everyone he had beef with. You can feel the intensity in tracks like “Bomb First” and “Against All Odds” Pac isn’t just rapping, he’s calling people out by name, almost like he’s daring them to respond. He’s not holding back at all.

The way he’s dissing other rappers shows how fearless he was, how ready he was to take on anyone who tried to come for him.

What hits me is that even though this album dropped after he died, it doesn’t feel like he was done talking. He had so much more to say, and this album is him pouring it all out. The production is rough and heavy, with beats that feel like they’re echoing the chaos of his life at that moment.

Even with all the anger and drama, there’s still that sense of vulnerability underneath, like he was fully aware of his own mortality.

For me, The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory is Pac at his most real. It’s like a time capsule of his final days, and every time I play it, I hear a man who knew he didn’t have long left and he was going to make damn sure everyone heard him.

Favourite tracks from Album

Intro / Bomb First (My Second Reply) (Featuring Outlawz)
Hail Mary (Featuring The Outlawz & Prince Ital Joe)
To Live & Die in L.A. (Featuring Val Young)
Me And My Girlfriend
Against All Odds