By Rizzo on February 2, 2009

Remember the days before T-Pain and Nelly? Back when Sean Combs was still Puff Daddy? Back when two kings of the game ruled supreme? When rap still sounded like rap? If you haven’t figured it out yet, this article is dedicated to ’90s rap music. Rap in the ’90s brought widespread popularity to the genre. In the late 80s, Public Enemy, Run-D.M.C. and N.W.A. built a foundation for the gangster rap genre. They paved the way for what would be arguably the best decade the genre has ever seen.
With the exit of Ice Cube in 1989, N.W.A. continued to feud and eventually disbanded in 1991. The stage was set for an epic battle of rap supremacy in the early 90s. An East-West Coast divide had formed with Bad Boy Records on the East Coast, and Death Row Records on the West Coast. Tupac threw gasoline on the fire when he accused Biggie and Combs of being involved with the shooting he fell victim to in a NYC recording studio in 1994. With each record after that, the drama escalated and I think we all know how this story ends.
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Posted in A Tribe Called Quest, Beastie Boys, Blackilicious, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Cypress Hill, DMX, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Eric B. & Rakim, Gang Starr, Ice Cube, Ice-T, Jay-Z, Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, LL Cool J, Luniz, Mase, Master P, Mobb Deep, N.W.A., Naughty by Nature, Notorious B.I.G., The, OutKast, Popular Rap Music of the '90s, Public Enemy, Puff Daddy, Roots, The, Run-D.M.C., Snoop Dogg, Tupac Shakur, Wu-Tang Clan | Tagged A Tribe Called Quest, Beastie Boys, Blackilicious, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Cypress Hill, DJ Polo, DMX, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Eric B., Gang Starr, Ice Cube, Ice-T, Jay-Z, Kool G Rap, Lauren Hill, LL Cool J, Luniz, Mase, Master P, Mobb Deep, N.W.A., Naughty by Nature, Outkast, Public Enemy, Puff Daddy, Rakim, Run-D.M.C., Snoop Dogg, The Notorious B.I.G., The Roots, Tupac Shakur, Wu-Tang Clan
By Rizzo on October 29, 2008

The week’s playlist focuses in on 90s Pop Music. After compiling the top 5 pop songs from every year of the decade, I realized I didn’t have a playlist dedicated to the genre yet. This collection of songs is filled with songs that either people want to forget or have embraced over the years due to their nostalgic value. There is not too many people openly praising the quality of these songs. “Crazy For This Girl” is one of my favorites: an often forgotten 90s music gem. I have always been more of the alternative post-grunge fan of the late 90s but you can’t help but like these songs.
If you get one thing out of this, just remember:
“When you take a sip you buzz like a hornet,
Billy Shakespeare wrote a whole bunch of sonnets”
Enough said.
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Posted in '90s Pop, 'N Sync, Aaliyah, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Evan and Jaron, Jennifer Lopez, LFO, Robyn, Sonique | Tagged Aaliyah, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Evan and Jaron, Jennifer Lopez, LFO, Robyn, Sonique, \'N Sync
By Rizzo on October 7, 2008

After the popularity of Rizzo Music’s first 90s rap music playlist, I decided to create another one. Like the first, this playlist is just 10 solid rap songs from a great decade, the ’90s. I am in no way an expert on ’90s rap music but I really enjoy each and everyone of the songs on this list.
Enjoy this week’s playlist and don’t forget to sign up for our RSS feed!
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Posted in '90s Rap, A Tribe Called Quest, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Coolio, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Jay-Z, Method Man, Notorious B.I.G., The, Run-D.M.C., Salt-n-Pepa, Tupac Shakur | Tagged A Tribe Called Quest, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Coolio, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Jay-Z, Method Man, Run-D.M.C., Salt-n-Pepa, The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur
By Rizzo on August 31, 2008

Rizzo Music is back with a new article from the “Popular Music of the 90s” series. Last week I made a list of some of the best pop music of the decade and today I am going to share with you my list for the most popular rock music of the 90s. Out of all the lists and playlists I have created in the past, this was by far the hardest to come up with. There are so many great artists and songs that originated in the 90s and deciding on just 5 songs for every year was tough. I tried to get representation out of all the key rock artists and hopefully I didn’t forget anyone.
After much debate I was able to compile this list of 90s rock music. There are so many songs that I really enjoy that could not be included due restrictions on space but there are 50 great singles here for your enjoyment.
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Posted in AC/DC, Alice In Chains, Better Than Ezra, Blind Melon, Bush, Collective Soul, Counting Crows, Dishwalla, Eve 6, Everclear, Fastball, Foo Fighters, Fuel, Gin Blossoms, Goo Goo Dolls, Green Day, Jane's Addicton, Jesus Jones, Lit, Live, Marcy Playground, Matchbox Twenty, Metallica, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, Oasis, Offspring, The, Pearl Jam, Popular Rock Music of the '90s, R.E.M., Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Semisonic, Smashing Pumpkins, The, Sonic Youth, Spacehog, Sublime, Temple of the Dog, Third Eye Blind, Verve Pipe, The, Verve, The, Wallflowers, The | Tagged AC/DC, Alice in Chains, Better Than Ezra, Blind Melon, Bush, Collective Soul, Counting Crows, Dishwalla, Eve 6, Everclear, Fastball, Foo Fighters, Fuel, Gin Blossoms, Goo Goo Dolls, Green Day, Jane\'s Addicton, Jesus Jones, Lit, Live, Marcy Playground, Matchbox Twenty, Metallica, Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana, Oasis, Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Semisonic, Sonic Youth, Spacehog, Sublime, Temple of the Dog, The Offspring, The Smashing Pumpkins, The Verve, The Verve Pipe, The Wallflowers, Third Eye Blind
By Rizzo on August 28, 2008

Remember when you could turn on the radio and actually find some decent music? That is what I miss the most about the 90s. Whether you liked rock, pop, or rap, the ’90s provided your fix for your particular tastes. Although my tastes tend to lean towards the post-grunge music I grew up on, there was no denying some of the great songs that came out of the decade.
I thought it was time to switch it up and bring to you a new kind of article. Within in the next few weeks I am going to present to you my favorite 90s songs separated by genres. I thought I would start off with pop since its pretty general, and well, popular. I will get to strictly rock and rap and many other sub-genres in the future. Feel free to offer your suggestions.
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Posted in Ace of Base, All-4-One, Amy Grant, Annie Lennox, Backstreet Boys, Billy Joel, Blaque, Bryan Adams, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera, Dionne Farris, EMF, Ginuwine, Haddaway, Jennifer Lopez, K-Ci and JoJo, Los Del Rio, Marc Cohen, Mariah Carey, Michael Bolton, Michael Jackson, Montell Jordan, Mr. Big, Popular Pop Music of the '90s, Real McCoy, The, Rednex, Roxette, Savage Garden, Shania Twain, Sting, SWV, Technotronic, TLC, Vanessa Williams, Whitney Houston, Will Smith | Tagged 4 Non Blondes, Ace of Base, Aerosmith, All-4-One, Amy Grant, Annie Lennox, B52\'s, Backstreet Boys, Billy Joel, Blaque, Bryan Adams, C and C Music Factory, Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera, Dionne Farris, EMF, Ginuwine, Haddaway, Jennifer Lopez, K-Ci and JoJo, LEN, Los Del Rio, Marc Cohen, Mariah Carey, Michael Bolton, Michael Jackson, Montell Jordan, Mr. Big, P. Diddy, Rednex, Roxette, Savage Garden, Shania Twain, Snap, Sting, SWV, Technotronic, The Cranberries, The Fugees, The Notorious B.I.G., The Real McCoy, TLC, Vanessa Williams, Whitney Houston, Will Smith, \'N Sync
By Rizzo on May 25, 2008

It has been a long time since I made a playlist so I decided what better way to make a playlist then to have one with a little variety. ’90s music is a topic that covers all genres and hopefully I got a good sample of the 1990s in this playlist. This playlist doesn’t feature any hits that were that big in the ’90s but does offer some pretty good songs and a couple of my favorites. No matter what type of music you enjoy, this should take you down memory lane, as there is sure to be at least one song you recognize. I hope you enjoy this selection of ’90s music and be sure to tell me what you think of it. Feel free to check out my other playlists at the bottom of the post and I’ll see you next time.
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Posted in Alice In Chains, Beastie Boys, Cranberries, The, Ginuwine, Hootie And The Blowfish, Incubus, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Spin Doctors, Third Eye Blind, Tori Amos | Tagged Alice in Chains, Beastie Boys, Ginuwine, Hootie and The Blowfish, Incubus, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Spin Doctors, The Cranberries, Third Eye Blind, Tori Amos
By Rizzo on January 14, 2008

It is hard to believe that we are 22 weeks in to this ongoing set of posts and I haven’t had a themed playlist on grunge music. This is not going to feature the most popular grunge music of the decade but more the foot tapping, head nodding, personal favorites of mine. Just pure flannel shirt Seattle grunge music at it’s finest. I think I might be hard pressed to find ten different pure grunge artists for this list so I am going to break the rules a little bit for this one, and allow myself to include multiple songs from the same artist.
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Posted in '90s Grunge, Alice In Chains, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots | Tagged Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots
By Rizzo on August 14, 2007

After a long hiatus, it is back to the playlists. They have been fairly popular in the past and I hope that they continue to be. This time Rizzo Music takes a look back on some artists that don’t get enough credit. There were several female artists that defined a section of the music being developed in the 90s. There was the pop side, with Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Jennifer Lopez, which I tried to stay away from. Then there was the side that I enjoyed, with deep ballads from Sarah Mclachlan and alternative rock from the hugely popular Alanis Morissette.
Here I showcase my top ten female artists from the 90s with No Doubt thrown in there because to ignore the impact this group had on the music world would be a shame. Most likely you will recognize most of these songs as all of them were fairly popular. My favorites from this list have to be the first two songs with Sarah’s “Sweet Surrender” and Jewel’s “Hands”.
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Posted in '90s Female Artists, Alanis Morissette, Jewel, Lisa Loeb, Natalie Imbruglia, Natalie Merchant, No Doubt, Paula Cole, Sarah McLachlan, Shania Twain, Sheryl Crow | Tagged Alanis Morissette, Jewel, Lisa Loeb, Natalie Imbruglia, Natalie Merchant, No Doubt, Paula Cole, Sarah McLachlan, Shania Twain, Sheryl Crow