The 10 Worst Years in Rap History

You can often learn just as much—if not more—by examining the downtrodden periods of a genre as opposed to only looking at the highs. So, after we ranked the best years in rap history earlier this week, it’s only right we rank the worst as well. So what makes a poor year in rap, and how does it happen? Several factors contribute. Poor years often arise when rappers become obsessed with chasing trends, which leads to a dearth of innovation. They also occur when the leading figures hit creative cold streaks or stop competing altogether. Following an all-time great year can yield additional challenges. Then there are factors that artists or labels can’t control, such as the effects of death or generational global events that can disrupt entire industries. When deciding on our ranking of the worst rap years, we weighted the quality of the music released that year and the significant moments—or lack thereof—that defined it, with a particular focus on patterns or outcomes that were detrimental to hip-hop. We didn’t consider any year before 1990—the year rap became a true commercial force—because the genre was still in its infancy, and it doesn’t seem fair to compare the early...