1994 Hip-Hop Sleeper Classics
Common, Redman, Gang Starr and Pete Rock & CL Smooth didn’t have the biggest albums of the year. But the story has changed over time.
by Alvin aqua Blanco
Thirty years ago, 1994 saw the release of a number of hip-hop albums that frequently get cited as the best of the year, and of all time: Nas’ Illmatic, OutKast’s Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, Scarface’s The Diary, the Notorious B.I.G.’s Ready to Die. But that leaves a lot of quality albums — cherished by fans for being sleeper classics — that just didn’t get mainstream recognition, like Redman’s Dare Iz a Darkside and Gang Starr’s Hard to Earn. And LPs that have, in time, proved to be highly influential, like Common’s Resurrection and Pete Rock & CL Smooth’s The Main Ingredient. Dismissing these 1994 albums as failures would be absurd, though, as over the years they’ve become seen as important hip-hop waypoints that have stood the test of time.
Some albums, whether they be juggernauts upon release or critical darlings of the zeitgeist, tend to get all the attention, contemporaneously and historically. But in any given year there are dozens of records deserving attention that might get stuck in the shadows of bigger projects. Nas, OutKast, Scarface and Biggie have become icons, their impact on hip-hop culture undeniable. But Redman, Common, Gang Starr and the since-broken-up Pete Rock & CL Smooth are essential, too.
The Main Ingredient was the sophomore follow-up to the beloved Mecca and the Soul Brother, and the final proper album from Mount Vernon duo Pete Rock & CL Smooth. Pete Rock had already established a reputation as one of hip-hop’s most dynamic and sought-after producers, having contributed to Nas’ Illmatic (“The World Is Yours”) and released numerous “Pete Rock Remixes.” The Main Ingredient’s use of jazzy loops, sturdy drums and soulful chops was the perfect tapestry for CL Smooth’s effortless wordplay. Perhaps more importantly, the album played like a bridge between the glossier mainstream hip-hop of the day and the purist-preferred underground, with sounds that eschewed radio placement in favor of the principle of beats and rhymes.
Redman was keenly aware of the pitfalls of crossing over. He was part of the Hit Squad, whose leaders, EPMD, directly addressed the issue on the 1992 hit “Crossover.” The New Jersey rapper managed hits on his own terms with his 1992 debut Whut? Thee Album (“Tonight’s da Night,” “Time 4 Sum Aksion”). But for his sophomore endeavor, Dare Iz a Darkside, Redman went deep underground, handling most of the production himself and coming up with dark, dingy soundcapes. The beats suited his verbally dense lyrics, beloved by his devotees. Redman would prove his staying power with Muddy Waters in 1996, and he’s still a force as an independent rapper.
Common is also moving more like an indie rapper nowadays, while also being a card-carrying member of SAG as an accomplished actor. Though his debut Can I Borrow a Dollar? was praised by critics, the Chicago MC found his footing on 1994’s Resurrection, an album acclaimed for its lyrical dexterity and brilliant production (including a healthy contribution from a then-neophyte producer named No I.D.). Common’s more recent albums have been modestly received compared to Be and Finding Forever. Nevertheless, Common’s skills as a rapper’s rapper are still elite, and in 2024 he teamed with fellow ’94 alum Pete Rock to drop an album called The Auditorium Vol. 1. The project illustrated how three decades later, both the producer and rapper are still formidable players in the culture.
And is there a more cherished throughline in hip-hop — since the late ’80s — than DJ Premier? Pick a decade ever since, and he was involved. Premier would work with every artist mentioned in this essay, yet his ’94 album, Gang Starr’s Hard To Earn, is easily the least commercially heralded, save for Common’s Resurrection. Guru and Premier’s fourth album meant they were now grizzled veterans. But they were still trying to break through commercially, while refusing to dilute their art.
Perhaps unknowingly, the fans showed foresight when they certified Redman’s Dare Iz a Darkside, Gang Starr’s Hard to Earn, Common’s Resurrection and Pete Rock & CL Smooth’s The Main Ingredient beyond year-end lists. Lists are usually forgotten about by the spring anyway. Thirty years ago, there weren’t music streaming services, so unless you had limitless funds, you were pickier about what you played and cherished.
A Top 5, no matter how precise, makes it impossible to cover all the bases. But with basically every hip-hop album ever now available to stream, it has become easier to zoom out for a wider perspective. You can trace the sonic influences from 1994 to producers like Mustard and Metro Boomin, and current star rappers like J. Cole, Travis Scott, Tyler, the Creator, Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Hip-hop is a crowded field, but artists who make a mark eventually get their due.
