Decades: 1990s

Remember those CD compilations of popular '90s alt-rock radio hits that used to be advertised on late-night cable TV? Relive those days with this playlist of popular '90s mid-tempo hits.

Sassy, sexy and soulful, these are the essential anthems by the all-female R&B groups that dominated the '90s pop charts. Scrubs are, naturally, not welcome.

The '90s weren't just flannel and cynicism. Enjoy these fun, positive grunge-era tunes.

Sometimes more memorable than the films themselves, these alt rock soundtrack songs captured the 1990s in all its flannel-clad glory.

Starting in the early-mid '90, hip hop took on dramatic changes in sound as gangster rap and rich, soulful production became the dominant styles. These are the classic club anthems from that era.

As its new, diverse, and endlessly exciting sounds drew inspiration from across the musical spectrum, R&B came to define American mainstream music in the '90s. Here are the key tracks from R&B's most vital decade.

All your favorite one-hit wonders from the '90s.

New Jack Swing defined the urban music scene as the '80s became the '90s and R&B met hip-hop. Rediscover this era of sweet harmonies with a hint of swagger and unlimited style.

In the 1990s, these songs hit #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, America's barometer of song popularity.

Hip-hop producers DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Q-Tip and Large Professor helped make Nas's Illmatic a '90s hip hop classic. Explore the best of the quartet's other work from the same era.

Despite the prominence of malaise-infused genres like grunge, the '90s yielded a glut of shamelessly fun-loving, crowd-pleasing hits. Here's our salute to the '90s songs that made us feel so good.

This smoothed-out, laid back hip-hop goes deep on the jazz-sampling tip and showcases MCs dropping deep and introspective lyrics. One to bliss out to.

Tap into your teenage angst with classic songs from the '90s era of pop punk.

One of the most important and popular developments in rock history, the alternative sounds of grunge and Britpop ruled the airwaves in the 1990s. Get out your flannel shirt and listen to these essential '90s alt-rock songs.

N.W.A., 2pac, Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, G-Unit, Eminem: Dr. Dre's production resume speaks for itself. Listen to the greatest beats from hip hop's most influential producer.

In the 1990s, dance songs combined elements of electronic and house music with R&B and soul-inspired vocals. Rhythm is indeed a dancer.

Along with fellow heavy hitters DJ Premiere and RZA, Pete Rock helped to define the soulful, sample-based sound of '90s East Coast rap. Here is Pete Rock's oeuvre; from his work with CL Smooth to the hits he produced for Biggie, Common, and others.

Listen to the best songs from the legendary Houston, TX based record label, Rap-a-Lot Records. Notable artists include Geto Boys, Scarface, and Bun B.

Nate Dogg was one of the best hook singers in the history of hip hop. This playlist highlights the best collaborations from his legendary career.

Turn the bass way up for this collection of funky tracks by legendary hip-hop producer J Dilla.

The 1990s yielded the most memorable slow jams of all time. This playlist is dedicated to the ballads and anthems that defined a decade of R&B.

Cited by countless rappers, journalists, and fellow producers as one of the greatest hip-hop producers of all time, DJ Premier has left an an indelible mark on the genre. Here are Primo's greatest beats.

The pandemonium of the boy band era may never be matched again. These sweet vocals and deeply felt love songs stirred the hearts of a generation of screaming teenage girls (and many adults too).

With the rise of alternative rock and the artistic maturity of hip-hop, MTV found itself at the dawn of its second golden age. Relive the '90s without all the commercials.

A sunny, nostalgia-drenched playlist packed with memorable hits from the ska-punk of Sublime and Reel Big Fish to the pop-rock of No Doubt and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Relive your bright and sunny California-in-the-'90s memories with these musical guests and soundtrack highlights from Beverly Hills 90210. Perfect for a giddy girls' night.

A collection of R&B, pop, and hip hop classics -- including forgotten gems -- from the '70s, '80s and '90s that is guaranteed to get any party movin’.

R&B hits from the rich history of premier hip hop label Bad Boy Records, started by Sean "Diddy" Combs in 1993. http://www.badboyonline.com

Set up the chess set and sip on a 40 oz. while listening to some classic east-coast boom bap from the genre's mid-'90s golden era.

You may not fill out a bikini like Mariah, or sport a six pack like LL, but none of that matters when you're partying to these classic hits on a hot summer day by the pool.

A collection of music created by and/or featuring members of the Atlanta, Georgia based hip hop/R&B/soul musical collective, the Dungeon Family. Most notable members include Outkast, Goodie Mob, and Organized Noize Productions.

One of the greatest hip hop groups of all time, the Wu-Tang Clan has proved timeless and astonishingly prolific. This mix takes you straight to the slums of Shaolin, covering the work of Wu-Tang's core members, outsiders, and everything in between.

Since her early teens, Brandy has been working hard, multi-tasking as a professional singer and actress. These are the best soulful r&b songs that she recommends for unwinding after a long day. Request songs at: http://on.fb.me/HYcoqc

Kick it by the Weber with these hip hop jams marinated in summertime flavor. Expect throwbacks, new joints, and a handful of guilty pleasures.

An intimate experience with some of rap's most compelling introspective and philosophical songs.

Soul music re-emerged and took on many forms throughout the 90's and 00's, often referred to as Neo Soul or Soul Revival. Here’s an eclectic collection of songs from the men that captured that spirit.

When rappers decide to get political, they don't pull punches. Hitting back against police harassment, calling for political payback, and speaking unflinchingly about society and media as a whole, these rappers take aim with an almighty righteous attack.

Classic bangers from and inspired by the late '80s/early '90s golden age of gangsta rap. Both coasts represent.

Let these laid back, southern-fried hip-hop grooves soundtrack your next good-time BBQ gathering. Slow your roll.

Soul music re-emerged and took on many forms throughout the 90's and 00's, often referred to as "Neo Soul" or "Soul Revival." Listen to the greatest songs from the women that captured that spirit.

Coined in the early '90s, neo-soul describes the fusion of soul and contemporary R&B. While following the tradition of classic soul, neo-soul artists frequently incorporate elements of jazz, funk and hip hop into their music.

Hard-edged, grungy, and melancholy -- while also thoughtful, sentimental and melodic -- these cuts from alternative bands in the '90s and '00s reveal the shared sonic influences (and penchants for loud outbursts) of their creators.

It wasn't all about grunge at the birth of The Alternative Era. Some artists took from the rich history of elegantly-constructed pop and made their own indie-minded version of sophistication.

In the 1990s, these bands revitalized and re-imagined the British tradition of tuneful, guitar driven pop. Listen to the best songs from the bands that inspired and pioneered the scene.

If you thought your favorite '90s alt rockers were gone then you were mistaken. Listen to the return of the flannel-flaunting hitmakers who are attempting to be restored to the glory of the grunge years.

During the 1990s, the unconventional indie side of the alt-rock boom thrived even as the fortunes of more accessible acts waxed and waned. Guitar-heavy, smart, and often slightly strange, this sound is exemplified by Pavement and its peers.

Sink into the gently serrated sound of shoegaze, that amorphous strain of British indie pop of the late '80s and early '90s. All the original shoegazer hits are here, from all the key figures in the scene that celebrated itself.

Evoking memories of hot summer days, these mellow and soulful rap cuts from the '90s to today are perfect for lazy Sundays. Nod ya head.

Developed in the 1980s, Math rock is a guitar-based genre influenced by progressive and experimental rock known for using odd time signatures, interlocking rhythms and complex arrangements.

As the '80s became the '90s, Manchester's lively, drug-fueled music scene smashed together dance music and psychedelia with wild-eyed glee. Recall the acts that peaked during 1989's New Summer of Love, as well as the bands that book-ended the era.

The heavier side of the alternative boom of the late 1980s and early '90s.

Born of the '90s DIY scene in the Pacific Northwest, the riot grrrl movement features bands that combine aggressive vocals and empowering lyrics with thrashing punk instrumentals.

The fiercest, most bludgeoning tracks from the thrash/speed-metal heyday of the 1980s and early '90s. Kick it up!!!

Post-rock tracks ranging from the abstract (Godspeed You! Black Emperor) to the melodic (Stereolab) and everything in between.

These precision-mounted industrial tracks from the style's late 1980s/early '90s peak era set the scene for the industrial metal hybrid to follow.

From the stylish East Coast multi-piece bands to the more playful, slacker-style SoCal scene, here are all your third-wave ska favorites that made the '90s so much fun.

Before grunge entered mainstream consciousness in the early 1990s, it was a vibrant, restless rock scene rooted in the Pacific Northwest. Get on your flannels, ripped jeans and Docs and head back.

Rock's greatest in-concert moments, from the grunge gods of the '90s to the indie icons of the '00s and beyond.

The mid-1990s brought about the end of the grunge heyday, but many of its key players have continued performing in various incarnations. This selection of songs presents many of them, along with a number of their notable followers.

Whether they're jamming on extended improvisational solos, combining unlikely genres, or playing songs backwards, jam bands make innovative, risky, and unclassifiable music that'll never sound the same way twice.

Contemporary pop-rock ('90s to today), focusing on female vocalists and sensitive guys. Contemplative and emotional yet SFW (Safe for Work).

During the 1980s and '90s, D.C. was the place to be for hardcore. Enjoy the finest bands from that time and place, as well as their latter-day incarnations that branched out in different sonic directions.

It's the mid-'90s. You've got a sweet bachelor pad and a substantial CD collection. You listen to silky-smooth pop jams. This is your playlist.

This is the the story of a late night urban romance. An ingenious combination of house, trip hop and forgotten pop from the '90s, this playlist moves you through the light and heavy moments of love in the city at night.

Rediscover fun, upbeat electronic music from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s, built on dancefloor-ready breakbeats, clever loops and lots of vocal samples. Check it out now, my funk soul brothas.

Go deeper into the dark and funky world of trip hop with this playlist that leans heavy on deep cuts and instrumentals from the some of the genre's masters.

Trip-Hop began in the mid-1990s when England's hip hop and house scenes converged to create a unique hybrid of downtempo electronic music.

Every song featured on the hit '90s show Dawson's Creek. This will take you right back to Capeside.

Emerging as an antidote to the glitzy-jiggy rap scene of the late '90s, underground artists started putting out uncompromising hip-hop on small independent labels. Look back on a sometimes underappreciated scene.

In the late '80s and early '90s, country stars like Garth Brooks staged an unprecedented invasion on the pop charts. These days, this new batch of twangin' torch-carriers has been crashing the border from Music City to mainstream fame.

Despite what the Baby Boomers would have you believe, the '90s was the greatest decade for popular music. Why? So many crowd-pleasing hits.

Calling all creepers and fiend-chasers. This roundup of psychobilly and horror punk is sure to have you on your worst behavior.

Re-live the thrill of your favorite shock-tastic horror movies with these screech-worthy songs from your favorite '90s fright fests. Put on your ghost face mask, channel Jennifer Love Hewitt, and never, ever say "I'll be right back."

The definitive '90s jock jams collection.

Bust a move to these memorable hits from the '80s and '90s. Relive all the pop, hip-hop and alt-rock songs you secretly -- or not so secretly -- love to sing along to.

Revisit the finest holiday pop hits of the 1980s and '90s with this set of Yuletide tunes by the era's biggest chart-topping artists.

For those of us who prefer a slightly mellower start to the day, here's a selection of midtempo tunes from the mid-'90s rebirth of electronic pop and the current indie artists carrying on in their footsteps.

Dance the night away with these classic R&B and pop hits of the '80s, '90s and early '00s.

The sound of an unhinged party in a dingy basement, this collection of restless and aggressive grunge showcases the awesomely heavy side of '90s alt-rock.

Infuse your daily grind with suspenseful drama by letting the experimental sweep of these post-rock epics be your soundtrack.

Lively twee pop for friendly gatherings, drinking and dancing. Because adorable people like to party too.

Grab a partner and relive all the awkward moments and sweaty palms of your first slow dances! These '90s pop, pop-rock, and R&B slow jams will have you swaying all night long.

Hip hop and R&B cuts from the most iconic films of '90s black cinema.

Classic 12-inch singles from the 1990s featuring hot remixes of pop hits, extended R&B workouts, and soulful house classics.

The bookwormish appeal of twee pop meets the bookwormish appeal of studying for your exams. Get into your cardigan and black-rimmed glasses for these twee classics from the late '80s to the present.

Hip hop's founding producers invented the genre by sampling deep funk breakbeats, but in the early '90s a young Dr. Dre found new inspiration in the synth-based funk of Parliament/Funkadelic records. He dubbed the new sound "G-Funk".

Kick back with these easygoing tunes from popular late-1990s pop/rock artists who favor earnest lyrics and jangly guitars. Take a chill pill!