* The Notorious B.I.G.: Known for his powerful storytelling and lyrical ability, Biggie Smalls released two classic albums, "Ready to Die" (1994) and "Life After Death" (1997), before his tragic death in 1997.
* Nas: Nas emerged in the early 1990s with his debut album, "Illmatic" (1994), which is widely considered to be one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. He continued to release critically acclaimed albums throughout the decade.
* Jay-Z: Starting in the late 1980s, Jay-Z rose to prominence in the 1990s with his business acumen and a series of successful solo albums, including "Reasonable Doubt" (1996) and "The Blueprint" (2001).
* Eminem: Gaining significant attention with his major-label debut album "Infinite" (1996), Eminem reached great success in the late 1990s with his albums "The Slim Shady LP" (1999) and "The Marshall Mathers LP" (2000).
* Snoop Dogg: Snoop Dogg became one of the most recognizable faces of West Coast hip-hop with his first two albums, "Doggystyle" (1993) and "Tha Doggfather" (1996), collaborating with Dr. Dre and other members of the influential Death Row Records.
* Dr. Dre: Dr. Dre was a key figure in the rise of West Coast hip-hop, producing for artists like Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur, and releasing critically acclaimed solo albums, including "The Chronic" (1992), which helped popularize the G-funk sound.
These are just a few examples of the many talented rappers who made significant contributions to hip-hop during the 1990s. Each of these artists left a lasting impact on the genre, and their music continues to be celebrated by fans around the world.