The 90s defined us all, whether it was what we wore, what we listened to and watched, or the politics of the decade. Here are 90 moments the decade gave us, which we will always remember!
1990
1. The Internet becomes a thing
2. Mandela Nelson is released from prison
3. Keenan Ivory Wayans presents In Living Color
4. Walter Mosley begins his Easy Rawlins series
5. House parties are forever changed when House Party” is released in theaters
6. LL Cool J’s Mama Said Knock You Out is released
7. Denzel Washington wins Best Supporting Actor Academy Award for Glory
8. Michael Jackson’s “Black or White” video is released
9. “Kitchen Table Series” from artist and storyteller Carrie Mae Weems
10. The Milli Vanilli lip-synching scandal
11. Jodeci steps on the scene and starts snatching up souls with their 4-part harmonies
1991
12. The Rodney King beating rocks the nation
13. Raven Symone aka Olivia Kendall gave us this moment
14. Anita Hill’s testimony against Clarence Thomas
15. John Singleton becomes first African American nominated for Best Director, Boyz in the Hood
16. Magic Johnson publicly announces HIV status
17. Boyz II Men first album Cooleyhighharmony is released
18. A Tribe Called Quest releases acclaimed album The Low End Theory
1992
19. Dream Team
20. Spike Lee blesses us with Malcolm X
21. Toni Braxton becomes the 1st lady of LaFace
22. The Jacksons 5: An American Dream premieres
23. Dwayne and Whitley get married on A Different World
24. Terry McMillan releases Waiting to Exhale
25. Kris Kross made us want to “Jump, Jump”
26. En Vogue drops hit album Funky Divas
27. Boomerang premieres
28. Dr. Dre drops The Chronic
1993
29. “What’s Love Got To Do With It” – Tina Turner biopic played by Angela Bassett and her arms
30. Living Single premieres (*ahem* a full year before Friends)
31. Tupac and Janet Jackson join forces in the legendary black classic, Poetic Justice
32. Stephan Urquelle makes his first appearance on Family Matters
33. VIBE magazine launches
34. Connie Porter publishes Dear Addy in the American Girl series
35. The world is introduced to Outkast when they debut with the album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik
36. Toni Morrison wins the Nobel Prize in Literature and straight bodies her Nobel lecture
1994
37. Lisa Left Eye Lopes burns down Andre Rison’s house
38. Mary J. Blige’s My Life album drops
39. New York Undercover premieres (first primetime series with two minority actors as the leads)
40. War erupts in Rwanda
41. Sister, Sister premieres on ABC
42. This Fresh Prince of Bel-Air episode had everyone in their feelings
43. Black Men United sing “You Will Know,” penned by D’Angelo
44. All That sketch comedy show premieres on Nickelodeon
45. TLC drops music video for “Waterfalls”
46. Lil Kim’s fashion starts to evolve
1995
47. Michael Jordan returns to basketball and leads the Bulls to three more championships
48. Friday hits theaters
49. The Million Man March takes over DC
50. East Coast vs. West Coast showdown at the Source Awards
51. On The WB (UPN) – The Wayans Bros.,Steve Harvey Show, Sister Sister, Smart Guy, For Your Love
52. Walter Mosely’s Devil in Blue Dress becomes a film starring Denzel Washington
53. Montell Jordan – This Is How We Do It
54. The OJ acquittal divides the country
55. Eazy-E Dies of AIDS complications
56. “Scream” video with Michael and Janet
1996
57. Space Jam hits theaters
58. C Bear and Jamal premieres on Fox Kids
59. Hey Arnold is added to the Nickelodeon line-up
60. The Olympics take place in Atlanta
61. Tupac is murdered in Las Vegas
62. The Fugees give the world the gift of The Score
63. The Jamie Foxx Show premieres
64. Timbaland introduces Supafriends with Aaliyah, Ginuwine, Missy, and more
65. “Moe to the E to tha” Moesha series premiere
66. The Nutty Professor hits theaters
1997
67. Tiger Woods becomes the youngest to win the Masters
68. Bill Cosby’s son, Ennis Cosby, is murdered
69. Soul Food and the infamous “Family f**ked my husband” line happens
70. Amistad hits theaters
71. The name Tyrone is forever changed in the debut and later live album of Erykah Badu’s Baduism
72. Martin series ends on FOX
73. The Lion King hits Broadway
74. Biggie is murdered in Los Angeles
75. Missy Elliott drops the music video for “Supa Dupa Fly”
1998
76. The Famous Jett Jackson premieres
77. Destiny’s Child catapults into the mainstream with their self-titled album and hit single “No, No, No Pt. 2”
78. Dennis Rodman weds Carmen Electra
79. Bill Clinton denies he had “sexual relations” with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.
80. The Chicago Bulls win their 6th NBA title in eight years. This is also Michael Jordan’s last game as a Bull, clinching the game in the final seconds on a fadeaway jumper.
81. Jay-Z’s Volume 2. …Hard Knock Life is released
82. Brandy and Monica give us “The Boy Is Mine”
1999
83. Serena Williams wins her first US Open at 17
84. The Best Man hits theaters
85. Lauryn Hill cleans up at the Grammys
86. Destiny’s Child releases The Writings on the Wall, the last album with four members
87. Cita’s World premieres on BET
88. Sister Souljah releases The Coldest Winter Ever
89. Sisqo releases the “Thong Song”
90. Lil’ Kim and Diana Ross have this moment at the MTV Video Music Awards
What do you remember the most about the 90s? Tell us in the comments.
