Entertainment
Growing up in the '90s was an experience that can't be explained to outsides. Whether you were sheltered from most of the culture brought about from the industry or you were a regular partaker, everyone has something to talk about when it comes to the '90s. For my siblings and I, our parents were pretty much the G.O.A.T's when it came to letting us listen to music and watch movies. Knowing how open they were with us made me think of '90s songs you should let your kid listen to, even though you kind of shouldn't.
For me, the '90s gave the music industry something that it'll never get back. The '90s introduced the world to Bad Boy and Ruff Ryders. It also gave the world Biggie Smalls and 2Pac. Even if the '90s wasn't your favorite decade, one thing you can't deny is the impact and longevity of the music it gave us. It's been almost 20 years since the decade has ended, and I can still confidently say that the '90s changed my life in ways only my fellow '90s kids will understand, especially with the music.
Need a refresher of what it entailed of? Check out these 13 songs that you should totally let your kid listen to (even though you shouldn't).
1
"Scarred" by Uncle Luke feat. Trick Daddy
If you're from the south, you understand why this song has a place on this list.
2
"What's It Gonna Be?" by Busta Rhymes feat. Janet Jackson
Before Janet Jackson's infamous nip slip in the early 2000s she was in full out spandex mode with Busta Rhymes for the raunchy "What's It Gonna Be?" If you haven't listened to the lyrics in a while, you may not remember why it's totally inappropriate.
3
"One More Chance" by The Notorious B.I.G.
Laced with incredible R&B-production, this Notorious B.I.G's hit-single is more than a little inappropriate for the kiddos to be listening to. But when it's a classic track, everything else is null and void.
4
"Anywhere" by 112 feat. Lil' Zane
Although I'm not sure if 112's video for "Anywhere" is the first time I saw strippers on a pole in a video, it's definitely the most memorable one.
5
"Knockin' Da Boots" by H-Town
If not for the high notes at the beginning of the song, letting the kids hear real R&B is enough to make this a constant play.
6
"Hot Like Fire" by Aaliyah
Aaliyah was pretty young when she hit the scene, but that didn't stop songwriters from giving her songs that may have been a little too "old" for her. Doesn't take away from how fire "Hot Like Fire" was though.
7
"Too Hot" by Coolio
My sister's favorite song back in the day, Coolio's "Too Hot" scared us both out of having sex before we even knew the extent of it.
8
"Toss It Up" by 2Pac feat. Danny Boy and K-Ci & JoJo
I find myself slobbering a little every time I see 2Pac in this video. Even though I didn't know what "I go a long way to get you wet; what you expect?" meant, he just sounded so sexy saying it.
9
"The Bad Touch" by The Bloodhound Gang
Perhaps the most inappropriate song and video of 1999, Bloodhound Gang's "The Bad Touch" left a lasting impression on every '90s kid I know.
10
"When The Lights Go Out" by 5ive
Honestly, I almost forgot about this song. Now that I've found it again though, it reminds me why I might have forgotten it.
11
"Boom Boom Boom" by VengaBoys
I vividly remember singing this song to the top of my lungs with my sister when I was a kid, and now that I know what the lyrics actually mean, it makes me side-eye my decisions.
12
"Touch It" by Monifah
When Monifah released this song back in 1998, it was my mom's favorite song. I never really understood what she was talking about, but as I got older, I realized that her "touch it" wasn't the same type of touching MC Hammer had been talking about a few years before.
13
"Action" by Terror Fabulous
Although this old school dancehall track from Terror Fabulous is definitely catchy, when translated from Patois to English, it's not the cleanest song to have your kids listen to. That won't stop me from killing my kids with it though.
