Was 1996 the Peak of Rhyming? Free Daps & Reps
Palm Tree's & Blunts
Big timah timah
I was like 6 
Cryptocurrency Scarface
Coinbased
I was like 6 on the other side of the globe with no innanets and kinda was more interested in video games and toy cars than music. I probably still would have been likeI was like 6
I liked the idea of rap I just didn't know any rappers. The 2000s are when I got on to hip hop.Palm Tree's & Blunts
Big timah timah
I was like 6 on the other side of the globe with no innanets and kinda was more interested in video games and toy cars than music. I probably still would have been like
Nah I remember it was mostly bone thugs and Pac. I spent a lot of time with my uncles they were all into that pac, bone, and master p.
feelosofer
#ninergang
I would make an argument for 1991 being the peak of rhyming, but with that being said 96 was the last year before it became super commercial.
These type of threads always stump me because while the 90s were legit the golden years of this genre, especially the whole 95/96 argument. I feel that 05/06 era was probably the final stand when it comes down to hip hop having a complete balance. 
And this is just a few out of the major drops that happen during that two year period. I remember feeling like in a perfect place when it came down to hip hop. Music stores were dying, but the music is prominent
. Hell, even the alternatives were amazing. While folks cater to the 90s and rightfully so, it pains me to see the 2000s not getting the same reputation...more so bigger props than the golden years. There's something special about bumping Food and Liquor and hearing the beats just come to life over those encrypted rhymes of Lupe. The awe of Little Brother finally making it to the mainstream while shytting on it at the same time
. Nas dropping Hip Hop is Dead and the hype behind "Black Republicans"
. That feeling of the summer coming to a end when Late Registration dropped
. I can't reflect such feelings during the 95/96 era, but still respect that era for such top notch music 
.I lone for another era man
I'm tired of these fukking junkies
.MR. Conclusion
All Star
I would say no... because the title says rhyming. A ton of new styles and creative flows came out since 96.
With that said, "pure hip hop" peaked in 1996. Up until then, artists did a decent job of policing the art to make sure their was a healthy representation of skilled rappers in the mainstream and public conscious. Talent-less hacks were shunned. Swag was second to skills.
I will never forget thinking to myself sometime in 1997..."this shyt is already over". I could just feel the wackness getting a stronger foothold in hip-hop. As a kid I was already reminiscing at that point.
filial_piety
Banned
As someone who lived through that entire decade and remembers buying all of those albums as they came out...I wouldn't call it the peak...but probably the last really good year for you to get a lot of great lyrical emcees all putting out albums at once.
After 1996, you still good quality albums here and there....but you didn't get them in large numbers like you did from 1991-1996.
After that, the Bad Boy era sort of took over...and the glitzy dancing, partying lullaby rhymes took over for a while, and because it became mainstream and sold well....everyone created their own watered down version of it (cue Nas "You Owe Me") for example.
After 1996, you still good quality albums here and there....but you didn't get them in large numbers like you did from 1991-1996.
After that, the Bad Boy era sort of took over...and the glitzy dancing, partying lullaby rhymes took over for a while, and because it became mainstream and sold well....everyone created their own watered down version of it (cue Nas "You Owe Me") for example.
I totally disagree...98/99 we had Pun, Canibus, Nas and Eminem.
Jay Z had improved lyrically as well as Outkast compared to what they did in 96.
Killah Priest Ras Kas, Kurupt all had albums in 98.
Meth and Gza, Redman....The Lox and Mase.......if there was ever a peek in "rhyming" it was 98/99
Jay Z had improved lyrically as well as Outkast compared to what they did in 96.
Killah Priest Ras Kas, Kurupt all had albums in 98.
Meth and Gza, Redman....The Lox and Mase.......if there was ever a peek in "rhyming" it was 98/99
OGBobbyJohnson
Veteran
It's hard to go listen to this trash out nowadays after coming up in that era..Even the rappers who are considered "lyrical" nowadays are just aight when you compare them to96 blessed US with BARZ on a hundred, thousand, trillion
RD Jay
IWW Nas
Makaveli Pac
Life After Biggie
Illadelph Black Thought
ATLiens Outkast
Rock & Ruck
Half A Mil
Sauce Money
The shyt Ras Kass was spitting on Soul On Ice
I could go on forever but like you said Barz was on a hundred, thousand, trillion
ZEB WALTON
ayo! - BEZ
I havent heard an album as lyrically conplex and deep since wutang forever (97)so 96 overall might be it. Something in the air that year