A snapshot of 1994’s best loved single releases, borrowing the top 40 list from the rap nerd’s bible that is Ego Trip‘s Book of Rap Lists:
1. Craig Mack: “Flava in Your Ear” (Bad Boy)
2. Snoop Doggy Dogg: “Gin & Juice” (Death Row)
3. Wu-Tang Clan: “C.R.E.A.M.” (Loud)
4. The Notorious B.I.G.: “Juicy”/ “Unbelievable” (Bad Boy)
5. Method Man: “Bring the Pain” (Def Jam)
6. O.C.: “Time’s Up” (Wild Pitch)
7. Common: “i used to love h.e.r.” (Relativity)
8. Black Moon: “I Got Cha Opin (Remix)”/“Reality (Killin’ Every Nigga in Sight)” (Nervous)
9. Keith Murray: “The Most Beautifullest Thing in This World” (Jive)
10. Above the Law: “Black Superman” (Ruthless)
11. Nas: “It Ain’t Hard to Tell” (Columbia)
12. Smif-n-Wessun: “Bucktown”/“Let’s Git It On” (Nervous)
13. Fugees: “Nappy Heads (Remix)” (Ruffhouse)
14. Jeru the Damaja: “D. Original” (Payday)
15. Gang Starr: “Mass Appeal” (Chrysalis)
16. Nas: “The World is Yours” (Columbia)
17. Outkast: “Player’s Ball” (LaFace)
18. Scarface: “I Seen a Man Die” (Rap-a-Lot)
19. Group Home: “Supa Star” (Payday)
20. Snoop Doggy Dogg: “Murder Was the Case” (Death Row)
21. Too $hort: “Money in the Ghetto” (Jive)
22. The Lady of Rage featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg: “Afro Puffs” (Death Row)
23. Wu-Tang Clan: “Can It Be All So Simple” (Loud)
24. Channel Live featuring KRS-One: “Mad Izm” (Capitol)
25. Black Moon: “How Many MCs” (Nervous)
26. Redman: “Rockafella (Remix)” (Def Jam)
27. Redman: “Can’t Wait” (Def Jam)
28. Black Moon: “Buck ‘em Down (remix)”/“Murder MCs” (Nervous)
29. De La Soul: “Ego Trippin’ Part Two” (Tommy Boy)
30. Gravediggaz feat. Shabazz the Disciple & Killah Priest: “Diary of a Madman” (Gee Street)
31. Crooklyn Dodgers: “Crooklyn” (MCA)
32. Outkast: “Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik” (LaFace)
33. Bone Thugs-n-Harmony: “Thuggish Ruggish Bone” (Relativity)
34. Dru Down featuring Luniz: “Ice Cream Man” (Relativity)
35. Craig Mack featuring Q-Tip: “Get Down (Remix)” (Bad Boy)
36. Shyheim: “On and On” (Virgin)
37. JT the Bigga Figga featuring Mac Mall: “Game Recognize Game” (Get Low)
38. E-40 featuring the Click: “Captain Save a Hoe” (Sick wid It)
39. Ill Al Skratch: “Where My Homiez” (Mercury)
40. Nate Dogg & Warren G: “Regulate” (Death Row)