Ah, 90s hip hop, the golden age of the genre. So many different artists creating so many different styles. Every new song felt like an entire new subgenre was being created. That’s not to say Hip Hop is bad now, but back then it was a real feast for the senses.
You’re here because you wanna recreate those vibes and have a party that celebrates them. This guide has you covered. So grab your boombox, lace up your sneakers, and let’s get into a 90s Hip Hop experience!
When and where to host a 90s Hip Hop Bash
Any occasion is good for this sort of theme, but I think they work best for birthdays and New Year’s Eve parties, or just throwing a party for the hell of it!
The best venue for this is a house party, preferably one with a decent sized yard, so the party can spread out more. Outside, weather permitting of course, you can set up a dance floor for those Hip Hop dance offs, a buffet table and a chill area with comfy chairs and beanbags.
If you’re expecting a bigger crowd, you can rent some loft spaced with exposed brick walls to really give it a more gritty vibe. Decorate the space with graffiti art, old vinyl records, and retro Hip Hop and movie posters. Set up a DJ booth and a dance floor to keep the party going all night.
If you’re really expecting the party to go off with a large crowd, consider renting a community center. These venues offer ample space and facilities for activities like dance-offs and rap karaoke. Enhance the ambiance with neon lights, boombox props, and a custom dance floor with 90s Hip Hop-themed graphics.
How To Decorate The Space
I’ve already touched on this, but the best way to set that 90s Hip Hop vibe is by having graffiti art hanging on the walls. You could even set up a graffiti wall, so people can try their hand at some art work. Be careful with this, though. Don’t use an actual wall at the venue but set up a separate space for this. You don’t want a bill to clean graffiti up after the party. Setting this up outside is the safest option.
Some Boom Box props are a great addition. You can probably find some old boom boxes at a thrift store. These can be placed around the venue and used as table centerpieces and placed on shelves.
Hang iconic posters of the biggest stars of the 90s like 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G., and Run-DMC. These visuals will immerse guests in the era and spark conversations about their favorite artists and tunes.
If you’re going big in a loft space or community center, you’re gonna need some decent lights to recreate the feel of a Hip Hop club. You can hire these for the night from a local provider. Some LED strip lights will also work really well in whatever venue you choose to host at.
Create customized banners or signage and hang them strategically around the venue. These banners should feature memorable lyrics from the biggest anthems of the era.
Invitations
In the age of social media, most people will of course send out their invitations here by creating an event. That’s fine, but it’s a much nicer touch to send out physical invites, like we used to do in the 90s. So, I recommend sending out paper invitations to give a more tangible invite to your guests. Plus, it’s fun to get creative with one.
For your paper invitations, use bold colors like neon green, vibrant orange, or electric blue to create an attention-grabbing invitation. Incorporate graffiti-inspired fonts for the text and include iconic 90s Hip Hop imagery like boomboxes, turntables, or spray-painted backgrounds. Using fonts used by Hip Hop artists of the day will add an extra touch of authenticity, and your guests can have fun trying to guess which artist’s font you’ve used. Personally, I like De La Soul’s logo font as it has that party vibe about it.
For the wording, you should begin with a catchy phrase like “Yo! You’re invited to an epic 90s Hip Hop throw down” to set the tone. Maybe that’s a bit cringe, but you get the idea, I’m sure you can come up with something better. Include relevant details such as the dress code encouraging guests to wear their freshest 90s hip hop outfits, the start time, venue address, RSVP instructions and so on.
You can of course still just create a social media, even if you don’t want to bother with paper invitations. The same information needs to be included, but you can keep guests engaged by posting 90s hip hop trivia and some music videos from the era.
What to wear
This is where you can get really fun and creative. Hip hop style was, and still is, all about baggy jeans, baseball caps, basket ball jerseys, sneakers, printed T-Shirts, tracksuits, crop tops, shorts, big medallions and big earrings. For the best inspiration, you should look at music videos from the era, but here are a few ideas to get you thinking.
Pair some baggy light-washed or acid-washed jeans with a fitted t-shirt or oversized hoodie. A basketball jersey goes well with this too, extra points if you can get one from the early 90s. A basketball jersey also works with baggy shorts or leggings for women.
Tracksuits feature heavily in hip hop videos back then. Any color will do, again, extra points if you can find an authentic one from a vintage store. Wear with sneakers, hat and a gold chain.
Speaking of sneakers. High top ones are the most authentic. Nike, Reebok and Converse were the most popular brands then and still remain so.
Accessorize with gold chains, snap back baseball caps, bandannas, sunglasses and any other gold jewelry. Stand out with more eccentric accessories, like an alarm clock medallion in the style of Public Enemy or a top hat.
For ladies, again check out videos from the era, although you might not want to rock up in just a bikini to a party in December! Crop tops and biker shorts will work well, pick bold colored ones. Plaid skirts, crop top and a bomber jacket layered on top are also good choices. Tracksuits are also an option to make things easier, this will look great with platform sneakers.
Accessorize with oversized hoop earrings, layered chain necklaces, and colorful bandanas tied around your wrist, neck, or in your hair. Finish the look with bold sunglasses and a statement fanny pack.
Music
Obviously, you wanna play nothing but tunes from the golden age of hip hop all night long. If you can get a DJ with some nostalgic tunes on vinyl, then it’s all the more authentic. Nothing beats a party with a live DJ!
If you can’t get a DJ, no problem. Include legendary artists like 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and LL Cool J in your play list.
Mix it up with some more jumpin’ party tunes from House of Pain and Blackstreet and some more laid back stuff from A Tribe Called Quest, The Pharcyde and De La Soul.
You could separate the night out by starting more laid back, then moving on to the more dancey stuff, and then have an hour or two of nothing but east coast and another hour or two of west coast.
Here are a couple of playlists to get you started:
Laid back De La Soul/Tribe Called Quest Vibes
Fun House of Pain/Blackstreet type vibes
Food and Drink
Serve party food that evoke nostalgia, such as mini sliders, buffalo wings, nachos, or gourmet versions of classic 90s junk food like pizza rolls and cheese balls.
Set up a candy table with a selection of popular 90s candies like Pop Rocks, Warheads, Bubble Tape, Jelly Bellies and Ring Pops. Display them in old-school candy jars or colorful retro-themed bowls.
Create a themed dessert station featuring treats like homemade brownies, Rice Krispies treats, or cookies decorated with 90s Hip Hop-themed icing designs. Consider adding a DIY ice cream sundae station with all the nostalgic toppings from the era.
For drinks, go with standard party fare like beer, soda and fruit punch. Get creative with some signature drinks named after famous songs or artists from the 90s. For example, serve “Gin and Juice” for Snoop Dogg fans or a “Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems” cocktail. Lose the alcohol for mocktail versions.
Games and Activities
All that dancing and drinking is great, and with so many great tunes, it will probably be enough to keep your guests occupied all night. In case there’s a lull in proceedings though, spice things up a bit with these Hip Hop themed games and activities.
Create a rap karaoke station where guests can channel their inner MCs. Provide a selection of popular 90s Hip Hop tracks and let guests take turns performing their favorite verses. Offer props like oversized microphones or bling accessories to enhance the experience.
Test your guests’ knowledge of 90s Hip Hop culture with trivia games. Create a list of questions about iconic artists, album releases, music videos, and memorable lyrics. Divide guests into teams or play as individuals and award prizes to the winners.
Don’t forget to have that all important Hip Hop dance off. See if your guests have a breakdancer in them waiting to be set free! Give prizes for the best efforts.
Challenge your guests to some rap improvisations. I guarantee you, this will be hilarious. You can set guests themes to rap about and see what rhymes they can come up with on the spot. You’ll either laugh at how terrible their rhymes are or be amazed at the quick wit of some of your friends. Rap about Byzantine cuisine in 12th century Turkey? Let’s see what ya got!
Favors and Giveaways
To get these games really going, you’ve gotta offer incentives and give your guests something to take home with them as a memento of the fun evening. Some ideas include:
Snap back caps or bandanas with a custom logo representing your 90s Hip Hop party. Guests can wear these during the event and take them home as a stylish reminder of the party.
Get custom-made keychains featuring graffiti-style tags, emulating the urban art scene of the 90s. You can personalize them with guests’ names, the reason for the party like ‘Rob’s 21st Birthday’ and the date.
Create personalized mixtapes or CDs featuring popular 90s tracks. Include classics from artists like 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G., and Wu-Tang Clan. Design custom album covers with graffiti art and distribute them as party favors. Even if guests don’t play them, they still work as a great souvenir with your custom art work on them.
So there you have it. All there is left to do is let the beats drop, the fashion shine, and the memories flow as you’re transported back to the golden age of Hip Hop. May your night be filled with incredible music, stylish outfits, tasty treats, fun activities, and a nostalgic celebration of 90s Hip Hop culture.
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