Artists of the 90s Part II

Last week we explored a few significant musicians of the 1990s. This week we continue with another list of noteworthy 90s artists!

1. Nirvana: It wouldn't be a well-rounded 90s article without the mention of the grunge rock band, Nirvana. Grunge started in the late 80s in Seattle, Washington but truly matured and was brought to fame in the 90s. This style of music was heavier and slower than it's punk rock counterpart and retained an edgier and rawer sound that ousted it's older 80s hair metal predecessor. Nirvana was one of the champions of this sound. With the release of their third album Nevermind (1991) Nirvana exploded onto the scene of mainstream music. With songs such as "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Come As You Are," Nirvana solidified its position as an influential and legendary band. To this date, many Nirvana songs are used as good introductory pieces for learning rock guitar, bass and drums. Nirvana was disbanded in 1994 after the tragic suicide of lead singer/guitarist Kurt Cobain. In the wake of this, drummer Dave Grohl went on to found the Foo Fighters, another phenomenal rock band that performs to this day.

2. Mary J. Blige: Considered R&B royalty, Mary J. Blige appeared on the scene with her 1992 debut album What's the 411? with hit single "Real Love". Hailing from the Bronx, New York, Blige was one of the many artists to collaborate with influential hip hop producer Sean "Puffy" Combs (see: Notorious BIG, Lil' Kim, Craig Mack, Faith Evans, Total). These collaborations would give east coast hip-hop a definitive sound that could compete with the already mainstream west coast sound. Blige really catapulted to fame with her second album, My Life, with hit singles such as "Mary Jane (All Night Long)" and "Be Happy". This album is consistently ranked highly on greatest albums lists. She continues to perform, collaborate and record.

3. The Smashing Pumpkins: Starting in Chicago in 1988, this band created a rock sound so different it earned the newly dubbed title "alternative rock". With each album having it's own sonic character, The Smashing Pumpkins have cycled through styles such as heavy metal, pop and electronica/industrial. Lead singer, guitarist and overall brainchild of the band, Billy Corgan, was known for his bright, sometimes nasally voice and his deep, imaginative lyrics. Their second and third albums, Siamese Dream (1993) and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995) rocketed them to mainstream fame with songs such as "Disarm", "1979" and "Today". Later albums received critical acclaim, as they remain one of the most important bands in the alternative rock movement.

4. Red Hot Chili Peppers: Another band that is synonymous with 90s music, RHCP started in 1983 as a funk rock band. Their style would change over time, but their albums Blood, Sugar, Sex Magik (1991) and Californication (1999) are considered to contain some of their most definitive sounds with tracks such as "Give It Away", "Under the Bridge", and "Californication". Despite dealing with drug addiction, band member deaths, and sometimes tumultuous departures, RHCP continues to record and perform, making them one of the most successful acts not only of the 90s, but of all time!