Best Soundtrack Songs of the '90s

These records captured key moments of a golden era.

Juice: "Uptown Anthem," Naughty by Nature - Naughty by Nature may have hit stardom with the pop party anthem “O.P.P.,” but they definitely knew how to strike a balance with hip hop purists through more rough, rugged and raw records. The rap trio set the tone for the 1992 coming-of-age cult classic Juice, with their rebel-rousing single “Uptown Anthem.” Surely, you still get as amped as Tupac was in the music video when you hear this track. (Photo: Tommy boy Records)

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Juice: "Uptown Anthem," Naughty by Nature - Naughty by Nature may have hit stardom with the pop party anthem “O.P.P.,” but they definitely knew how to strike a balance with hip hop purists through more rough, rugged and raw records. The rap trio set the tone for the 1992 coming-of-age cult classic Juice, with their rebel-rousing single “Uptown Anthem.” Surely, you still get as amped as Tupac was in the music video when you hear this track. (Photo: Tommy boy Records)

Juice: "Juice (Know the Ledge)," Rakim & Eric B - If Naughty’s “Uptown Anthem” got you hyped up to face the ills of the rough city streets, then Eric B. & Rakim "Juice (Know the Ledge)" taught you how to play it smooth under pressure. Eric B’s jazz-infused track was the canvas for Ra to drop street knowledge on the youngsters like Bishop, Q, Steel and Raheem. (Photo: MCA Records)

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Juice: "Juice (Know the Ledge)," Rakim & Eric B - If Naughty’s “Uptown Anthem” got you hyped up to face the ills of the rough city streets, then Eric B. & Rakim "Juice (Know the Ledge)" taught you how to play it smooth under pressure. Eric B’s jazz-infused track was the canvas for Ra to drop street knowledge on the youngsters like Bishop, Q, Steel and Raheem. (Photo: MCA Records)

Menace II Society: "Streiht Up Menace,"  MC Eiht - MC Eiht might have had a minor role (A-Wax) in the film Menace II Society, but his musical contribution to the soundtrack was major. Over the bluesy, haunting strings, the Compton MC’s “Straight Up Menace” told a vivid story of the movie’s main characters. Though the 1993 soundtrack reached as high as No. 11 on the Billboard 200 chart, no single was as influential as this one.(Photo: Jive Records)

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Menace II Society: "Streiht Up Menace," MC Eiht - MC Eiht might have had a minor role (A-Wax) in the film Menace II Society, but his musical contribution to the soundtrack was major. Over the bluesy, haunting strings, the Compton MC’s “Straight Up Menace” told a vivid story of the movie’s main characters. Though the 1993 soundtrack reached as high as No. 11 on the Billboard 200 chart, no single was as influential as this one.(Photo: Jive Records)

Belly: "Devil's Pie," D'Angelo - D'Angelo had already penned a hit song for Jason Lyrics ("U Will Know") and had a platinum-certified album by the time he jumped on this DJ Premier beat that was intended for rapper Canibus, so he knew just what kind of vocal mix (Marvin Gaye and Prince) would be the perfect syrup to make the cult classic Belly more full.(Photo: Virgin Records) 

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Belly: "Devil's Pie," D'Angelo - D'Angelo had already penned a hit song for Jason Lyrics ("U Will Know") and had a platinum-certified album by the time he jumped on this DJ Premier beat that was intended for rapper Canibus, so he knew just what kind of vocal mix (Marvin Gaye and Prince) would be the perfect syrup to make the cult classic Belly more full.(Photo: Virgin Records)

Higher Learning: "Ask of You," Raphael Saadiq - Raphael Saadiq captured the sweetness of the college love experience in this, his biggest solo song to date. Along with the correlating plot line, it offered a needed respite in one of the most politically charged movies of the decade.(Photo: Epic Records)

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Higher Learning: "Ask of You," Raphael Saadiq - Raphael Saadiq captured the sweetness of the college love experience in this, his biggest solo song to date. Along with the correlating plot line, it offered a needed respite in one of the most politically charged movies of the decade.(Photo: Epic Records)

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A Thin Line Between Love and Hate: title track, H-Town featuring Shirley Murdoch - "Knockin' Da Boots" crooners H-Town teamed up with Ms. Shirley "As We Lay" Murdoch for the title track for this dark rom-com starring Martin Lawrence and Lynn Whitfield. It's a cover of a song of the same name by '70s R&B group the Persuaders, which inspired the film and revived the old-school sound all the way to the Top 40 on the charts.(Photo: Luke Records)

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A Thin Line Between Love and Hate: title track, H-Town featuring Shirley Murdoch - "Knockin' Da Boots" crooners H-Town teamed up with Ms. Shirley "As We Lay" Murdoch for the title track for this dark rom-com starring Martin Lawrence and Lynn Whitfield. It's a cover of a song of the same name by '70s R&B group the Persuaders, which inspired the film and revived the old-school sound all the way to the Top 40 on the charts.(Photo: Luke Records)

Tony! Toni! Toné! - Well-known American R&B group Tony! Toni! Toné! recorded "Waiting for You" for the Poetic Justice soundtrack in 1993. Since then, all members of the group (sans Raphael Saadiq) managed to reunite in 2003 for a feature on Alicia Keys' album The Diary of Alicia Keys.(Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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Boyz 'n the Hood: "Me & You," Tony! Toni! Tone! - A love story sub-plot also eased the tension in the politics of this award-winning classic '90s drama. Oakland soul singers Tony! Toni! and Tone! (Christian Riley, Raphael Saadiq, D'Wayne Wiggins) harmonized for this ultimate anthem about focusing on your boo-thang despite all else going on. The soundtrack went on to be certified gold and reached the Top 20 of the Billboard charts.(Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Nutty Professor "Touch Me, Tease Me" Case Featuring Foxy Brown - Although 1996 comedyThe Nutty Professor was full of laughs, it's soundtrack was full of racy R&b hits. One in particular was Def Jam crooner Case's debut smash  “Touch Me, Tease Me” featuring labermate Foxy Brown.(Photo: Def Jam)

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Nutty Professor "Touch Me, Tease Me" Case Featuring Foxy Brown - Although 1996 comedyThe Nutty Professor was full of laughs, it's soundtrack was full of racy R&b hits. One in particular was Def Jam crooner Case's debut smash “Touch Me, Tease Me” featuring labermate Foxy Brown.(Photo: Def Jam)

The Best Man, "Turn Your Lights Down Low," Lauryn Hill and Bob Marley - Description: Lauryn Hill's voice sounds like it was made to cover Bob Marley's music. In 1999, L Boogie reintroduced Marley's "Turn Your Lights Down Low" by way of a duet with the late reggae legend. (Photo: Tuff Gong)

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The Best Man, "Turn Your Lights Down Low," Lauryn Hill and Bob Marley - Description: Lauryn Hill's voice sounds like it was made to cover Bob Marley's music. In 1999, L Boogie reintroduced Marley's "Turn Your Lights Down Low" by way of a duet with the late reggae legend. (Photo: Tuff Gong)

Friday: "Keep Their Heads Ringing," Dre  - Dre kept listeners' "heads ringin'" to the tune of 500,000 copies sold with this 1997 single. Co-produced by Dre, the track helped push the Friday soundtrack to a Top 10 Billboard showing. (Photo: Death Row Records)

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Friday: "Keep Their Heads Ringing," Dre - Dre kept listeners' "heads ringin'" to the tune of 500,000 copies sold with this 1997 single. Co-produced by Dre, the track helped push the Friday soundtrack to a Top 10 Billboard showing. (Photo: Death Row Records)

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New Jack City: "I Wanna Sex You Up," Color Me Bad - Color Me Bad's biggest record may be the only entry as classic (or close to it) as the movie itself. CMB's 1991 single was a double-platinum success featured on both the New Jack City soundtrack and the multi-cultural group's self-titled debut. (Photo: Giant Records)

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New Jack City: "I Wanna Sex You Up," Color Me Bad - Color Me Bad's biggest record may be the only entry as classic (or close to it) as the movie itself. CMB's 1991 single was a double-platinum success featured on both the New Jack City soundtrack and the multi-cultural group's self-titled debut. (Photo: Giant Records)

Waiting to Exhale: "Exhale (Shoop)," Whitney Houston - In 1995 R&B icon Whitney Houston scored a number-one hit behind "Exhale (Shoop)" from the soundtrack to the film Waiting to Exhale, which Houston starred in. The song also won a Grammy for Best R&B Song. (Photo: Arista Records)

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Waiting to Exhale: "Exhale (Shoop)," Whitney Houston - In 1995 R&B icon Whitney Houston scored a number-one hit behind "Exhale (Shoop)" from the soundtrack to the film Waiting to Exhale, which Houston starred in. The song also won a Grammy for Best R&B Song. (Photo: Arista Records)

"Freedom," Various Artists - The sirens of R&B showed their sisterhood in 1995 as they convened for the song "Freedom" from the film Panther, about the Black revolutionary organization. The track and video were recorded paying homage to female civil rights fighters like Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Sojourner Truth, Assata Shakur, Angela Davis and Shirley Chisolm.Aaliyah, Mary J. Blige, En Vogue, Xscape, Karyn White, SWV, TLC, Me’Shell NdegéOcello and Vanessa Williams were among the many harmonizing on the uplifting melody."Freedom" was originally recorded by alternative R&B singer Joi in 1994; Dallas Austin produced her version as well as the all-star cover.(Photo: Mercury Records)

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Panther:"Freedom" Aaliyah, Vanessa Williams, Mary J. Blige, MC Lyte and others. - The lead single "Freedom" from the soundtrack to the 1995 film Panther featured vocals from over 30 artists like Aaliyah, Vanessa Williams, Mary J. Blige, MC Lyte. The song was aimed at bringing awareness to racism and inequality. (Photo: Mercury Records)

Mo Money: "The Best Things in Life Are Free," Luther Vandross, Janet Jackson - Music legends Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson teamed up for the Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis produced "The Best Things in Life Are Free." Featured on the 1992 Mo' Money soundtrack, the Michael Bivens/Ronnie DeVoe-penned song also landed number one on Billboard's R&B chart. (Photo: A&M Records)

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Mo Money: "The Best Things in Life Are Free," Luther Vandross, Janet Jackson - Music legends Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson teamed up for the Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis produced "The Best Things in Life Are Free." Featured on the 1992 Mo' Money soundtrack, the Michael Bivens/Ronnie DeVoe-penned song also landed number one on Billboard's R&B chart. (Photo: A&M Records)

Poetic Justice: "Get It Up," TLC  - Before they became one of the biggest girl groups of all time a young TLC landed a smash hit "Get It Up" from the soundtrack to the 1993 film Poetic Justice. (Photo: Epic Records)

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Poetic Justice: "Get It Up," TLC - Before they became one of the biggest girl groups of all time a young TLC landed a smash hit "Get It Up" from the soundtrack to the 1993 film Poetic Justice. (Photo: Epic Records)