Which rapper won the first Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 1996?

Naughty by Nature won the first Grammy Award for Best Rap Album in 1996.

The group won for Poverty’s Paradise at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards. The ceremony took place in February 1996, marking the first presentation of a Grammy category specifically recognizing an entire rap album.

Poverty’s Paradise was Naughty by Nature’s fourth studio album and included the single “Feel Me Flow.” The group had already achieved major success with earlier songs such as “O.P.P.” and “Hip Hop Hooray.”

The award is distinct from Best Rap Performance, which had existed earlier and recognized individual songs or performances. The Fugees won Best Rap Album the following year for The Score, while Coolio won Best Rap Performance in 1996 for “Gangsta’s Paradise.”