# List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 1990

The highest-selling albums and EPs in the United States are ranked in the Billboard 200, which is published by Billboard magazine. The data are compiled by Nielsen Soundscan based on each album's weekly physical and digital sales. In 1990, 8 albums occupied the peak position on the chart.
Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em, the third and most popular album (and second major-label release) by MC Hammer, had the longest run among the releases that reached peak position in 1990, spending 21 non-consecutive weeks in the top position (18 of these weeks were consecutive). Its popularity was due primarily to the runaway single, "U Can't Touch This". However, it was criticized for its sampling of other artists' songs. "U Can't Touch This" sampled "Super Freak" by Rick James; "Dancin' Machine" sampled the Jackson 5; "Have You Seen Her" is a semi-cover of The Chi-Lites song; "Help the Children" interpolates Marvin Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)"; "Pray" and "She's Soft and Wet" sample the Prince hits "When Doves Cry" and "Soft and Wet" respectively.
The album raised rap music to a new level of popularity. It was the first hip-hop album certified diamond by the RIAA for sales of over ten million. It remains one of the genre's all-time best-selling albums. To date, the album has sold over 18 million copies worldwide.
According to Guinness World Records, the album cost just $10,000 to produce.
Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 was the best performing and best-selling album of 1990 despite not reaching number-one at any point during the year. The album achieved 4 weeks atop the chart during 1989.

## Chart history

| Issue date | Album | Artist(s) | Label |
| January 6 | ...But Seriously | Phil Collins | Atlantic |
| January 13 | Girl You Know It's True | Milli Vanilli | Arista |
| January 20 | ...But Seriously | Phil Collins | Atlantic |
| January 27 | ...But Seriously | Phil Collins | Atlantic |
| February 3 | Forever Your Girl | Paula Abdul | Virgin |
| February 10 | Forever Your Girl | Paula Abdul | Virgin |
| February 17 | Forever Your Girl | Paula Abdul | Virgin |
| February 24 | Forever Your Girl | Paula Abdul | Virgin |
| March 3 | Forever Your Girl | Paula Abdul | Virgin |
| March 10 | Forever Your Girl | Paula Abdul | Virgin |
| March 17 | Forever Your Girl | Paula Abdul | Virgin |
| March 24 | Forever Your Girl | Paula Abdul | Virgin |
| March 31 | Forever Your Girl | Paula Abdul | Virgin |
| April 7 | Nick of Time | Bonnie Raitt | Capitol |
| April 14 | Nick of Time | Bonnie Raitt | Capitol |
| April 21 | Nick of Time | Bonnie Raitt | Capitol |
| April 28 | I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got | Sinéad O'Connor | Chrysalis |
| May 5 | I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got | Sinéad O'Connor | Chrysalis |
| May 12 | I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got | Sinéad O'Connor | Chrysalis |
| May 19 | I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got | Sinéad O'Connor | Chrysalis |
| May 26 | I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got | Sinéad O'Connor | Chrysalis |
| June 2 | I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got | Sinéad O'Connor | Chrysalis |
| June 9 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol |
| June 16 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol |
| June 23 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol |
| June 30 | Step by Step | New Kids on the Block | Columbia |
| July 7 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol |
| July 14 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol |
| July 21 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol |
| July 28 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol |
| August 4 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol |
| August 11 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol |
| August 18 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol |
| August 25 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol |
| September 1 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol |
| September 8 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol |
| September 15 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol |
| September 22 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol |
| September 29 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol |
| October 6 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol |
| October 13 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol |
| October 20 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol |
| October 27 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol |
| November 3 | Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em | MC Hammer | Capitol |
| November 10 | To the Extreme | Vanilla Ice | SBK |
| November 17 | To the Extreme | Vanilla Ice | SBK |
| November 24 | To the Extreme | Vanilla Ice | SBK |
| December 1 | To the Extreme | Vanilla Ice | SBK |
| December 8 | To the Extreme | Vanilla Ice | SBK |
| December 15 | To the Extreme | Vanilla Ice | SBK |
| December 22 | To the Extreme | Vanilla Ice | SBK |
| December 29 | To the Extreme | Vanilla Ice | SBK |