In the 1990s, it seems as though there was a large movement of celebrities, especially African-American ones, who converted to the religion of Islam. Notable examples include:
Was there a surge of popularity for Islam in the 1990s, or is this just confirmation bias at work?
The 1990's movement toward Islam in the African-American community is partially the end result of a longer identity issue regarding the Nation of Islam in America under the direction of Louis Farrakhan, and a prior wave of cultural upheaval and pride that had happened in the 1960's-1970's (Around the era of Cassius Clay's conversion and adoption of the name Mohammad Ali, and Malcolm X's phenomena of becoming a cultural icon)
The Nation of Islam, despite a relatively dubious history, has largely been a centralized religious community setting up various communal services and bonds between those within the faith on a shared racial and religious identity. With the advent of 24 hour television, cable, and the opening of the music industry to African American stars openly voicing discontent with white society in the form of rap music, Farrakhan and various other leaders in the Black Muslim community were able to get the word of their faith out to more people than ever before with guest spots speaking on talk shows like Donahue and Morton Downy, and to more important black cultural icons than have ever existed before. In the 1960's-1970's, the general public was still weary to accept black stars that were not conforming to general western cultural norms, and generally the rise of African Americans on the radar of America at large was limited to athletic competitors. The 1990's was the first time that black actors, musicians, sports stars, and business leaders could openly take pride in their heritage without the white fear of dissent or "Black Panther" radicalism.
TL;DR there wasn't a surge in popularity for Islam itself, just a resurgence of black identity in mainstream media.