Rap music had a strong year in 2025, and 2026 is coming with even more new music. Big stars are getting ready to drop new albums. The lineup of the most anticipated rap albums of 2026 is packed with projects, and we are breaking down their release dates.

Only a few Black artists have won Album of the Year at the Grammys. See the list and why these rare wins still spark conversation in music culture here.

So much rap music comes out all the time, and especially with frequent surprise releases, it can be hard to keep track of it all. So, as a way to help keep up with all of it, here’s a roundup of the 5 rap albums from July 2025 that stood out to us most.

Hit-Boy has famously had his ups and downs with the labe l. But even through the frustrations, he remained a steady force in modern-day rap and R&B, crafting classics for artists ranging from Drake to Travis Scott to Beyoncé.

Rap in 2025 was all about experimentation. From the year’s first runaway hit, NBA player-turned-musician Gelo’s single “Tweaker,” to the maximalist ecclesiastics of Playboi Carti’s Music, or even in the more classic, technical rap acrobatics of ...

Rap music made headlines for losing its Billboard chart dominance, but it's being celebrated more than ever at the 2026 Grammys. So what's going on?