Do not name it a comeback. Hip-hop has been right here for years, squabbling for respect among the many within the music sport. Whereas the style has had its peaks and valleys over the previous 5 many years, the time is nigh for hip-hop to rise from the ashes once more.
Hip-hop gross sales, and music gross sales usually, have been down prior to now decade as a consequence of numerous components. However the latter a part of 2024 proved there could also be a change coming. Kendrick Lamar ended the yr with three No. 1 singles—”Like That” with Future and Metro Boomin, “Not Like Us” and “Squabble Up”—and a No. 1 album in GNX.
Travis Scott scored hip-hop’s greatest debut and the fourth greatest debut in 2024 general with the re-released mixtape Days Earlier than Rodeo. Future had a precedent-setting yr, changing into the primary rapper to notch three No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 chart in a calendar yr.
2025 is beginning with related success, with Lil Child’s WHAM, The Weeknd’s Hurry Up Tomorrow and Kendrick Lamar’s GNX coming in at pole place on the Billboard 200. Do not forget about Drake, whose new collab album $ome $exy $ongs 4 U with PartyNextDoor is headed to the highest of the charts. Drizzy seems to be able to get private on his upcoming solo album, which shall be extremely anticipated.
It isn’t just a few spectacular strikes being made on the charts. Thanks largely partially to Ok-Dot, hip-hop has been celebrated on two main platforms earlier this month. The Compton, Calif. rapper pulled off a sweep on the 2025 Grammy Awards, changing into solely the second rapper to win Report of the Yr in addition to Music of the Yr for a rap music, beating out A-list pop acts like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter and the Beatles.
Former XXL Freshman Doechii has blossomed into rap’s subsequent massive star, as evidenced by her Greatest Rap Album win on the 2025 Grammy Awards.
Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Tremendous Bowl halftime present efficiency was one other boon for the style as a halftime present file 133.5 million folks bore witness to one of many best rap acts of the previous decade.
Hip-hop is presently having its second. Typically, coming out and exhibiting them is the one option to go.