Virginia Beach natives Pharrell Williams and rap duo Clipse, featuring Pusha T and Malice, performed Sunday on music’s “biggest night” at the 68th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.

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?

Cardi B has become one of hip-hop’s most recognizable and influential figures, known for her sharp lyrical style, unapologetic personality, and chart-topping hits like Bodak Yellow and I Like It, which solidified her place in modern rap culture.

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 February 2025 that stood out to us most.

Billboard‘s recent rule changes sparked a concerned discussion after they resulted in a two-week absence of rap music in the Hot 100 chart’s top 40 for the first time in almost three decades. “Is hip-hop dead?” became a familiar refrain among the ...