Questions confronting the music business in 2026 are many. Here, Billboard writers look ahead to ponder questions around Live Nation, AI and more.

When Philly artist Amir Bey Richardson first uploaded his rap songs online in 2010, he was told his music was “too corny” to ...

With Dynamic Duos, Erick Sermon brings together legendary rap partners while warning that today’s music isn’t transcending — and the OGs are still carrying the culture.

Listen to new must-hear songs from emerging R&B/hip-hop artists like Awich and Tia Ray. Last weekend, F1 went hip-hop with superstars Beyoncé, Jay-Z, and Travis Scott descending upon Sin City for the ...

For the first time since 1990, the Top 40 of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart is completely devoid of any hip-hop and/or rap songs. “No rap songs appear in the top 40 on the Hot 100 for the first time since ...

On this date in 1996, Brooklyn lyricist Jeru the Damaja returned to the front lines of Hip Hop with the release of his sophomore album Wrath of the Math on the Payday/PolyGram imprint. A core member ...

It’s a mixed bag at The Toff this month, which is just how we like it. It’s not just different genres you’ll hear, but different languages altogether. Plus, with a whopping five free shows to look ...

The 1990s is often referred to as the golden age of hip-hop. During that era, rap music gained more attention from mainstream audiences, regional music such as East Coast vs. West Coast was prevalent, ...

Week in and week out, there are plenty of brand-new rap songs, no matter the time of year. It can be really difficult to stay aware of what's out and also what's hot, so XXL decided to make things ...

We live in the Dot era. After demolishing rap rival Drake last year, Kendrick Lamar’s victory lap has dominated 2025 and the current hip-hop landscape. Super Bowl performance. More Grammy wins. “Not ...

Hip-hop fans are absolutely losing their minds right now, and honestly, we can’t blame them. Atlanta DJ Swamp Izzo just blessed us with a 34-second snippet that has everyone convinced we’re about to ...