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 ...

BigXthaPlug lights up Billboard’s charts this week with multiple achievements on the lists dated Sept. 6. The rapper claims his first No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart with “All the Way,” featuring ...

Inspired by a new book tracing four pivotal years in the city’s history, hear a playlist of songs from the dawn of hip-hop that were swirling at the time. By Jonathan Mahler This is Jonathan Mahler. I ...

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 ...

The conversation around rap’s song of the summer is too boring and outdated; I’ll leave that for the mainstream podcasts. For me, it’s much more interesting to think about it on a smaller and more ...

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 ...

The world is mourning the loss of music icon Brian Wilson, who died Wednesday at 82. The beloved beating heart of the Beach Boys was one of the most influential and consequential minds and voices in ...

A recent tiff between underground rap promo pages has sparked an impassioned online debate about the definition of “gimmick rappers” over the past week. Most of it is boring and wrapped up in ...

Razor-sharp synths. Euphoric electronic leads. Chest-thumping 808s. Distorted vocals drenched in autotune. Welcome to the world of rage rap, a subgenre of hip-hop that’s had its moment thanks to the ...

The world of popular music looks different on the outside than it does behind the scenes. On the face of it, things often seem smooth. An artist performs a song, it rockets up the charts, and everyone ...

In today’s digital age, you would think your favorite rap song would be just a click away. Well, as most of us know, that is not the case, especially on popular streaming platforms like Apple Music, ...

These tracks remind us just how deep that mother-child bond runs With Mother’s Day just around the corner, BLACK ENTERPRISE is shining a spotlight on 10 hip-hop artists who poured their hearts out in ...