Is rap music making a comeback in 2026

Toward the end of 2025, rap music was in decline. According to Album of the Year and Pitchfork music magazines, big-name artists such as Travis Scott, Gunna and 21 Savage released albums that sounded "basic" and "uninspired." Despite these weaker albums, 2026 is shaping up to be a big year for rap music, with top artists expected to release some of their best work.

Already in 2026, A$AP Rocky released his long-awaited album “Don’t Be Dumb” with hit songs such as “Helicopter,” “Stay Here 4 Life” and “Punk Rocky.” The album sold 123,000 units in its first week after being released Jan. 16. This is a strong start for modern rap in 2026 and is especially significant for A$AP Rocky, as it is his first studio album since "Testing" in 2018.

One of the most consistent rap artists of the 2020s so far, Don Toliver, just released his new album “Octane” Jan. 30. Toliver has been known for consistently releasing good music since his rise to fame in the early 2020s, and this album is no different. The songs “Body,” which samples Justin Timberlake's hit song “Rock Your Body,” and “Sweet Home,” which samples Kid Rock's “All Summer Long,” add a unique and fresh sound from Toliver. This is Toliver’s fifth studio album since his breakout release, "Heaven or Hell," in 2020, and it is a great addition to his already impressive discography.

One of, if not the biggest names in the rap genre, Drake, is expected to release his much-anticipated album “Iceman” in 2026. Although there is no official release date, it is expected to be one of the biggest albums of the year and continue to grow Drake's presence in the rap genre.

Forty-year-old rapper J. Cole is set to release possibly his final album, “The Fall-Off,” on Feb. 6. After nearly a decade in the making, this album has been long anticipated by many of J. Cole’s diehard fans. This will be Cole’s first album since his recently acclaimed “rushed” and “sleepy” 2024 album, “Might Delete Later,” by Pitchfork Magazine. The album had a diss track towards Kendrick Lamar, which Cole later deleted from the album and apologized for.

Kanye West, who many say is the greatest rap artist alive, just pushed back his long-awaited album “BULLY” from Jan. 30 to March 20. After extremely underwhelming releases with “Vultures 1” and “Vultures 2,” fans are waiting for West to use the same sound and lyrics he used in his earlier music that made him so successful.

Many other artists are expected to release new music this year, though no official dates have been announced. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Scott said, “I’m thinking stadium status, making it feel like euphoric. What could Rodeo be like on the ultra-scale stadium life?” Artists like Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti and Future have also been rumored to drop new projects in 2026.

Even if some of these releases don’t happen, this year could mark the beginning of a large revival for rap music after a weak 2025.