Rap in 2025 was all about experimentation. From the year’s first runaway hit, NBA player-turned-musician Gelo’s single “Tweaker,” to the maximalist ecclesiastics of Playboi Carti’s Music, or even in ...

It was the best of hip-hop times. It was the worst of hip-hop times. Ha! 2025 was a rollercoaster of rap music’s highs and lows. The duality was so real. I can’t recall a year with such a wide array ...

Shaquille O'Neal helped pave the way for NBA stars to find success in hip-hop. Damian Lillard followed suit with his lyrical talents. Illustration: Kelsea Petersen / The Athletic; Photos: Gabe ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Hugh McIntyre covers music, with a focus on the global charts. Post Malone returns to Billboard’s hip-hop tallies as DJ Khaled’s ...

Illustration: Kelsea Petersen / The Athletic; photos: Vince Bucci, Michael Loccsiano, Kevin C. Cox, Elsa / Getty Images No sport embodies hip-hop more than basketball. No music genre embodies ...

We’re at the end of yet another year where commentators and fans speculated on the health of the rap world. In October, it was reported that, for the first time in 35 years, there were no rap songs in ...