This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in hip-hop for the year 2025.
Events
January
- On January 1, A.D.O.R. died at the age of 55.
- On January 15, Drake filed a federal defamation lawsuit against UMG over the release and promotion of claims made in Kendrick Lamar's diss track "Not Like Us".
- On January 20, Nelly, Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, and Soulja Boy performed at President Donald Trump's Inauguration Ball.
- On January 21, the trial began for ASAP Rocky on charges of assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly shooting former affiliate ASAP Relli in 2021.
- On January 22, Barry Michael Cooper died at the age of 66.
- On January 24, DJ Unk died at the age of 43.
- On January 31, YFN Lucci was released from prison.
February
- On February 2, the 67th Annual Grammy Awards were held. Kendrick Lamar won Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Music Video, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Performance for "Not Like Us". Rapsody and Erykah Badu won Best Melodic Rap Performance for "3:AM". Doechii won Best Rap Album for Alligator Bites Never Heal. Roxanne Shante received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
- On February 5, Irv Gotti died at the age of 54.
- On February 7, Naâman died at the age of 34.
- On February 9, Kendrick Lamar headlined the Super Bowl LIX halftime show at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, with guest performer SZA, which became the most watched halftime show, surpassing the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show with headliner Michael Jackson.
- On February 10, Terror Danjah died at the age of 45.
- On February 13, Delcat Idengo was shot and killed in Goma.
- On February 15, the 32nd Hanteo Music Awards were held. RM won the Special Award â Hip-hop.
- On February 18, the MOBO Awards 2025 were held. Darkoo won Best Female Act and Song of the Year with Dess Dior for "Favourite Girl". Central Cee won Best Male Act. Bashy won Best Hip-hop Act and Album of the Year for Being Poor Is Expensive. Scorcher won Best Grime Act. Pozer won Best Drill Act. On the same day, ASAP Rocky was found not guilty on charges of assault with a deadly weapon.
- On February 20, the Premio Lo Nuestro 2025 were held. Feid won Male Urban Artist of the Year. Karol G won Female Urban Artist of the Year and Urban Album of the Year for Mañana Será Bonito (Bichota Season). Peso Pluma and Anitta won Urban Song of the Year for "Bellakeo". Bad Bunny won Best Urban Trap/Hip Hop Song for "Mónaco". Bad Bunny and Feid won Urban Collaboration of the Year won "Perro Negro".
- On February 21, Khalil Fong died at the age of 41.
- On February 22, the 56th NAACP Image Awards were held. Doechii won Outstanding New Artist. Kendrick Lamar won Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song and Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album for "Not Like Us".
- On February 27, the 22nd Korean Music Awards were held. B-Free & Hukky Shibaseki won Best Rap & Hip-Hop Album for Free Hukky Shibaseki & the God Sun Symphony Group: Odyssey.1. G-Dragon won Best Rap & Hip-Hop Song for "Power".
March
- On March 1, the Brit Awards 2025 were held. Stormzy won Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act.
- On March 3, Beau Dozier died at the age of 45.
- On March 5, DJ Funk died at the age of 54.
- On March 13, J. B. Moore died at the age of 81.
- On March 17, UMG filed a motion to dismiss Drake's federal defamation lawsuit over the claims made in "Not Like Us", stating that "he has sued his own record label in a misguided attempt to salve his wounds." On the same day, the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards were held. Kendrick Lamar won Hip-Hop Song of the Year for "Not Like Us". GloRilla won Hip-Hop Artist of the Year. BossMan Dlow won Best New Hip-Hop Artist. Future and Metro Boomin won Hip-Hop Album of the Year for We Don't Trust You. Stray Kids won K-Pop Album of the Year for Ate. Nelly received the iHeartRadio Landmark Award.
- On March 19, the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards Japan were held. Yuki Chiba won Best Hip Hop Video for "Team Tomodachi". XG won Best Visual Effect for "Woke Up".
- On March 22, Jay Whiss died at the age of 32. Sayso P was killed and Sauce Walka was injured in a shooting in Memphis, Tennessee.
- On March 24, NBA YoungBoy was released from federal prison.
- On March 27, Jemini the Gifted One died.
- On March 28, Young Scooter died at the age of 39.
- On March 30, the Juno Awards of 2025 were held. Snotty Nose Rez Kids won Rap Album/EP of the Year for Red Future. Jessie Reyez and Big Sean won Rap Single of the Year for "Shut Up". bbno$ won the Fan Choice Award. AP Dhillon won South Asian Music Recording of the Year for The Brownprint. Boi-1da received an International Achievement Award.
April
May
- On May 8, Xatar died at the age of 43.
- On May 10, Kafon died at the age of 42.
- On May 13, Rodney-O filed a lawsuit against Metro Boomin, Future and Kendrick Lamar, alleging unpaid royalties and lack of proper clearance of "Everlasting Bass" that was sampled for "Like That".
- On May 17, Werenoi died at the age of 31. On the same day, Kendrick Lamar and SZA's concert in Lumen Field, Seattle, as part of the Grand National Tour became the highest-grossing hip-hop concert, making $14,811,000 in revenue.
- On May 21, the 2025 Music Awards Japan were held. Creepy Nuts won Song of the Year, Best Japanese Song, Top Japanese Song in Europe, Top Japanese Song in Latin America, Top Japanese Song in North America, Best Japanese Hip Hop/Rap Song, Best Japanese Dance Pop Song, and Best Viral Song for "Bling-Bang-Bang-Born" and Best Japanese Hip Hop/Rap Artist. Nujabes won Best Instrumental Song for "Aruarian Dance". Kendrick Lamar won Best International Hip Hop/Rap Song in Japan for "Not Like Us". Megan Thee Stallion and RM won Best of Listeners' Choice: International Song for "Neva Play".
- On May 23, Sacha Jenkins died at the age of 53.
- On May 26, the American Music Awards of 2025 were held. Eminem won Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist and Favorite Hip-Hop Album for The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce). Megan Thee Stallion won Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist. Kendrick Lamar won Favorite Hip-Hop Song for "Not Like Us". Doechii won Social Song of the Year for "Anxiety".
- On May 28, NBA YoungBoy, sentenced to 2 years in jail for gun-related crimes, was pardoned by president Donald Trump.
- On May 29, the 2025 Aotearoa Music Awards were held. David Dallas won Best Hip Hop Artist.
June
- On June 4, the 2025 Premios de la Academia de Música were held. Nathy Peluso won Best Urban Music Album for Grasa, Best Rap/Hip Hop Song for "Aprendar A Amar", Best Urban Song for "Manhattan" with Duki, and Best Fusion/Urban Performance for "Todo Roto" with Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso. On the same day, the 2025 Brazilian Music Awards were held. Emicida won Best Rap/Trap Artist. MV Bill won Best Rap/Trap Release for Na Visão do Morador.
- On June 9, the BET Awards 2025 were held. Kendrick Lamar won Album of the Year for GNX, Video of the Year for "Not Like Us", Best Collaboration alongside SZA for "Luther", Video Director of the Year alongside Dave Free, and Best Male Hip Hop Artist. Doechii won Best Female Hip Hop Artist. Future and Metro Boomin won Best Group. Snoop Dogg and Kirk Franklin received the Ultimate Icon Award. On the same day, the 2025 Libera Awards were held. Shygirl and Saweetie won Best Hip-Hop/Rap Record for "Immaculate". De La Soul won Best Sync Usage for "Say No Go" in the film Civil War. MF DOOM won Creative Packaging and Best Reissue for MM..FOOD (20th Anniversary Edition) and Best Remix for "One Beer" (Madlib Remix).
- On June 11, Silentó was sentenced to thirty years in prison for murder charges relating to the 2021 death of his cousin, Frederick Rooks.
- On June 16, Dave Scott died at the age of 52.
- On June 18, the 27th Annual Premios Gardel were held. Trueno won Best Urban Album for ' and Best Urban Song for "". Nathy Peluso & Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso won Best Urban Collaboration for "Todo Roto".
- On June 21, the 34th Seoul Music Awards were held. RM won the R&B/ Hip-hop Award.
- On June 24, XXL released their 2025 Freshman Class, including Ray Vaughn, BabyChiefDoit, Eem Triplin, 1900Rugrat, Samara Cyn, Ian, Gelo, Loe Shimmy, Lazer Dim 700, YTB Fatt, Nino Paid, and EBK Jaaybo.
- On June 26, Ocasional Talento died at the age of 29. Takutai Tarsh Kemp died at the age of 50.
July
- On July 2, Sean Combs was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, but was acquitted of two counts of sex trafficking and one RICO charge.
- On July 4, Outlawz member Young Noble died by suicide at the age of 47.
- On July 17, Robbie Pardlo died at the age of 46.
- On July 18, Cash Out was convicted of sex trafficking, racketeering and aggravated sodomy; he was sentenced to life plus 70 years in prison.
- On July 31, Jesto died at the age of 40. On the same day, the AIR Awards of 2025 were held. Miss Kaninna won Best Independent Hip Hop Album or EP for Kaninna and Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year. Nick Herrera won Independent Mix, Studio or Mastering Engineer of the Year for Kaninna.
August
September
October
- On October 3, Sean Combs was sentenced to 50 months in prison for his Mann Act convictions.
- On October 6, Ray's Kim Edm died at the age of 36.
- On October 7, Pooh Shiesty was released from federal prison.
- On October 9, Drake's defamation lawsuit against UMG over Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" was dismissed.
- On October 14, DJ Chosen Few died at the age of 53.
- On October 21, the Filipino Music Awards 2025 were held. Morobeats won Hip-hop Song of the Year for "Gubat na Siyudad". J-Hope won the People's Choice Awards â International Artist.
- On October 24, P.E.A.C.E. of Freestyle Fellowship died at the age of 51.
- On October 30, the 2025 UK Music Video Awards were held. A$AP Rocky won Video of the Year and Best Hip Hop / Grime / Rap Video â International, Best Production Design in a Video, Best Cinematography in a Video, and Best Visual Effects in a Video for "Tailor Swif". Kae Tempest won Best Hip Hop / Grime / Rap Video â UK for "Statue in the Square". Archy Moor won Best Hip Hop / Grime / Rap Video â Newcomer for "Robbery Rings". Doechii won Best Performance in a Video for "Denial Is a River". Yung Lean won Best Styling in a Video for "Forever Yung". Mac Miller won Best Animation in a Video for "Balloonerism".
- On October 31, Alicia Andrews was found guilty of manslaughter for the murder of Foolio.
November
- On November 1, Young Bleed died at the age of 51.
- On November 3, Blueface was released from prison.
- On December 6, the 10th Asia Artist Awards were held. Stray Kids won Album of the Year for Karma.
- On November 7, the Los 40 Music Awards 2025 were held. Rels B won Best Spain Urban Act. Mora won Best Global Latin Urban Act. Feid won Best Global Latin Tour or Concert for Fastest Tour and the Colombian Phenomenon Award.
- On November 8, Outkast and Salt-N-Pepa were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- On November 9, Max B was released from prison.
- On November 13, the 26th Annual Latin Grammy Awards were held. Trueno won Best Rap/Hip Hop Song for "Fresh".
- On November 16, Maxon Margiela died at the age of 21.
- On November 19, the 2025 ARIA Music Awards were held. Barkaa won Best Hip Hop/Rap Release for Big Tidda. The Kid Laroi won Song of the Year for "Girls".
- On November 20, Pras was sentenced to 14 years in prison on 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government.
- On November 28, the 2025 MAMA Awards were held. G-Dragon won Artist of the Year, Best Male Artist, Best Dance Performance â Male Solo for "Too Bad". Stray Kids won Album of the Year for Karma. Jennie won Best Dance Performance â Female Solo for "Like Jennie". Big Naughty won Best Rap & Hip Hop Performance for "Music". Cortis won Best New Artist.
December
Released albums
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Highest-charting songs
United States
United Kingdom
Highest first-week consumption
All critically reviewed albums ranked
Metacritic
See also
References