NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 09: (L-R) SZA and Kendrick Lamar perform onstage during Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. ...

Here are 15 predictions for rap music in 2026. No, there won't be a breakout AI star in rap.

This story is the second installment of a three-part series discussing major changes in popular music throughout the course of 2024. Today’s story focuses on the current state of rap music. This year ...

You would think it would be much harder to agree on a “lifetime anthem” as a group, but nope — Earthgang, The LOX, and now, Atmosphere, our latest Sound Check guests, all claim it’s pretty easy.

These rap icons transformed more than just a genre; they shifted the direction of modern music itself. Their innovation and impact continue to shape the sound of today’s biggest artists. Few genres ...