100 Hottest Rappers of 2024

Notable stat: BAD ASS FCKING KID* debuted at No. at No. 197 on the Billboard 200 albums chart

Cultural impact: Has cultivated a fiercely loyal fanbase, drawing a cult-like following that brings intense energy to his live shows

The numbers may not fully reflect it yet, but the influence is undeniable. At just 17, with only one full-length release, Nettspend is the definition of “aura,” fueled by the passionate engagement of his fans. Don’t just take our word for it—catch a Nettspend show and see for yourself. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable stat: Scored her first Billboard Hot 100 hit with “Never Lose Me,” which climbed to No. 15 this year

Cultural impact: Had a number of impactful features with artists ranging from Megan Thee Stallion to Skepta to Childish Gambino

Alabama-born rapper Flo Milli has been TikTok-famous since 2018’s “Beef FloMix,” but she hadn’t broken into the Hot 100 until the sexy and melodic “Never Lose Me” climbed the charts this year, boosted by a remix with SZA and Cardi B on her album Fine Ho, Stay. —Al Shipley

Notable stat: Almost 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify

Cultural impact: Won Best Rap Album (Michael), Best Rap Performance, and Best Rap Song ("Scientists & Engineers") at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards

As rap music becomes more fragmented—by age, class, sound, and style—Killer Mike stands out as a leader in the adult contemporary hip-hop lane, remaining one of the most artistically successful and outspoken figures in the genre. This year was a victory lap. He swept the rap Grammy awards at the start of the year—celebrating the win with broom merch, partly to mock the criticism—and then gave a gospel facelift to his 2023 classic, Michael. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable stat: "Big Dawgs" was one of the biggest hits of the year, ranking No. 180 on Billboard's Year-End Global 200 chart

Cultural impact: Dropped one of the most memorable rap music videos in recent memory; represented a major breakthrough moment for Indian hip-hop artists on the global stage

HANUMANKIND exploded onto the scene this past spring with "Big Dawgs," a track that fuses influences from Memphis rap to Indian carnival culture. The question now: Can he maintain the momentum? He’s certainly trying. His latest single, "The Game Don’t Stop," is powering Season Two of Squid Game. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable stat: "Or What" peaked at No. 52 on the Billboard Hot 100; “Gang Baby” peaked at No. 82

Cultural impact: "Slut Me Out 2" became a viral hit and an unlikely anthem for LGBTQ+ communities

For a while there, it felt like NLE Choppa’s quixotic side quests would threaten to swallow up his whole musical identity. But the bops have been there the whole time. When he hasn’t been diving deep into spirituality, trying to sell BBL pills, or getting mad at Complex, Choppa’s been dropping slaps like “Slut Me Out 2” and the 41-assisted “Or What.” —Peter A. Berry

Notable stat: Y2K! debuted at No. 18 on the Billboard 200 and has since racked up over 200 million streams on Spotify

Cultural impact: Featured on the remix of one of this year’s hottest NY drill tracks(Cash Cobain and Bay Swag’s "Fisherrr"); had a minor back and forth with Latto; completed an 18-show North American tour in support of the album

In 2023, Ice Spice’s Like EP spent a whopping 40 weeks on the Billboard 200. Twenty-twenty four, however, didn’t quite have the same verve. Despite the viral success of her defecation-themed diss track, it's hard not to view this year as a downturn for Ice Spice. Her debut album Y2K! featured some interesting progression in her sound—see “Bitch I’m Packin’”—but wasn’t the catapulting achievement she seemed so prepped for. —Miki Hellerbach

Notable stat: Debuted in the top 20 of the Billboard 200 with the Dr. Dre-produced Missionary

Cultural impact: Was the star of the 2024 Summer Olympics; named the GOAT rapper on Family Feud; somehow ended up in the Drake-Kendrick Lamar beef, thanks to artificial intelligence

Snoop Dogg is still the biggest OG. From lighting the Olympic flame to dropping Missionary with Dr. Dre—the duo’s official follow-up to the 1993 classic Doggystyle—Snoop's charisma and staying power makes him arguably the most well-known rapper in the world, and he was more active as an artist in 2024 than he’s been in years. —Kia Turner

Notable stat: Almighty So 2 hit No. 30 on the Billboard 200; 12.4 million monthly Spotify listeners

Cultural impact: Headlined Summer Smash 2024; dropped a follow-up to one of his most beloved albums

Chief Keef has finally caught up to his own influence. Not only did he release one of the best albums of his career this year, Almighty So 2, but he also made a triumphant return to Chicago, headlining Summer Smash 2024 and performing in the city for the first time in more than a decade. Despite his status as an unsung antihero of hip-hop, Chief Keef has fans in high places, like Solange, who publicly supported him during his headlining 2024 tour. —Kiana Fitzgerald

Notable stat: Plan A became his highest-charting album, peaking at No. 9 on the Billboard 200

Cultural impact: Fed his cult fanbase with his fourth album in four years, maintaining one of the most consistent outputs in rap today

Lil Tecca has never been one to lean heavily on guest verses from other artists, and this trend continues with Plan A, which features only Don Toliver. The New York rapper is content keeping the spotlight almost entirely on himself, delivering raunchy anthems about sex and bad relationships. He remains one of the most consistent and recognizable figures in contemporary rap—and quietly successful. At just 21, he holds the most platinum records of any rapper his age. —Will Schube

Notable stat: "Lovin on Me" topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for five weeks

Cultural impact: Launched his own Gazebo Festival in his home state; continues to be one of rap’s biggest crossover acts

It was a bittersweet year for Harlow. He began the year riding the momentum of “Lovin on Me,” which sat at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for five nonconsecutive weeks. But, with the exception of his Gazebo Festival, he largely stayed out of the musical spotlight for the remainder of the year. His only other song was the modestly charting, OutKast-inspired “Hello Miss Johnson.” —Will Schube

Notable stat: Still generates over 26 million listeners per month on Spotify

Cultural impact: Still one of the most notable and prolific street rappers to come out of Florida

We’re a long way from the peak Kodak years, when he topped the Billboard 200 album charts and regularly had videos crossing 100 million views on YouTube. Now, it seems like he’s playing a volume game. This year alone, Kodak has released three albums—two solo and one compilation—which included some good songs, like "Stressed Out" and “Shampoo.” However, none of these releases achieved huge mainstream commercial success. In fact, the general narrative surrounding what was once one of rap’s most popular street rappers is one of concern: Kodak’s public appearances have shown him appearing increasingly disheveled. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable stat: Self-titled album debuted at No. 21 on the Billboard 200

Cultural impact: Establishing himself as one of rap’s most promising crossover figures, while releasing a string of critically acclaimed, lyric-driven albums

With little fanfare or notice at the top of the year, Vince Staples dropped Dark Times, his final album on Def Jam. The album includes standout tracks like "Little Homies," “Radio,” and "Government Cheese," where he uses his signature dark humor and introspection to explore themes like success, love, and grief. But it does seem like we’re at a crossroads with Vince. Although he keeps releasing high-quality albums like Dark Times, he’s sometimes seen more as a rap personality than a rapper, thanks to his Netflix show, engaging personality, and sharp takes. —Kia Turner

Notable stat: Three million monthly Spotify listeners

Cultural impact: Had one of the best rap verses of 2024, one that put a spotlight on the Israel/Palestine conflict

Earl Sweatshirt hasn’t released a full project since 2023’s VOIR DIRE with The Alchemist, but he’s kept his head on a swivel for opportunities that align with his POV. El Cousteau’s “Words2LiveBy” was just that. With two deceptively simple, but truly superior bars—”I'm not OK, but I'm gon' be alright” and “Free Gaza, we on the corner like Israelites”—Earl conveyed more about Israel’s relentless assault on Gaza than most of his peers. When he performed the track at Camp Flog Gnaw, the entire crowd was shouting the lyrics back at him. —Kiana Fitzgerald

Notable stat: More than 25 million monthly Spotify listeners

Cultural impact: Made numerous high-profile appearances, including standout collaborations with Eminem and Ab-Soul

Thanks to TikTok, JID’s 2022 single "Surround Sound" propelled the Atlanta rapper to new heights. So, how do you follow that up? Not with a full-length album—just yet. JID spent the year absolutely dominating guest verses on tracks by Eminem, Ab-Soul, French Montana, BIA, 21 Lil Harold, and even Katy Perry, cementing his status as one of the best pure spitters alive. —Kiana Fitzgerald

Notable stat: Love Lasts Forever debuted in the top 10 on the Billboard 200, a career first

Cultural impact: Central figure in the Opium movement that continues to dominate rap moshpits everywhere; headlined a national tour

In a world dominated by Playboi Carti, dystopian melodies have become a genre unto themselves, with Destroy Lonely being one of the figures leading the charge. While his 2024 may not have been as explosive as his 2023, tracks like the Lil Uzi-assisted “Love Hurts” and his latest project, Love Lasts Forever, have kept his momentum strong. He’s comfortably solidifying his status as “the one the kids talk about.”—Peter A. Berry

Notable stat: The video for “HOT ONE,” with TiaCorine and FERG has over five million views on YouTube

Cultural impact: Had one of the more notable On The Radar moments with his “Mischievous Cypher”

Denzel Curry has always put the underground on his back, so when he shifted from that scene to the mainstream, he brought the whole squad with him. That includes the featured artists on his King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2 album, like Tia Corine and Key Nyata, who popped out with Curry during On the Radar’s viral “Mischievous Cypher.” KOTMS II represents his growth in stature as an MC in 2024, but it remains a tribute to the SoundCloud rap era that molded him when he was in the trenches. —Kiana Fitzgerald

Notable stat: Blue Lips debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard 200

Cultural impact: Alongside the rest of Black Hippy, he performed at Kendrick Lamar’s Pop Out show in LA; dropped one of the most critically acclaimed albums of his career, Blue Lips

Q flexed his superpower in 2024 with Blue Lips, juxtaposing energetic tracks like “THank God 4 Me” with more subdued, philosophical journeys such as “Blueslides.” The TDE elder statesman proved you can mature gracefully without losing your rambunctious inner child. No wonder the hip-hop community as a whole cried "snub" when he wasn’t Grammy-nominated forRap Album of the Year. —Miki Hellerbach

Notable stat: “Help Me” became his first charting single on the Billboard Hot 100

Cultural impact: One of street rap’s biggest breakout stars in 2024; “Help Me” was a streaming and TikTok staple for months

Florida street rappers have been winning big for a little while now, and Real Boston Richey is one of the chief victors as he’s supplied a mix of tracks that can be super thorough or surprisingly sentimental for bops of all kinds. In 2024 he bounced back from snitching allegations with “Help Me,” a song that earned over 40 million Spotify streams while becoming a presence on TikTok. —Peter A. Berry

Notable stat: Three songs charted on the Billboard Hot 100, despite no new album

Cultural impact: Made high-profile guest appearances on ¥$’s Vultures 1 and 21 Savage’s American Dream

What’s the best way to describe Durk’s year in music? Maybe incomplete? On October 25, Durk was arrested and booked on federal murder-for-hire charges, just weeks after releasing the single “Monitoring Me.” His future prospects now seem uncertain. Before these events, Durk had been relatively active, cranking out a mix of introspective songs (“Opportunist”) and vicious street bangers (his appearance on YTB Fatt’s “Conspiracy V2” and 21 Savage’s “Dangerous").—Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable stat: Four songs charted on the Billboard Hot 100

Cultural impact: Played a minor but consequential role in the Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake conflict that dominated the rap scene this year

After years of false starts, delays, and near-misses, 2024 was supposed to be the year A$AP Rocky released his fourth studio album, Don’t Be Dumb. That didn’t happen. However, we did get some new music, including the project's first single, “Highjack,” which features indie rock favorite Jessica Pratt. The seemingly random collaboration is yet another testament to one of Rocky’s best skills: his ear for curation. —Will Schube

Notable stat: He scored one platinum single (“Get In With Me”) and three gold singles (“Mr. Pot Scraper,” “Talk My Shit,” and “Finesse”)

Cultural impact: He has become street rap’s most quotable new artist, with his lyrics being frequently quoted

Perhaps the most quotable rapper of 2024, Tallahassee’s BossMan Dlow, had everybody—from sports commentators to police officers—rapping along to his colorful punchlines about reckless driving and eating hibachi. His March mixtape Mr. Beat The Road went gold, thanks to the breakout success of “Get in with Me,” while his earlier 2023 track “Shake Dat Ass (Twerk Song)” made a huge splash on the radio. After a string of high-profile collaborations with GloRilla, Sexyy Red, and Ciara, Dlow capped off the year with his debut album Dlow Curry. —Al Shipley

Notable stat: He continues to be one of the most popular artists on YouTube, averaging more than 30 million views a week on the platform

Cultural impact: Even behind bars, he remains a beloved figure, with fans making viral videos, changing street signs, and getting tattoos

YoungBoy Never Broke Again has spent much of the year in turmoil. He’s been battling a series of charges, which were only recently settled. This month, he was sentenced to two years in prison by a federal judge for possessing firearms as a felon. It marks the end of a disappointing stretch for YoungBoy, who seemed to be settling into his role as a cult rap figure—albeit one who remains hugely popular, still garnering millions of YouTube views. His latest album, I Just Got a Lot on My Shoulders, peaked at No. 159 on the Billboard 200, a far cry from the days when he would regularly debut at No. 1. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable stat: Placed four songs on the Billboard Hot 100, including "Sunday Service," her collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion and Flo Milli, which went gold

Cultural impact: Has shown an ability to lean into and capitalize on viral moments, whether it's her beef with Ice Spice or her obsession with cheetah-print thongs

Latto has maintained a strong presence throughout the year. Her slick confidence and authenticity on Sugar Honey Iced Tea—with tracks like “S/O to Me” and “Brokey”—allow her “Big Mama” alter ego to shine, all while staying true to the essence of the album. She’s also returned to her competitive roots, this time from a different angle, co-hosting Rhythm + Flow Season Two alongside Ludacris and DJ Khaled. Even Eminem, in a rap battle scene, had to give Latto her flowers. —Kia Turner

Notable stat: Had seven songs appear on the Billboard Hot 100, including “Chill Bae,” which peaked at No. 13

Cultural impact: Had a very memorable appearance on Kai Cenat’s Mafiathon 2 streaming event

It’s getting harder to defend Lil Uzi Vert. After baffling fans with the Pink Tape last year, Uzi dropped Eternal Atake 2, an album so misguided that he started fanning rumors that it was some kind of troll. Even in a down year, Uzi is still one of the most popular rappers, though; his songs made numerous appearances on the Billboard Hot 100—including “Everybody” with Nicki Minaj—warranting his inclusion on the list. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable stat: “Enough (Miami)” debuted at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100

Cultural impact: Earned a Grammy nomination for “Enough”; While often making headlines for the wrong reasons, she dominates the news cycle almost daily

At the top of March, Cardi B announced she was finally dropping her long-delayed sophomore album, telling her fans to “stay tuned.” Two months later, she reversed course. During a contentious back-and-forth with a fan on X ,she wrote, “I don’t care, I’m relaxing this year.” This is the unpredictable nature of Cardi B, who, despite the delays, dropped quality music in 2024, like “On Dat Money,” her collaboration with Rob49, and “Enough (Miami),” which earned a Grammy nomination. But good news: She recently announced that the album will drop next year, saying, “I know next year is going to be my fucking year.” —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable stat: Four songs charted on the Billboard Hot 100

Cultural impact: Whether it’s on a podcast, Instagram Live, or the ComplexCon stage, he has become one of the most outspoken, newsmaking voices in rap

Lil Boat has a knack for being connected to a lot of dope shit. He’s not a commercial titan, but 17.5 monthly Spotify streams, a solid James Blake joint album, and regular collabs with A-listers like Drake keep his sounds in rotation. He’s even jumped into the media space, with his A Safe Place podcast—which has over 330,000 subscribers on YouTube—housing some of the more revealing interviews of the year. Yachty’s methods are not always smooth, as he’s had very public rifts with former collaborators like Karrahbooo and MitchGoneMad, but they’re always entertaining. —Peter A. Berry

Notable stat: Alligator Bites Never Heal peaked at No. 82 on the Billboard 200

Cultural impact: Became one of rap’s most exciting new stars in 2024 with multiple viral showcase performances, including her memorable set on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert; garnered a Best Rap Album Grammy nomination for Alligator Bites Never Heal

Florida’s "Swamp Princess," Doechii emerged as the breakout star of 2024 when her mixtape Alligator Bites Never Heal became the critical darling of the year, catapulting her into a string of major opportunities. Her performance at Tiny Desk—arguably the NPR series’ best of the year—was a showcase of her versatility, while her viral set on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert highlighted her deft understanding of gospel, jazz, and Southern rap, as well as her talent for visual storytelling. With Kendrick Lamar now carving out his own path, it’s time to crown Doechii as the new creative force emerging from TDE. —Kia Turner

Notable stat: Five songs appeared on the Billboard Hot 100, including “BAND4BAND” with Central Cee, which shot up to No. 18

Cultural impact: “BAND4BAND” sparked a global challenge trend on TikTok

Lil Baby is set to release two new albums in early 2025. His 2024, in many ways, served as a warm-up, with the rapper making several notable guest appearances—in part to counter the “Lil Baby is washed” narrative. Beyond “BAND4BAND,” where both he and Central Cee delivered verse-of-the-year contenders, Lil Baby also dropped standout 16s on tracks with 4Batz, Byron Messia, Rod Wave, and BossMan Dlow. —Will Schube

Notable stat: Released the gold-certified single "Overseas," his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100 chart

Cultural impact: Solidified his place as the most successful signee to Playboi Carti’s wildly influential Opium crew; headlined a global tour

Although Ken Carson has been on the scene for several years, 2023’s A Great Chaos—arguably the best Whole Lotta Red knockoff—was his commercial and critical breakout. So why not spin the block? In 2024, he dropped the deluxe version of the album, which birthed his first-ever Hot 100 single with "Overseas." And to prove he really lives the lyrics, he headlined his first global tour, helping introduce the world to 2Hollis in the process. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable stat: Take Care debuted at No. 8 on the US Billboard 200

Cultural impact: As an independent artist, he’s one of the leading figures of the Texas rap scene, bringing a regional sound to the charts

In 2024, the floodgates opened for BigXThaPlug. His 2023 album Amar and a half-dozen other songs went gold or platinum, propelling him to regional star status and making him one of the biggest success stories for UnitedMasters. Then his 2024 album Take Care, an immensely entertaining collection of soul-sampling anthems, crashed into the top 10 of the Billboard 200 in October. With “The Largest” climbing radio playlists, the Texas street rapper is quickly proving he’s “the biggest, the largest.” —Al Shipley

Notable stat: “Get It Sexyy” hit No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went gold; “Sticky” with Tyler, the Creator became her first Hot 100 top 10 hit

Cultural impact: From headlines to outlandish lyrics to collaborations with other stars, she is easily one of the most discussed rappers in contemporary hip-hop

The confidence Sexyy Red exhibited during her breakthrough year in 2023 has only been turned up. In March, she dropped the anthem to top all bad-bitch anthems: “Get It Sexyy.” She parlayed the viral single into a mixtape, In Sexyy We Trust, which featured the Drake-assisted “U My Everything.” Side quests, like the Sexyy Red 4 President tour and a Gucci Mane “I Think I Love Her” collaborative reboot, kept Sexyy on our minds—but it was her surprise feature on Tyler, the Creator’s “Sticky” that rounded out an incredible follow-up to her rookie breakout. —Kiana Fitzgerald

Notable stat: Pink Friday 2 and the single “FTCU” both went platinum

Cultural impact: Had one of the most successful rap headline tours of the year

Nicki Minaj is one of the rap GOATs, no doubt. But her Megan Thee Stallion diss track, “Big Foot,” was unfortunate, to say the least. But clumsy crashouts aside, she still had a noteworthy year, largely due to the success of Pink Friday 2, which she dropped in December 2023. She turned that album into multiple Billboard-charting singles; and, more impressively, The Pink Friday 2 World Tour, which earned $99 million in revenue, was the second highest-grossing rap tour of the year. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable stat: “BAND4BAND” is certified platinum

Cultural impact: One of the few British rappers to build a massive crossover following in the U.S.

In 2024, Central Cee leveled up from being a “British rapper” to simply a “rapper”—a distinction that, though unfair, reflects the dynamics of the hip-hop industry in America. While his debut album, Can’t Rush Greatness, is set for release in 2025, Central Cee spent most of the year laying the groundwork for his dominance in rap culture, both at home and abroad. He teased his upcoming project while embedding himself deeper into the culture.From the success of his platinum-certified single “BAND4BAND” with Lil Baby, to collaborations with Ice Spice (“Did It First”), Asake (“Wave”), and J. Cole (“H.Y.B.”), Central Cee moved beyond the “one to watch” label and cemented himself as a true superstar. —Will Schube

Notable stat: 50.5 million monthly Spotify listeners

Cultural impact: Headlined Coachella 2024 and embarked on her first headline arena tour

Doja Cat has been performing at an incredibly high level. In addition to her first headlining arena tour, The Scarlet Tour, she also headlined major events like the Global Citizen Festival, using her platform to raise awareness of global humanitarian issues. Her festival appearances included top billing at Coachella, the iHeartRadio Music Festival, and Wireless Festival in London. She also performed at major international festivals, including Rock in Rio (Portugal), Les Ardentes Festival (Belgium), and Roskilde Festival (Denmark).

The release of Scarlet 2 CLAUDE, a reissue of her 2023 album, further cements Doja’s reputation as one of the top-tier MCs in the game, underscoring her relentless drive to be recognized as a true force in hip-hop. —Kiana Fitzgerald

Notable stat: Hardstone Psycho debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200

Cultural impact: Went on the biggest headline tour of his career so far and became a top-tier festival act

It’s not easy for a superstar to find a successor, but Travis Scott discovered one in Don Toliver. Released last February, his mesmerizing Hardstone Psycho single “Bandit” was one of the best songs of 2024—and it earned him his highest solo placement on the Hot 100. His instincts for ambience, along with his narcotic melodies, make him both a potent, self-sustaining piece of individual hardware and an elite accessory; sprinkle Don on a SZA song here, a Justin Bieber or Metro Boomin track there—it will work. —Peter A. Berry

Notable stat: One of Wun debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200

Cultural impact: Headlined the Bittersweet Tour, including a sold-out homecoming performance at State Farm Arena in Atlanta

Long before the rap world became divided over the Drake and Kendrick beef, there was the question of whether Gunna’s plea deal in the RICO case against YSL made him a snitch. While that debate has faded into the background, it still informs the context of his 2024 album, One of Wun.

Though it would have been easy for this to overshadow the scope of the project, Gunna rarely paid it any mind, instead coasting on his inimitable knack for melody to cook up an album that peaked at No. 2. Lil Baby won’t be reuniting with Gunna anytime soon, but with One of Wun, Gunna proves he can drip plenty hard on his own. —Will Schube

Notable stat: Sixteen out of 24 songs from Last Lap charted on the Billboard Hot 100

Cultural impact: Built one of rap’s most diehard fanbases that continue to push him up the charts; Headlined the Last Lap Arena Tour

Death, taxes, and Rod Wave albums heading towards the very top of the Billboard 200. There are few things we can rely on in this turbulent world but those three are guaranteed locks. Beginning in 2019 with Ghetto Gospel, Rod Wave has released an album every year, and they have peaked on the charts at: No. 10, No. 2, No. 1, No. 1, No. 1, and No. 2 with 2024’s Last Lap. I’m not sure where to find the biggest Rod Wave fans on Earth, but it seems like every time he drops an album, everyone gets into their weighted blankets and fights off seasonal depression with the singer’s deeply felt odes to heartbreak, tragedy, trauma, and loss. In 2024, we did it again. Rod Wave is the most unexpected superstar of the 2020s. —Will Schube

Notable stat: Scored her first solo No. 1 single; MEGAN debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, selling 64,000 copies

Cultural impact: Won her rap beef with rival Nicki Minaj

When dissecting the biggest rap beefs of 2024, one fact gets lost amongst the men: Megan Thee Stallion technically fired the first shot. “Hiss,” her first solo No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 single, aimed (allegedly) at Drake and Nicki Minaj. But while the guys got catty, Megan got to work. Her MEGAN album gave us the global hit “Mamushi” with visuals inspired by anime and Japanese culture. The follow-up re-release, MEGAN: ACT II, added 13 new songs, including the Houston rap homage “Bigger In Texas.” —Kia Turner

Notable stat: Earned his fourth No. 1 album with American Dream

Cultural impact: Named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024; headlined the American Dream Tour

21 Savage found himself in the middle of the biggest rap beef of 2024, to which he responded, “Metro my brother and Drake my brother. Those n*ggas gonna figure that shit out eventually.” Savage didn’t need that drama to maintain one of the most dominant presences in the game. His razor-sharp January release, American Dream, hit massive numbers and brought him back to the level of equilibrium he achieved with 2018’s i am > i was. The project offered everything from bangers like “Redrum” to R&B sleeper hits like “Should’ve Wore a Bonnet,” and even introspective heartbreakers like “Letter to My Brudda.” That last one has one of the coldest set of verses of this year, with Savage ruminating on Catch-22s with a hardened yet vulnerable veracity. —Miki Hellerbach

Notable stat: Two albums debuted in the top five on the Billboard charts, including one that landed at No. 1

Cultural impact: His slang has permeated mainstream culture

In the film world, auteur-driven directors often follow the “one for me, one for them” approach—directing a big-budget studio film to fund a more personal passion project. Yeat applied this method to his two 2024 LPs, 2093 and Lyfestyle. The former featured pop hooks and a collaboration with Drake, while the latter delved deeper into dystopian themes, with Yeat experimenting with varied flows. Remarkably, Lyfestyle debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts, while 2093 peaked at No. 2. By galvanizing his dedicated fanbase—encouraging them to purchase limited-edition packages, attend exclusive shows, and invest in his community—Yeat demonstrated a new blueprint for future-focused rappers. —Will Schube

Notable stat: Earned the highest first-week sales of any album released by a female rapper in 2024

Cultural impact: Became one of the biggest hip-hop comeback stories of the year; her interview with Complex's Speedy Morman was one of the great viral rap moments of 2024

People were starting to count out GloRilla in 2023. Gloria Hallelujah Woods turned that momentum around at the top of 2024 with a song called “Yeah Glo!” that called back to Memphis institution Juicy J’s signature “yeah ho” ad-lib. Once that song changed the conversation, GloRilla kept the hits coming all year. Her Ehhthang Ehhthang mixtape launched “Wanna Be” with Megan Thee Stallion, and Glo hit the road as Meg’s opening act on the Hot Girl Summer Tour. Her summer hit “TGIF,” which was quickly endorsed by Rihanna, took Glo’s career even higher, and in October she released her proper debut album. Glorious featured Sexxy Red, T-Pain, and even gospel stars like Kirk Franklin and Kierra Sheard, and showed just how versatile she could be. —Al Shipley

Notable stat: Might Delete Later hit No. 2 on Billboard 200

Cultural impact: Played a role in the biggest rap beef in decades; headlined Madison Square Garden in celebration of 2014 Forest Hills Drive

J. Cole had a complicated year. He kicked off 2024 by co-headlining the It’s All a Blur Tour with Drake, a natural progression after the success of “First Person Shooter.” But things took a turn when Kendrick Lamar dropped the famous “Like That” verse, which effectively shut down Cole’s claim to a “big three” in rap. In response, Cole released Might Delete Later, a mixtape that featured his diss track “7 Minute Drill.” But just as quickly, he pulled the song and issued an apology, retreating from the spotlight for a period of reflection.

In hindsight, maybe that was the best thing Cole could have done, given the tricky position he was in because he came back to the rap game refreshed, dishing out scene-stealing features on songs with Tee Grizzley, A$AP Rocky, and Daylyt. His real return to form came when he debuted his latest creative venture, the limited audio series Inevitable, which saw the MC sharing the backstories behind his most pivotal projects, extending back to his mixtape days. Not only that, Cole brought those tapes to streaming for the first time, surprising and exciting longtime fans. J. Cole’s year ended on a high note, as the rapper celebrated the 10-year anniversary of 2014 Forest Hills Drive with a celebratory performance at Madison Square Garden. —Kiana Fitzgerald

Notable stat: Released an album and single that both peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard charts

Cultural impact: From fashion trends to performances, he remains one of the most influential figures in rap

While Ye hasn’t dropped a classic in a while, his moments of musical genius and his flair for spectacle are still potent. Five listening parties for his joint album Vultures Vol. 1 with Ty Dolla $ign reportedly earned $12 million—keep in mind, these were listening parties, not concerts. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and its top single, "Carnival" featuring Rich The Kid and Playboi Carti, peaked at No. 1 on the Hot 100. And that’s just the numbers. (The less said about the disaster that was Vultures 2, the better.)Ye’s legacy of fashion and musical eclecticism is an undercurrent that everyone from Drake to Playboi Carti floats above, and 2024 only proved that his influence is still flowing. —Peter A. Berry

Notable stat: The Death of Slim Shady was one of 2024’s best-selling rap albums, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200

Cultural impact: Introduced Barack Obama at a Kamala Harris rally; went viral for interviewing his own alter ego

Eminem is still one of the most popular rappers in the world. When he drops new music, like he did with his latest album The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce), it’s an event. It moved an impressive 281,000 in its first week and lead single “Houdini” debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Of course his catalog also remains firmly entrenched in the cultural zeitgeist. Barack Obama even rapped “Lose Yourself” at the Kamala Harris/Tim Walz Michigan rally, and naturally, the moment went viral. When he wasn’t influencing politics, Eminem was helping artists like BabyTron earn their first Billboard Hot 100 appearance with “Tobey” (a collaboration with Tron and Big Sean). It was more proof that rather than simply enduring the times, Eminem is still playing an active role in defining them. —Peter A. Berry

Notable stat: His ¥$ collab "CARNIVAL" peaked at No. 1, Carti’s first Hot 100 chart-topper

Cultural impact: Managed to dominate the scene off the strength of just a handful of tracks; his upcoming album is easily one of the most feverishly anticipated projects in music

Carti’s rabid fanbase has been insatiable since he broke into hip-hop’s consciousness in the late-2010s, and that voraciousness has only intensified throughout the years. Lucky for his stans, Carti has been teasing his Whole Lotta Red follow-up, I AM MUSIC, all year.

While it hasn’t dropped just yet, Carti has kept us on 10 while we wait, thanks to a number of loosies and collabs he’s dropped over the last 12 months. “ALL RED” is the only solo song Carti has officially dropped on streaming services; everything else only exists on his Finsta or on YouTube. There are also the features: he’s on ¥$'s “Carnival,” Future and Metro Boomin’s “Type Shit,” and the jointly released “Timeless” with The Weeknd. With those songs at his disposal,Carti dominated at ComplexCon, Summer Smash, Camp Flog Gnaw, and Rolling Loud. The rollout for I AM MUSIC might be messy, but it’s also masterful. —Kiana Fitzgerald

Notable stat: TheCircus Maximus Tour set the record for the highest-selling tour by a solo rapper; Days Before Rodeo re-release hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts on its 10-year anniversary

Cultural impact: Not only is he headlining major festivals, but he’s also taking the lead on creative direction, including for this year’s ComplexCon and next year’s Coachella

Travis Scott is a man who knows no bounds. In the ultimate flex, Scott re-released his 2014 mixtape Days Before Rodeo as an official drop, and the project went No. 1,becoming the highest-selling mixtape in history. Despite not putting out a new album this year, Scott has also been able to extend the life of his RIAA-certified double-platinum UTOPIA. The Playboi Carti-assisted “FE!N,” far and away the most memorable track from the album, was released as a single in March and has since been certified triple-platinum.

Eight years after he performed at the launch of ComplexCon in 2016, Scott returned as a headliner and artistic director, effectively setting this bitch off. He did the same throughout his extensive Circus Maximus Tour, which set the record for the highest-selling tour by a solo rapper. He capped off that tour by doing stadium shows in New Jersey, Southern California and even Sydney, Australia. This, of course, with not a lot of new music. Imagine when an album comes? —Kiana Fitzgerald

Notable stat: Had a diss track that charted in the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100

Cultural impact: Was at the center of the greatest rap beef of all time

Drake. Drizzy. 6 God. Aubrey. Whatever. What are we gonna do with you? This year was supposed to be calm. You were supposed to flirt with Sexyy Red and help figure out what in the hell the Toronto Raptors should do next. Now? Well, you know the story. It’s hard to imagine there will be anything as significant during the rest of this decade that has a wider impact across rap than the beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Imagine owning that loss. A bout that everyone agrees you lost and left zero room for debate. One that featured a victory lap in person in Kendrick’s hometown, then in the form of an album that was sort of about you, sort of not. Drake also doubled down, claiming his own label helped inflate Kendrick’s streaming numbers.

And yet, Drake still has to be near the top of a list like this. He remains incredibly popular, with the depth of his catalog alone making him one of the most streamed rappers in the world. To be frank, Kendrick needed a worthy challenger to push him to new heights, and Drake filled that role. Sure, some of the songs he released this year were frankly baffling—but not the diss tracks. Those were very strong, especially “Family Matters,” which would be a knockout under most circumstances. Drake just ran into a different type of buzzsaw. —Will Schube

Notable stat: Had three albums debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in 2024

Cultural impact: Played a crucial role in the Kendrick and Drake beef by releasing the song that ignited it

Over a decade into his career, Future has accomplished the impressive feat of becoming an A-list artist whose every release is an event, while still maintaining the prolific output of an Atlanta mixtape rapper from the Gucci Mane era.

In 2024, Future made history as the first rapper to score three No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 in a single year. The most notable moment from the first two albums of that run, We Don’t Trust You and We Still Don’t Trust You with Metro Boomin, of course, was Kendrick Lamar’s electrifying verse on “Like That,” which helped spark the Kendrick vs. Drake battle. But don’t let a historic rap beef distract from the fact that Future was rapping his ass off on each of those projects, too.

By completing his trio of 2024 projects with the solo mixtape Pluto, Future reminded fans of his mixtape roots while continuing to drop hits like “Too Fast” and “Teflon Don.” These tracks stayed true to his signature style—delivering trap talk and toxic emotions with melodic flows. Even amid all the music he was releasing and performing on the We Trust YouTour, Future still found time to feature on tracks by Ye, Ty Dolla $ign, Nicki Minaj, Mustard, Don Toliver, Coco Jones, Meek Mill, and on Tee Grizzley’s radio hit “Swear To God.” —Al Shipley

Notable stat: CHROMAKOPIA spent three straight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart,one of the top-selling albums of 2024

Cultural impact: Maintained one of the most popular rap festivals; had notable fashion collaborations with Louis Vuitton and Supreme

Tyler, the Creator spent the first half of his career as a student. Now, he’s a leader. With CHROMAKOPIA, his eighth studio album, Tyler not only released the most commercially successful project of his career, but he also did it on his own terms, delivering a dense, at times anti-commercial concept album.

With this album, we saw how skilled Tyler has become at curating moments. His albums are creative timestamps. A month of stylized teaser videos and pop-up shows in cities like Atlanta, Boston, and New York have set the tone for a world tour next year, which, judging by what we've seen already, will be a visual feast.

In an era where “too cool” often dominates, it’s inspiring to see Tyler preaching the importance of actually giving a fuck—his enthusiasm for music and dedication to the craft rub off on his fans, who are some of the most highly engaged in hip-hop. (It’s notable that while artists are canceling festivals, Camp Flog Gnaw seems to only be getting bigger.)

Tyler knows the blueprint of rap because he’s studied it. But in 2024, he proved he’s not just learned the game—he’s ready to redraw it. —Kia Turner

Notable stat: Three No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100; one No. 1 on the Billboard 200

Cultural impact: Won the biggest rap beef of all time; coordinated and headlined his own arena show in Los Angeles; announced as Super Bowl headliner

What more can be said at this point without sounding redundant? Kendrick Lamar Duckworth is the hottest rapper in the world right now. There is no room for debate. In 2024, Kendrick set new benchmarks for domination. You want a year like Kendrick’s? Cool. That means you have to embarrass the biggest artist in the game in every multimedia format (from audio to video to real-life activations). Then you have to drop multiple No. 1s, including one song that dominates the summer. Follow that up with a critically acclaimed No. 1 album. Oh yeah, don’t forget to announce a stadium tour. And, to top it all off, start the next year by headlining the Super Bowl.

That’s the bar. So, why was Kendrick so successful? It was really a mix of tenacity and strategy. Individually, the diss songs were sharp, but not without their flaws. (History will probably forget that some of the best lines were taken from recycled memes that amplified made-up bullshit.) The disses became "all-time" greats because we view them in totality—an unrelenting series of anvils dropped on Drake’s head. They were also diverse. Each track served a distinct purpose and catered to different parts of Dot’s audience. One was for Eminem fans; another for Reddit heads; one for the masochist who rocks black Uptowns (or Shox R4); and the finisher? That one was for the generalist.

Even the release of GNX was strategic. It's not a DAMN.-level classic, but he didn’t need it to be. The album was a Ride of the Valkyries-sized event. Don’t try to compete with spectacle of that scale; instead, finish the year with something more personal and smaller in scale. Taken all together, it’s been an astounding 12 months for one of rap’s most calculated and mysterious rappers. Let’s see what’s next. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo