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 – 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 • On April 5,
Pasha Technique died at the age of 40. • On April 16,
Drake filed an
amended complaint in the
defamation lawsuit filed against
UMG earlier this year to include complaints about
Kendrick Lamar's
Super Bowl halftime performance. • On April 30, the
APRA Music Awards of 2025 were held.
Lithe won Most Performed Hip Hop / Rap Work for "
Fall Back".
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
El Último Baile and Best Urban Song for "
Real Gangsta Love".
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 •
Ex Tuuttiz died. • On August 2,
Howie Tee died at the age of 61. • On August 9, the
National Indigenous Music Awards 2025 were held.
Barkaa won Album of the Year for
Big Tidda. • On August 21,
Lil Nas X was arrested for misdemeanor battery on a police officer and briefly hospitalized for a suspected drug overdose in
Los Angeles.
September •
Omen died at the age of 49. • On September 6, the
77th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards were held.
Kendrick Lamar and Tony Russell won
Outstanding Music Direction for
The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show Starring Kendrick Lamar. • On September 7, the
2025 MTV Video Music Awards were held.
Doechii won
Best Hip Hop and
Best Choreography for "
Anxiety".
Kendrick Lamar won
Best Cinematography for "
Not Like Us".
Busta Rhymes received the Rock the Bells Visionary Award. • On September 28,
Marcyliena Morgan died at the age of 75.
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 – 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 – 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 – UK for "Statue in the Square". Archy Moor won Best Hip Hop / Grime / Rap Video – 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 – Male Solo for "
Too Bad".
Stray Kids won
Album of the Year for
Karma.
Jennie won
Best Dance Performance – Female Solo for "
Like Jennie".
Big Naughty won
Best Rap & Hip Hop Performance for "Music".
Cortis won
Best New Artist.
December • On December 2,
Poorstacy died at the age of 26. • On December 11,
Junior King died. • On December 14, the
31st Annual South African Music Awards were held.
25K won Best Hip Hop Album for
Loyal to the Plug: The Life & Times of Don Kilograms. • On December 19,
Eye-Kyu died at the age of 55. • On December 20,
Michał Urbaniak died at the age of 82. The
2025 Melon Music Awards were held.
G-Dragon won
Artist of the Year, Best Male Solo, Best Songwriter,
Album of the Year for
Übermensch, and
Song of the Year for "
Home Sweet Home".
Woodz won the Hot Trend Award.
Zico won Best Producer. == Released albums ==