January • On January 1,
ZeeTheWizard was shot in
Dallas, Texas. He died days later. • On January 4,
Calbo died at the age of 52. • On January 7, the death of
James Bernard was announced. • On January 8,
Fetty Wap was released from prison. • On January 12,
John Forté died at the age of 50. • On January 21, the death of
DJ Mike T was announced.
February • On February 1, the
68th Annual Grammy Awards were held.
Kendrick Lamar and
SZA won
Record of the Year and
Best Melodic Rap Performance for "
Luther".
Clipse and Lamar won
Best Rap Performance for "
Chains & Whips". Lamar and
Lefty Gunplay won
Best Rap Song for "
TV Off". Lamar won
Best Rap Album for
GNX.
Mad Skillz won
Best Spoken Word Poetry Album for
Words for Days Vol. 1.
Tyler, the Creator won
Best Album Cover for
Chromakopia.
Pharrell Williams received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award. • On February 11,
All Eyez on Me by
2Pac and "
Paid in Full" by
Eric B. & Rakim were inducted into the
Grammy Hall of Fame. • On February 12,
Milkman died at the age of 36. • On February 18,
Lil Poppa died at the age of 25 from
suicide by gunshot. • On February 22,
Luci4 died at the age of 23. • On February 23,
Oliver "Power" Grant died at the age of 52. • On February 28, the
57th NAACP Image Awards were held.
Salt-n-Pepa and
DJ Spinderella won the
Hall of Fame Award.
The Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show with Kendrick Lamar won Outstanding Short-Form Series or Special - Reality/Nonfiction/Documentary.
Kendrick Lamar and
SZA won
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album for "
Luther". Lamar won
Outstanding Male Artist.
Cardi B won
Outstanding Album for
Am I the Drama?, Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap Song for "
ErrTime", and
Outstanding Female Artist.
Monaleo won
Outstanding New Artist. The
Brit Awards 2026 were held.
Dave won
Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act. March • On March 1,
Bob Power died at the age of 73. • On March 8,
Dot Rotten died at the age of 37. • On March 12,
Lord Sear died at the age of 53. • On March 26, the
2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards were held.
Kendrick Lamar and
SZA won Hip-Hop Song of the Year for "
Luther". Kendrick Lamar won Hip-Hop Album of the Year for
GNX and Hip-Hop Artist of the Year.
Real Boston Richey won Best New Hip-Hop Artist.
Ludacris won the iHeartRadio Landmark Award.
April • On April 2, nine people, including
Pooh Shiesty and
Big30, were arrested in
Memphis, Tennessee for allegedly robbing and kidnapping multiple men, one of which was
Gucci Mane. • On April 6,
Offset was shot in
Hollywood, Florida. • On April 7, Blondy of
The Sequence died at the age of 67. • On April 9,
Afrika Bambaataa died at the age of 68. • On April 28, Cleetis Mack, of
Digital Underground, died.
June •
Mystikal is scheduled to be sentenced.
August • On August 10, Duane "Keefe D" Davis will go on trial for the murder of
Tupac Shakur. • On August 20,
Lil Durk is scheduled for his
murder for hire trial.
November • On November 9, the murder trial for the murder of
Takeoff will begin. • On November 14,
Wu-Tang Clan will be inducted into the
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. == Released albums ==