#p4k

Counting down the remaining minutes of the first half of what has been a powder keg of a year, there is so much to reflect upon.

I can't say that I have been waking up in the morning each day expecting the new day to be any better than the previous day. The constant rage of the daily news cycle makes it hard to step out of the door with hope and optimism, but that also means that the brighter moments, those tiny moments that do manage to find sunlight each day, become more and more vital. During turbulent times in human history, people often lean on art to capture the good, the bad, and the baffling nature of modern life, so why should 2026 be any different?

Buried amongst the rubble of social media, the increasingly splintered world of hip-hop has managed to yield some incredible music over the past six months. And while folks may not have found the "instant classic" that they crave week after week (if such a thing even exists?), there's no denying that 2026 has blessed us with some truly special moments that I implore you not to miss. With that depth of love for all different types of rap music in mind, here are my favorite releases of 2026 (so far)...

***In no particular order***

NAK by Na-Kel Smith

Broke Mega glass by Rahiem Supreme & Wun Two

TIGRAY FUNK by Sideshow

Today Sounds Good by Like [of Pac Div]

TODAY IS TOMORROW'S PAST by BA PACE

rent due by BIGMUTHA

Play With Something Safe by Rosco P Coldchain & Nicholas Craven

IF YOU KNEW by Jaeychino

Ahkward.. by Ahk Sair

Living Type Dangerous Vol. 1: North Face Nace by Starker

Time Heals Everything by Blu & Exile

YOUNGBLACKFOLKS RADIO by THEFOODLORD & freespottie

Hate Island Director's Cut by Teller Bank$ and $$$

Suxh An Asshole by Fox BD

I ran away from Dallas. by Kole

Further Than The Eyes Can See by Jorden & pty

ANOINTED ! by Lil Tony Official, #RoyalPriesthood

POMPEII // UTILITY by Earl Sweatshirt, MIKE & Surf Gang

WHACK'S MUSEUM by Tierra Whack

PUSH & PAINT by Bruiser Wolf & Sheefy McFly

real by Southside Hoodlum

Splinters by dp0mmy

5786 AM: Easy Listen by Mach-Hommy & Playa Haze

YOU'RE WELCOME WORLD by Eahluri

Not Who I Thought I Was: the evil who brought us joy by '89 the Brainchild

My Name by Tony Bontana

Pin Breakers by ZeelooperZ & Black Noi$e

I Can't Feel My Face by Warhol.Ss & B6

(The) Forever Dream (Deluxe Edition) by Fly Anakin

Sow & So by Nappy Nina & Swarvy

Crayoloa Circles by Fatboi Sharif & Child Actor

A BLACK ASS KUNG FU FLICK by Mick Jenkins & greenSLLIME

The Undisputed by Nickelus F

Sir Render by Navy Blue

The Wisemen by The Wisemen [J Brom, Skippy Black, LA THE RAPPER]

Ancient History by Wiki

Open The Floodgates 2 by NoGum Hundo

RawGhettoPoetiiic, Vol. 3 by Lord Karu Villain & Kiiing Mza

GRIMACE by Michael Christmas

It's In HD by Praxeye & RoddaThaRuler

SHOOT DICE NOT PEOPLE by 4FIVE6 NICE & DeevoDaGenius

Alone On Mars 3 by Matt Mars & LoneSword/Lungs

BEEMER ON BROADWAY by CRIMEAPPLE

IT'S BEEN AWFUL by Isaiah Rashad

Cartoons & Cereal by Ghostboyrj

Inspire Your Idols by Vic Spencer

DOG COMPLEX by sleepingdogs [Jesse the Tree & andrew]

N77 by HIDDEN GEM & ÅGHETTOPHĮLOSØPHER of NEW AGE COLLECTIVE

score by kenton

ART4ARTSAKE by emi p

656 by Roc Marciano

Machetes & Micheladas by Coyote & Statik Selektah

83rd Strike by Passport Rav & Bloo Azul

FLYNPEACE by Light Seekers [JamesThe3rd & Akari Sage]

I Guess U Had To Be There by E L U C I D & Sebb Bash

ROSE VOL. 3 by Lulrose

Jihad Of The Soul by Gorgeous Jefe & Apx Alx

Y'all Won by Veeze

Did Everything But Pray by Panamera P. & Jose Franco SSW [of Pastelle Records]

It Ain't Safe by You've Been Warned [Kameo, Yeez & Jay Bel]

Da Wave (Deluxe) by 2Sdxrt3all

Road To Osshland: The Series by Black Fortune

Doe Or Die III by AZ

Proof Of Concept by Marc Andre

Slimebeezy 3 by Slimesito & Beezyb

Garden Dance by Rap Man Gavin & Jesse the Tree

Rap Scholar by Woo Da Savage

WCFRv1. by WCFR

Leave Your Ego At The Door by TONEYBOI

Life is... Fleeting by LYNC LONE

FOR THE KRIMINALS by KP GRETZKY

PROJECT X by Key Glock

DRY CLEAN ONLY by S!LENCE & ten ten

Trap N Stash 3 by rundown, Djhiitman and R $ K

SPACE HEATER by Cise Greeny & Lungs/LoneSword

Art of Expression 2 by Jay Exodus & Camoflauge Monk

EXORCISE YOUR DEMONS by VIP Skylark

Jordan Tape: Voyager 23 by Gloves

On Everything I Love by KJade

tasteful grit by JUNE!

COVERT WINERY by Willyynova

Look Ma, No Hands by SMO

Bar Talk by Rich Jones

White Roses by Noqh

Suggiesville by Universal Suggz & LQQPMASTER

Vol. 1... The World Is Yours by Pastelle Records & DVNTBEATS

Santa Rosa by Fat Ray & Raphy

The Four Horsemen by Four50

DOGS NEVER DIE by ZekeUltra & Savedher.

Psydeye by Aj Suede

CASA by Lord Ra

miser by dreadgeist

Yeast Talkin' (Deluxe) by Hit-Boy & Spank Nitti James

LOFI GUY by GOODNEWBAS

Fearless by 509 BMG

PURE WILL by RapGameWill & dp0mmy

Strange Fires by Sleep Sinatra & Heather Grey

Turtle Style: Sagewav by Sage The 64th Wonder & pty

THE GREAT BRINX by al.divino

Da Story of Tega Brady (Deluxe) by deevoDaGenius & Tega

O.Y.N by Maxo Kream & JPEGMAFIA

CHOPSZN by Dome Lettuce

From Baton Rouge To Babylon by Ronday & Wino Willy

Guttersnipe by Lärs

Scottie Trippin by TRAPMAT SAVIOR & Nicholas Craven

Str8 Disrespect...Respectfully by Rufus Sims & Machacha

GOLDFISH by Hit-Boy & The Alchemist

e.t.d.s. A Mixtape by .idk. by IDK

Juggz Never $top by Fordio

Still Right Here by Zel

And let's make some noise for these loosies...

"Wata" - Ovrkast. & Niontay

"SAN ANTOOONIO" - Southside Hoodlum

"MUD!" - JIREH

"Paygrade Demo" - No I.D. & Saba

"A SPOON & A RAZOR" - Bub Rock & Rome Streetz

"EGOH" - Nolan The Ninja & Open Mike Eagle

"WYM" - Nino Paid

"2019" - Bby Kell

"Spin" - 21 Lil Harold & BabyDrill

"OK... Nah" - Black Milk feat. Saba

"RED STRIPE" - PFG & Conductor Williams

Until next time, keep your head up and stay safe out there folks...

Against all odds—amidst sickness, amidst heartbreak, amidst financial strain, amidst crises of faith, amidst bouts of my own self doubt—I still made it here. 24 years of studying, practicing, writing, refining my craftsmanship. 19 years of rehearsing, repertoire building, performing, gigging, hustling, touching hearts, moving souls. 9 years of searching for the right collaborators, learning to self produce, channeling my personal pain and power into song form, and finally nearing completion of my first full body of work that I’m performing songs from tonight and Sunday on the kind of platform that I have prayed I would gain access to. I’ve fought long and hard to secure this win, not only because music is the love of my life and sharing it with you all is the joy of my life. But because music IS love, pure and simple. And the world needs more love, and more love, and more love, and more.

Please share in this love with me. Share this moment with me. It’s not just my win, but ours. Thank you for your support, your patience, your kindness, your heartfelt messages, your praise, your encouragement, your energy! Thank you for you, You, YOU! I love you. 1st photo credits: 📸 : Leah Wendzinski 💄: Ariella Granados 💇🏾‍♀️: Mo G Taylor

TIX for Tonight.

TIX for Sunday.

“If he got more bodies than you, you can’t little bro the nigga.” -Durk

“My young hoe 22, if she don't keep it P, imma fuck her mama.” -Future

“Said I was a dead beat when I bought my daughter a Birkin.” -Future

Grimes Stands Behind Planned Parenthood in New Video

Hari Nef, Jemima Kirke, HANA, Jojo, and more help raise awareness for the organization

Hey, we’re back! For those who care, life has finally given us some breathing room and we decided to use to record Gravity Rush Remastered.

You can check it out >HERE<

Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Coachella

Grimes’ Visions Gets Classical Interpretation for New Concert Series

Composers reworked each song on the album for the upcoming “Many Visions” shows

The songs from Grimes’ 2012 album Visions will receive classical music interpretations by 13 composers during a concert series called “Many Visions: Plumes Deconstructs the Music of Grimes.” The event was conceived by Plumes, a Montreal-based ensemble. Shows will take place across Canada this month. See the itinerary below. There are also plans to record the performances for streaming.

“We wanted to see how we could bridge the gap between popular and classical music—we have a suspicion it’s smaller than people think,” Luke Nickel (co-director of Winnipeg’s Cluster New Music and Integrated Arts Festival) said to MusicWorks. “We want to think about interpretation and rearrangement, not only in terms of musical material but also in terms of the spirit of an artist. That led us to Grimes, whose DIY attitude seems to resonate across genres.”

“The theme of the festival is dismantling, taking something apart and reconstructing it,” Plumes’ Geof Holbrook told MusicWorks. In an interview with NOW Magazine, composer Monica Pearce said, “It’s going to be quite different from the album, which I think will be really exciting.”

“Many Visions: Plumes Deconstructs the Music of Grimes”:

03-10 Montreal, Quebec - Rocket Science Room 03-11 Toronto, Ontario - The Music Gallery 03-12 Hamilton, Ontario - The Casbah 03-13 Windsor, Ontario - University of Windsor 03-15 Guelph, Ontario - University of Guelph 03-16 Kitchener, Ontario - Wilfrid Laurier University 03-17 Winnipeg, Manitoba - Cluster Festival 03-18 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Village Guitar & Amp Co 03-21 Vancouver, British Columbia - Music on Main