100 Hottest Rappers Right Now [October 2026]

Notable stat: "GASS" debuted at No. 61 on the UK Singles Chart

The UK rap takeover hasn't been as overwhelming as fans once thought, but that doesn't mean rappers from across the pond aren't putting in work. Nemzzz dropped his third mixtape this month, and it's a star-studded affair, with guest appearances from Lil Yachty, Cash Cobain, Latto, and Travis Scott. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable stat: The rapper's TikTok video promoting "Pink Blush" has eclipsed 14 million views.

Dallas rapper Dolly Babe has found herself with the TikTok song of the summer with "Pink Blush," which TikTok users might know as "ratatatata."

That's right, her song that talks about…well, you know, is everywhere right now. And a new remix with Megan Thee Stallion means the song isn't going anywhere anytime soon. —Will Schube

Notable Stat: Has amassed nearly 7 billion career streams.

Tee Grizzley isn't just about livestreams and Grand Theft Auto; he's still a very good rapper. He just dropped his latest album, They Forgot. (We didn't.) It includes "Robbery 10," the latest chapter in his beloved storytelling series and one of the longest-running in hip-hop. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable stat: "LV Sandals" has well over 200 million streams on Spotify

fakemink is a true overnight sensation, and a guiding light for anyone out there who thinks that you need a record deal to become a star. He's turned ingenuity and a home recording setup into co-signs from some of the biggest artists in the game. After lackluster performances at Coachella and Rolling Loud he dropped his debut, Terrified. He also just linked with Skepta for the new Stone Island campaign. —Will Schube

Notable Stat: More than 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify

Xaviersobased spent late summer opening for Ken Carson on the Xperimenting Tour, and he just dropped his latest single, "Walls Closin Inn." The tour and a steady stream of releases signal he's ready to be more than NYC's favorite underground cult rapper. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable Stat: More than 30 million monthly listeners on Spotify

Gunna rarely goes long without a song in heavy radio rotation, and usually it's one of his own. This time, he's sharing the spotlight with fellow airwaves mainstay Shaboozey on "High Noon.” The collab is picking up steam and time will tell whether it becomes another Billboard Hot 100 smash. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable Stat: Almost 20 million monthly listeners on Spotify

Quavo and Offset back on a track together? Yes, please. One of the standouts from Quavo's new album, QRÖMELIFE, is "Away," which marks the first time the two have linked up in years. Offset is keeping the momentum going on his own, too, with his latest single, "Something I Need." —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable Stat: Around 1.4 million monthly Spotify listeners

Opinions might be split on Che's new deep-voiced flow, but there's no debating his work rate. He's been one of the most consistent names in the underground, and he isn't letting up: his latest is RichPhønks, a new mini tape with Tezzus. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable Stat: His debut album Early Life Crisis debuted at no. 39 on the Billboard 200, moving 20,000 units

The bad ass fucking kid from Virginia continues to climb rap's ladder…then use it to beat on his peers. His debut album, Early Life Crisis, was his highest charting album so far. However, it received a polarizing reaction from longtime fans. But that's just a slight speed bump. Next up? An album with OsamaSon. —Jordan Rose

Notable Stat: "Face Card" hit a new peak of No. 19 on Billboard's Rhythmic Airplay chart

Detroit rapper Skilla Baby asked an important question on his debut album: what's the price of fame? Seems like he's close to finding out. "Face Card," featuring Chris Brown and Bryson Tiller, is a radio hit that's still climbing. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable Stat: His mixtape </3³ debuted at No. 64 on the Billboard 200, selling approximately 13K equivalent album units

Between the third iteration of </3, teasing his next album Drop Dead Gorgeous, and with 00PIUM TWINS—his long-awaited collab tape with Ken Carson—in the wings, Destroy Lonely remains one of the most consistent forces in the game today. However, Lone is evolving—actively experimenting to make music he's never made before. Drop Dead Gorgeous feels like that next leap for Lone, saying the album sounds like "ILCK on ecstasy" as he challenges himself to create with new sonic textures. Unitl then, check him out on Ken Carson’s “shopping.” —Jon Barlas

Notable stat: His song with Tems, "Raindance," flirted with being a top 40 hit in the States

Dave took some time off but came back blazing. In October 2025 he dropped The Boy Who Played the Harp, his third straight No. 1 UK rap album, making him the first UK rapper to accomplish that feat. He also had standout features on Jim Legxacy's Black British Music, solidifying himself as an elder statesman in the scene. He’s spent a good portion of 2026 on his North American tour, with his Tems collaboration "Raindance” still dominating radio. —Jordan Rose

Notable Stat: Has almost 13 million monthly listeners on Spotify

Fueled by a viral Timothée Chalamet crossover moment, EsDeeKid became one of the most talked-about artists in the world last year.

That momentum translated into real demand, with hit records including "4 Raws" and "Phantom" both charting on Billboard, a standout performance at Gucci's AW26 afterparty, an appearance at Rolling Loud, and a massive global tour. EsDeeKid even has his own Fortnite skin. —Antonio Johri

Notable Stat: More than 12 million monthly listeners on Spotify

Rosadita…is on its way?

After a quiet stretch for Ice Spice, the Bronx rapper released her latest single, "Out My Face (My Baby)," which features a stellar performance from Lil Yachty.

Two polarizing rappers linking up? Who could ask for more. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable Stat: Made two Billboard Hot 100 appearances this year, with "Hurrr Not Thurrr" and "Cheetah Print"

Sexyy Red might be one of hip-hop's most polarizing artists due to her crass lyrics and playful antics, yet she has moved from gimmick to mainstay. The St. Louis native has had to defend her artistic vision—whether through AI-generated, physics-defying twerking in her "If You Want It" music video or her NSFW take on a Michael Jackson classic, "Beat It"—but her ability to deliver an earworm of a hook speaks for itself. Her Drake collaborations "Cheetah Print" and "Hurrr Or Thurrr" both charted on the Billboard Hot 100. She just dropped a collab with Rob49, "In the Club," and has another banger with GloRilla in the works. —DeMicia Inman

Notable stat: Don't Be Dumb debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts with 123,000 equivalent album units earned

After years of false starts, delays, and near-misses, A$AP Rocky finally dropped his fourth studio album, Don't Be Dumb, to (mostly) critical acclaim. However, despite the success of the album—which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard charts—there hasn't been a breakout single. But of course that's not stopping him from going on a global arena tour, covering VIBE Magazine and locking in on Quavo’s new album. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable stat: "Motion Party" was a top 40 hit, peaking at 37

Chicken Talkin Bastard, Bossman Dlow's fourth mixtape, featured a number of different pockets from the rapper. The most notable, of course, is "Motion Party," which has become one of the surprise rap hits of 2026, driven by a sample of “My Neck, My Back (Lick It)” from Khia. The record has barely lost any motion—he even put Megan Thee Stallion on the remix, which helped the original get a nice chart boost. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable stat: UY Scuti debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200, pushing 52,000 equivalent album units

Since his release from jail at the end of 2024, Young Thug has been finding his footing post-YSL's lengthy RICO trial. Through the label's hardships, Thug still stands as one of the most iconic rappers in the game. Over the last couple of months, he performed at Coachella, appeared at Rolling Loud with Ken Carson, and was named one of the best American songwriters by The New York Times. He also has a new crew—ØWAY. His latest project, Slime Language 3, is massive, featuring 40 songs that feature all of the main ØWAY players. —Jon Barlas

Notable stat: Has more than 15 million monthly listeners on Spotify

Yachty's got such a grip on the music industry that he can drop a psych-rock album and still be one of rap's most vital figures. Between his ability to switch between styles and ideas with a chameleonic spirit and the development of his crew, Concrete Boys—who just put out another album in March—Yachty is an MC for everybody. His latest challenge was making a hit record with Ice Spice. Let’s see if it will work. —Will Schube

Notable Stat: Her single "GOMF" charted on the US Billboard Hot 100

Life has changed for Latto. BIG MAMA is now a new mama and she just dropped her latest album to prove it. Propelled by "GOMF" with GloRilla, Big Mama arrived May 29th and debuted at No. 16 on the Billboard 200 with roughly 33,000-34,000 equivalent album units. It's a number that sparked some noise online, which Latto quickly shut down. Her latest move? Appearing on Nemzzz's "Locked In" tape. —DeMicia Inman

Notable stat: Debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, moving 73,000 equivalent album units

Admittedly, 21 Savage’s What Happened to the Streets? wasn't as sticky as his previous efforts. But a number of songs still found their way to the charts, including the hypnotic "Mr. Recoup" with Drake and "Dog Shit" featuring GloRilla. It wasn't just about the music with 21; the Atlanta rapper showed the kind of respect he's built in hip-hop by sparking the "Fuck the Streets" moment that dominated podcast conversations. He is also one of a few to appear on Iceman and was on the FIFA World Cup 2026™ album.

In late August, he caught another notch on the Billbard Hot 100 charts appearing on Belly Gang Kushington’s “WTF Goin.” —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable stat: Pretty Girlz Run the World debuted at 68 on the billboard album charts

In late July, Florida rapper Loe Shimmy released his latest album, Pretty Girlz Run The World. It's his first since releasing the deluxe version of his previous album Rockstar Junky last year. And the album comes with new listeners after appearing on "I'm Spent" from Habibti earlier this year. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable stat: The Pharrell-produced "Let 'Em Know," was a top 40 hit that went gold

Some rappers turn 40 and age gracefully into a new chapter; others fight father time pursuing relevancy. T.I.'s got the star power for a third way: remaining a part of the culture as an ambassador and agitator, never quite fading out but never desperately chasing it either. He just dropped his final album, Kill the King, lead by the single "Let 'Em Know", and it is a heater. —Will Schube

Notable stat: “Look Like My Mama” has surpassed 8 million Spotify streams since its August 28 release.

Kendrick feature or no Kendrick feature, it's been a hell of a year for AZ Chike, who just dropped his critically acclaimed major-label debut, No Rest for the Wicked. Even with big-name features from Tyler, the Creator and Pharrell, the album still sounds unmistakably like his own. —Will Schube

Notable stat: “WTF GOIN," his new song with 21 Savage, peaked at No. 56 on the Hot 100

Atlanta upstart Belly Gang Kushington has landed his first Billboard Hot 100 entry with "WTF GOIN," his link-up with 21 Savage. The string-heavy trap throwback is everywhere right now, helped along by a hilarious Druski skit. Belly Gang Kushington is so hot that when BigXthaPlug needed a single to roll out his new album, guess where he looked? —Will Schube

Notable Stat: "What You Saying" was a hit, peaking at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100

No matter how often fans beg for the "old Uzi," they continue to reinvent their sound.

Now operating under their Cor(e) label with Roc Nation distribution, Uzi is clearly gearing up for their next major run; "What You Saying" took over the algorithm and the charts as they tapped back into their Jersey club bag, alongside a slew of vibrant singles like "Relevant" and "Chanel Boy."

Uzi is embracing this slow drip style. He dropped a surprise EP, teasing his upcoming album. —Antonio Johri

Notable Stat: “Can't Hold Us” is the most-streamed hip-hop song on Spotify

At a time when most rappers steer clear of politics, Macklemore is standing out. He's been one of the most outspoken artists in support of Palestine, and after a speech during his Sept. 4 opening set at MetLife Stadium, he was dropped from the rest of Ed Sheeran's U.S. Loop Tour. It hasn't slowed him down. He just announced his own Free Palestine Tour, which so far includes three European dates in Dublin, Paris, and London. All three sold out almost immediately. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable Stat: His song "All the Way" with Bailey Zimmerman peaked at No. 4 on the Hot 100

The last time we saw BigXthaPlug, he was going country. This time, it seems like he's heading back to his rap roots. He's gearing up to release his fourth studio album, BETTER OVER TIME, which will include his buzzing new single "LITE" with red-hot Atlanta rapper Belly Gang Kushington. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable Stat: All Eyes on Shiesty sold 51,000 equivalent album units, debuting in the top 10 on the Billboard 200 charts.

Memphis rapper Pooh Shiesty was arrested in April alongside eight others—including his dad, Lontrell Denell Williams Sr.—in connection with a coordinated attack against Gucci Mane. The moment dealt a serious blow to his comeback, which was led by "FDO." Even with his legal situation, Pooh still found a way to drop an album, All Eyes on Shiesty, which features some of the rawest rapping in contemporary hip-hop. —DeMicia Inman

Notable stat: Has close to 16 million monthly listeners on Spotify

Whether churning out undeniable raps with ear candy hooks or explaining the reasoning behind her body work, GloRilla has proven herself to be a one-of-one hang. She's funny, honest, wildly talented, and seems genuinely obsessed with being the best rapper she can be. She didn’t drop an album in 2025 but kept herself busy making appearances with all your favorite rappers. Right now she has the standout verse on Da Baby’s “Pop Dat Thang” remix with YKNIECE and Yung Miami. She also has a heater with Pooh Shiesty, “MANE.” —Will Schube

Notable stat: "Ghetto Love Story" peaked at 48 on the charts

Who knew that the song of the summer would come from a teenage rapper who is still trying to recover from saying he once used ChatGPT to help write his rhymes. But "Ghetto Love Story" is a real Billboard hit, powered by the virality it's catching on TikTok. The song is the standout from his latest album, Rise Against My Broken Odds. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable Stat: She had a top 20 song on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Spend Dat”

Yung Miami has one with “Spend Dat”—which has become the song of the summer.

What started as an internet joke—people clowning Jadakiss and Fat Joe for how hard they were riding for it—has become a full-blown anthem, maybe the most legitimate City Girls-adjacent moment since "Twerk" with Cardi B. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable Stat: "AH HA" peaked at 25 on the Billboard Hot 100

Legal disputes, relationship drama, petty rap beef, a new baby, and a constant presence in the headlines have kept Cardi B fixed in the cultural conversation; oh, and the music has been good too. After dropping her sophomore album last year, she followed that up with "AH HA"—another top 40 hit for the rapper. —DeMicia Inman

Notable Stat:

Over the last couple of weeks, no rapper has been more visible than Quavo. The 2022 COLORS performance he gave with the late Takeoff has been going viral, with fans generating AI versions of the set.

He also has a new album: The Pharrell produced QRÖMELIFE which features everyone from Offset to Future to Tyler, the Creator. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable Stat: Nearly 40 million monthly listeners on Spotify

Tyler rarely hops on other artists' songs. That's what makes his two features on AZ Chike's new album, No Rest for the Wicked, so noteworthy. He also turns up on Quavo's new album. His appearance isn’t a top 25 verse—but it’s still damn good. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable Stat: More than 70 million monthly listeners on Spotify

Despite not having put an album out since 2024, Eminem is still one of the most streamed rappers on the planet.

During Jay-Z's three shows at Yankee Stadium, he stole the show when the two performed "Renegade" and then "Lose Yourself." The theory is that he's cooking up some more music, including a song on the Street Fighter soundtrack. In the meantime, he's doing cool things like selling part of his sneaker collection for charity. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable Stat: Future scored his 12th no. 1 with latest album, The Real Me

Hard to believe we're over a decade removed from Future's legendary mixtape run. His last few projects don't quite carry that same level of impact, but you can never count him out. After a relatively quiet stretch—only appearing on J. Cole's The Fall Off this year—he's heating up again. He just dropped his latest album, The Real Me, led by the single "Radio," which gave him his 12th No. 1. And he's hinting he's back in the studio. ——Mike DeStefano

Notable stat: "Dead Fresh" made its debut at 18 on the Billboard Hot 100

WHAM has been fighting the "Lil Baby is washed" narrative for years. His latest single is the Pharrell-produced "Dead Fresh" and it's a blatantly commercial attempt to prove he still has his fastball. So far the song seems to be working. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable Stat: The Fall-Off debuted at No. 1 moving 280,000 equivalent units, making it the biggest opening for a rap album in 2026

J. Cole is still one of the most powerful artists in the world.

He came into the year as an underdog. There was a lot of doubt surrounding him after he bowed out of the biggest rap battle in history two years ago. He had been teasing The Fall-Off, his alleged last studio album, for nearly a decade, and for some the apology had soured that anticipation.

But great rapping and an even better rollout can solve all. Not only did The Fall-Off deliver on Cole's promise to bring his story full circle, but the way he promoted the double disc project took over social media and reminded his naysayers why he is still one of the biggest rappers on the planet.

The album sold roughly 280K in the first week, giving Cole his seventh straight No. 1. Then, while still riding that momentum, the Carolina rapper did something true to his brand—he dusted off the same Honda Civic he used to drive from Fayetteville, North Carolina to New York City when he attended St. John's University, and sold physical CDs out the trunk at college campuses across the Chitlin' Circuit.

He just wrapped up the US leg of the Fall-Off World Tour. He’s headed to Europe in a couple of days. —Jordan Rose

Notable Stat: He is the most certified rapper of all time, with 126 RIAA-certified titles

Coming off a white-hot 2025 that earned him our Best Rapper Alive title, YB carried the momentum into this year with Slime Cry. The album debuted at No. 6 with roughly 70K equivalent albums moved. And then, in late June, he dropped a collection loosies, More Leaks 2, which moved around 31,000 equivalent units

Between these projects, and prominent features on projects from Nettspend, Mike WiLL Made It, Skrilla, and Yeat, YB's presence remains undeniable (even when he’s not showing up for his Rolling Loud performance.)

Like The Game told us, he's "the Tupac for YNs"—and he's showing no signs of slowing down.—Jordan Rose

Notable Stat: More than 70 million monthly listeners on Spotify

After one of the most dominant stretches by a rapper in recent history, Kendrick Lamar has earned his rest.

Following his dismantling of Drake in one of the most heated rap beefs of all time—punctuated by a massive record—he returned with a monster album, a stadium tour, and a Grammy haul to match.

But after all of that, Kendrick has kept a relatively low profile in 2026. His most notable moves have been a standout feature on Baby Keem's Ca$ino and a guest spot on Jhené Aiko's "So Good." Whether or not we see another Kendrick project this year remains to be seen, but those occasional peekaboo moments are more than enough to keep him firmly near the top as one of the hottest rappers in hip-hop. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable stat: Has more than 60 million monthly listeners on Spotify

Despite not putting out a new solo album last year, Scott still made himself omnipresent, and that's before even factoring in the brand collabs and crossover wrestling moments. On the music front, there was the release of the Jackboys 2 album, which stepped on the Clipse’s reunion album. More recently, he's turned in standout features on Don Toliver's and Young Thug's albums and landed a spot on the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI soundtrack. And of course, a new album is on the way. —Kiana Fitzgerald

Notable Stat: His album xperiment cracked the top 10 of the Billboard album charts

The master of the mosh, the 00 dark prince, the lord of chaos, Boy Barbie—whatever you call him, Complex cover star Ken Carson has been the commanding presence of the rage wave for years now. Nearly a year removed from More Chaos, Ken dropped his latest album, xperiment, which features Playboi Carti, 2hollis, Young Thug and more. His then followed that up with cartunez mixtape, which features a monster Nine Vicious diss. Oh, and he will be performing at ComplexCon this year. —Jon Barlas

Notable stat: ADL debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200, selling 57K equivalent units in its first week

There are very few rappers as hardworking as Yeat. He releases music at an overwhelming clip; he just dropped a new EP, COCOON. That project follows his double album ADL—which was his biggest mainstream swing yet.

He's also not afraid to swing at other artists out there. Last month he dropped "On Nothing," which is a diss towards Travis Scott. Part of the issue stems from the fact that they both were featured on Young Thug's "Eaters," but Yeat was taken off. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo

Notable stat: Broke Yankee Stadium's concert attendance record with the Blueprint show

Despite no new music since 2022, Jay-Z has become the center of conversation for summer 2026. It started with a revealing GQ article, then his first US show in years at Roots Picnic, where he spit a three-minute freestyle taking shots at everyone from Drake to Kanye West. He then kicked off a series of anniversary shows at Yankee Stadium—honoring Reasonable Doubt and The Blueprint—while teasing a new album. You can currently catch him on HBO in JAŸ-Z in 8, the docuseries airing new episodes through October 9.—Jordan Rose

Notable Stat: MUSIC earned 134 million streams in its first day on Spotify, making it, at the time, the seventh-most streamed album in a single day

A a year after Playboi Carti dropped MUSIC, we are officially on Baby Boi watch. That's the strength of Carti, the most influential rapper in hip-hop, with dozens of artists—including some on this list—ripping off his swag. Last year, it all crystallized on the sold-out Antagonist 2.0 tour, with the full Opium/YVL roster out in force.

In 2026, he's been heating up—bringing that world-class swag and aura to Rolling Loud, giving Atlanta rapper Fatt Smaxk a minor street hit with an appearance on "Smaxk or Die," and turning in a stellar verse on Ken Carson's "Deaf Note." Most importantly, he’s the headliner and co-creative director of ComplexCon 2026. —Antonio Johri

Notable stat: Don't Look Down went No. 1 debut, moving 99k units

Rod Wave might be the most low-key superstar in rap. His new album Don't Look Down is another smash—it debuted No. 1 on the Billboard 200 charts, collecting 99,000 equivalent album units in the United State. It is his fourth No. 1 album. —Jordan Rose

Notable Stat: Ye's two shows at Soldier Field grossed $29.8 million

Every time it looks like Ye is finished, he finds a way back. Even before Bully dropped, his star power had fans scrambling for his back-to-back SoFi Stadium dates. Then came Bully itself, a return to form of sorts, with "All the Love" and "Father" as the clear standouts.

But the real story was his homecoming in Chicago, which became the rap event of the year. Those two nights featured everyone from Chief Keef to Kid Cudi to Travis Scott.

Did you ever think you'd hear "Clique" in front of 70,000 people? —Jordan Rose

Notable Stat: Earned his first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with Octaine, moving 162,000 equivalent album units

This year is shaping up to be one of the biggest for the 32-year-old, with a to-do list that includes headlining a cross-country tour in support of his chart-topping album.

As he ascends closer to hip-hop superstardom, the Grammy-nominated artist has set himself up as one of the most in-demand acts in the genre. Drake’s FOMO features four new tracks and Don is on two of them.

For months, Octane was the top selling rap album of 2026. He also has multiple songs buzzing on the Billboard Hot 100, including "E85" and "Body." If it all plays out in Don Toliver's favor, his hypnotic anthems will keep him in "best rapper" conversations for years to come. —DeMicia Inman

Notable Stat: Iceman topped the Billboard 200 four weeks in a row

Drake’s Iceman is easily the album of the year, which makes his placement on this list a no-brainer. After a bruising dust-up with Kendrick, Drake has returned to the center of pop music, dropping the rap centric Iceman and two additional albums.

If anything, he's found new ways to innovate. He has dismantled the traditional rollout playbook by leaning into streaming and creating IRL moments, like the massive ice structure in Toronto. And then he shocked the rap world—without warning, he dropped three new albums instead of one.

What makes the achievement even more impressive is that every album is different. Iceman is the album for the rap nerds, Habibti is the one for the R&B heads, while Maid of Honour hits that clubby, global pocket.

And the best part is he's still going. He just dropped FOMO, a four-song addition to the deluxe edition of Habibti. —Antonio Johri