When we look back at the Recording Academy’s 2023, the 50th anniversary of hip-hop will loom exceptionally large.

The ongoing celebration permeated every facet of the world’s leading society of music professionals this year, from the 65th Annual Awards Ceremony in February to the special airing of "A GRAMMY Salute To Hip-Hop" in December — a dense, thrillingly kaleidoscopic televised tribute to the breadth of this genre.

One major accompaniment to this was coverage of the genre’s legacy via GRAMMY.com, the editorial site run by the Recording Academy. If you haven’t been keeping up, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a highlight reel of the work GRAMMY.com published in honor of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.

We Profiled Rising Stars

From Lola Brooke to Tkay Maidza, GRAMMY.com engaged in comprehensive in-depth interviews with artists who are at the forefront of shaping the future of hip-hop, and held a roundtable discussion about exactly what the next 50 years might look like. 

We Published Conversations With Legends

DJ Kool Herc and Questlove, who have played unquestionable roles in hip-hop’s continuing evolution, spoke to GRAMMY.com about their profound and abiding connections to the idiom.

The Contributions Of Women Were Highlighted

Without the inspired vision of countless women, hip-hop would not be what it is today. The "Ladies First" segment, which kicked off "A GRAMMY Salute To Hip-Hop" featuring Queen Latifah, Monie Love, and MC Lyte, among other lady greats with Spinderella as DJ, was an ode to this. 

In acknowledgment of female trailblazers in a world dominated by men, GRAMMY.com wrote about teen girl pioneers, women behind the scenes, a revealing Netflix doc, and women artists pushing the genre forward in 2023, from Ice Spice to Lil Simz.

We Revisted Hip-Hop’s Biggest Releases

From Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) to Jay-Z’s The Black Album to Cardi B’s Invasion of Privacy, GRAMMY.com dove deep into the core hip-hop canon. We also broke down the genre’s development decade by decade through the 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, 10s, and 20s, with a focus on classic albums from each era.

Listen To GRAMMY.com's 50th Anniversary Of Hip-Hop Playlist: 50 Songs That Show The Genre's Evolution

We Criss-Crossed The Country

GRAMMY.com’s series of regional guides — from the Bay Area and SoCal, to Texas and the Dirty South, to D.C. and NYC — highlight hip-hop’s diversity of culture and sound.

We Went International

Although hip-hop is a quintessentially American phenomenon, its impact, appeal, and influence has spread worldwide. The international appetite for hip-hop was showcased in coverage of Latinx and Argentinian rappers to know, as well as five international hip-hop scenes to know: France, Nigeria, Brazil, South Africa, and England.

We Explored Hip-Hop’s Larger Impact

Hip-hop is more than a sound. It’s a culture that permeates almost every sector of life. Showcasing this effervescence, GRAMMY.com ran pieces about the evolution of hip-hop’s influence on educational curriculum worldwide, as well as its biggest fashion and style moments.

We Covered On Stage Celebrations

"A GRAMMY Salute To 50 Years Of Hip-Hop," the two-hour special that aired in December on CBS and is available on demand on Paramount+ represented a culmination of the Recording Academy’s 50th year anniversary celebration.

Revisit the 2023 GRAMMYs’ hip-hop revue, and check out a recap of "A GRAMMY Salute" with photos, a rundown of all the performers and songs and coverage of the Black Music Collective’s Recording Academy honors in February.

It Didn’t Stop There…

Notable coverage also included the evolution of the mixtape, 11 Hip-Hop Subgenres to Know and 10 Binge-worthy Hip-Hop Podcasts, as well as a breakdown of Jay-Z’s Songbook and Snoop Dogg’s discography.

For everything GRAMMY.com and all things hip-hop — including our rap-focused run in the GRAMMY Rewind series — visit here.

2023 In Review: 5 Trends That Defined Hip-Hop

Editor’s Note: Updated Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, to reflect the results of the 2026 Grammys.

1989 was a year of many highlights, from the debut of "The Simpsons" and "Seinfeld" to the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the beginning of the Game Boy. It was also the first year hip-hop artists won Grammy Awards, an honor that went to D.J. Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince for "Parents Just Don't Understand."

Hip-hop and the GRAMMYs have come a long way in the ensuing decades. While Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff broke barriers with their win for Best Rap Performance, the duo boycotted the show because the rap Category was not televised. The boycott proved successful, as the genre Categories began to be televised during the following year, in 1990, and every year since then.  

Read more: Who Are The Top GRAMMY Awards Winners Of All Time? Who Has The Most GRAMMYs?

Now, the Recording Academy celebrates the sounds of hip-hop and acknowledges the genre’s indelible impact; few genres have disrupted and defined music on such a global scale. Hip-hop rappers, producers, and songwriters have significantly shaped the musical landscape, garnering a bevy of Grammy Awards along the way. And although many artists have taken home Grammy Awards since ‘89, there are a few artists in the game who reign supreme. 

Read on for 10 rappers who have won the most Grammy Awards

Kendrick Lamar

27 wins, 66 nominations

Kendrick Lamar’s wins represent a return of “conscious” rap that tackles topics such as race and politics while embracing the art of authentic storytelling. As such, his 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly gave way to many social justice anthems such as “Alright” and “Wesley’s Theory”; the release also took home the award for Best Rap Album at the 58th GRAMMY Awards.

Further reading: Kendrick Lamar's GRAMMY Timeline: From His First Win And Performances To "Not Like Us"

Additionally, Lamar’s most successful album, DAMN — which features hits like “DNA" and “Humble" — won five GRAMMYs Awards. At the 2025 Grammys, the rapper's hit single “Not Like Us” swept its Categories. Among Lamar's wins that night were Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Best Music Video. At the 2026 Grammys, he won the Grammy for Record Of The Year for “luther,” Best Rap Album for GNX, Best Rap Song for “tv off,” Best Melodic Rap Performance for “luther,” and Best Rap Performance “Chains & Whips” (his collaboration with Clipse), breaking the record for the rapper with the most Grammy wins.

Learn more: Kendrick Lamar Sweeps The 2025 GRAMMYs With Song Of The Year Win

Kendrick Lamar’s influence extends to broader cultural events, such as his groundbreaking 2025 Super Bowl halftime show. The show set a record for viewership and became one of the most-watched halftime shows since the Super Bowl’s inception, surpassing 130 million views. 

Jay-Z

25 wins, 89 nominations

Rapper and business mogul Jay-Z not only holds the record of having the most GRAMMYs of any hip-hop artist, he is also among the most nominated artists of any genre in GRAMMY history.

The rapper’s GRAMMY wins include Best Rap Album, which he won in 1998 for his album Vol. 2…Hard Knock Life. The album, which was nominated for two additional GRAMMYs, was his highest selling and included songs such as “Hard Knock Life” and “Can I Get A…” featuring Ja Rule and Amil. 

Learn more: Songbook: How Jay-Z Created The 'Blueprint' For Rap's Greatest Of All Time

In 2006, Jay-Z made his musical debut at the GRAMMYs when he performed “Numb/Encore” with Linkin Park and “Yesterday’ with Paul McCartney. From solo hits to collabs with some of the most legendary artists in music, Jay-Z has dominated the GRAMMYs and shows no signs of slowing down. 

Read more: 8 Ways Jay-Z's 'The Black Album' Changed The Hip-Hop Game

His influence was further acknowledged In 2024, when he was bestowed with the prestigious Dr. Dre GRAMMY Global Impact Award. In June 2025, his debut album Reasonable Doubt was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame. Not only has he been instrumental in East Coast hip-hop, he has had a hand in shaping fashion and other societal pillars on a global scale, opening doors for artists to go beyond music and branch off into other ventures. 

Kanye West

24 wins, 76 nominations

Kanye West has the second most GRAMMYs of any hip-hop artist, with 24 awards and 76 nominations. His GRAMMY accolades in multiple fields and Categories highlight his versatility as an artist: such as Jesus is King (Best Contemporary Christian Music Album) and The College DropOut (Best Rap Album), the latter of which was his first GRAMMY win in 2004. His awards also reflect his work as a producer; his GRAMMY wins in this arena include Best R&B Song for Alicia Keys’ hit “You Don’t Know My Name,” which West also co-wrote.

West also took home a golden gramophone Best Rap Solo Performance for the hit song "Gold Digger" with Jamie Foxx. At 2008 GRAMMYs, he performed his hit “Stronger” alongside Daft Punk, complete with illuminated, futuristic visuals. In all, Kanye has pushed boundaries with music and art, sampling songs and turning performances into experiences.

Eminem

15 wins, 47 nominations

Eminem’s influence in the industry is evident not only by his chart-topping hits, but also by the number of golden gramophones he has secured. The Detroit rapper, who has effortlessly merged lyrical skill with shock, is both among the best-selling artists of all time and the rapper with the most GRAMMY awards.

Further reading: Songbook: A Deep Dive Into Eminem's Inimitable Career

He is also the only rapper who has won the award for Best Rap Album for three consecutive LPs. Eminem won his first GRAMMYs for The Slim Shady LP; these awards include Best Rap Solo Performance ("My Name Is"), as well as the award for Best Rap Album. 2000's The Marshall Mathers LP, which features "The Real Slim Shady" and "Forget About Dre," won three GRAMMY Awards/ The album also features Eminem's hit song "Stan," which the artist performed at the GRAMMYs as a duet with Elton John.

Read more: 4 Reasons Why Eminem's 'The Slim Shady LP' Is One Of The Most Influential Rap Records

Pharrell Williams

13 wins, 39 nominations

Pharrell Williams' versatility as a rapper, producer, pop artist and songwriter has garnered 13 GRAMMY wins. His awards showcase different facets of his artistry, from his days as a member of the group the Neptunes, to his work as a solo artist and producer.

From Beyoncé to Britney Spears, he has worked with a range of artists and has thrice taken home the golden gramophone for Producer Of The Year, Non Classical. Highlighting his production work, Pharrell's first GRAMMY was for producing Justin Timberlake’s 2003 album  Justified. His collaboration with Daft Punk spawned the popular hit "Get Lucky," which won GRAMMYs Awards for Record Of The Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. 

As an artist and producer, Pharrell is able to blend pop and hip-hop effortlessly. Pharrell’s "Happy," from the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack, took home two GRAMMY Awards (as well as an Oscar nomination) and became one of the best-selling singles of the 2010s. Though Pharrell’s ingenuity has opened doors for him to work with an array of artists, he still holds hip-hop in high regard. In recent years, his work on Kendrick Lamar’s albums has spawned several GRAMMYs and nominations–including a win for Kendrick’s song "Alright" off of his album To Pimp a Butterfly. 

Learn more: 4 Ways Pharrell Williams Has Made An Impact: Supporting The Music Industry, Amplifying Social Issues & More

Andre "3000" Benjamin

9 wins, 28 nominations

Andre 3000’s innovative sound and style has pushed creative boundaries in music and netted multiple GRAMMY Awards. Andre 3000's wins and nominations–in both rap and R&B–reflect his work as a solo artist and as part of the group OutKast. His wins include Best Rap Album for Stankonia, as well as Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the hit song "Hey Ya," off of the Speakerboxxx/The Love Below album. Additionally, Andre 3000 has also won a GRAMMY for Best R&B Performance for his feature on Anderson .Paak’s song "Come Home."

His versatility as an artist is evident on his recent instrumental jazz album, New Blue Sun, which earned him three nominations at the 2025 GRAMMYs. Additionally, this album showcases a departure from some of the sounds Andre 3000 is known for, and shows audiences that he is unafraid to challenge musical conventions. 

Read more: André 3000 On 'New Blue Sun,' Finding Inspiration In Visual Art & His New Musical Journey

Anderson .Paak 

9 wins, 14 nominations

Although Anderson .Paak is best known for his contributions to R&B, he has netted GRAMMYs for his work as a rapper. He won his first GRAMMY for "Bubblin," a song which took home Best Rap Performance at the 2019 GRAMMYs. At the 2021 GRAMMY Awards, he won Best Melodic Rap Performance for his single "Lockdown." Additionally, he has also secured multiple GRAMMY wins as part of the R&B duo Silk Sonic with Bruno Mars.

The group’s best-selling album, An Evening With Silk Sonic, features the hit song "Leave the Door Open" and brings together R&B and funk. The melodious genre mix ultimately earned the group GRAMMYs for Best R&B Performance and Record Of The Year. 

As a solo artist, Anderson .Paak has also carved out a distinctive and celebrated career, earning multiple GRAMMYs for his genre-bending albums that showcase his unique blend of singing and rapping. 

Lauryn Hill

8 wins, 19 nominations 

Lauryn Hill has established a benchmark for female artists in hip-hop, setting an exceptionally high bar that many artists still aspire to reach. 

Her seminal 1998 album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, achieved widespread critical acclaim before becoming one of the best-selling albums of all time. Additionally, it is the first hip-hop album to win a GRAMMY for Album Of The Year. The album ultimately launched Lauryn Hill’s career into the stratosphere; she became the first female rapper with a diamond-certified album. It is also the only solo album Lauryn has put forward to date. In 2024, the album was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame. 

Read more: Revisiting 'The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill': Why The Multiple GRAMMY-Winning Record Is Still Everything 25 Years Later

Although Lauryn Hill’s artistry and lyrical depth has garnered her GRAMMYs as a solo artist, her success also stems from her contributions as a songwriter and vocalist for the hip-hop group the Fugees. The group’s second album, The Score, earned two GRAMMYs and includes the hit song "Killing Me Softly," which is a rendition of Roberta Flack’s original.Additionally, at the 42nd GRAMMY Awards, Lauryn Hill also won a GRAMMY for her work on Santana’s influential album Supernatural, which was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame this year. 

Dr. Dre

7 wins, 26 nominations

Dr. Dre was and remains a highly influential figure in West Coast hip-hop, who has achieved significant success as a rapper, producer and founding member of the group N.W.A.

Throughout his extensive career, Dr. Dre has earned seven GRAMMYs, including the first win for Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical by a hip-hop producer and artist. 

His acclaimed solo album, The Chronic garnered Dr. Dre his first GRAMMY for his single "Let Me Ride" (Best Rap Solo Performance). His best-selling album 2001, was also GRAMMY nominated and features popular tracks like "Still D.R.E." and "The Next Episode" with Snoop Dogg. Beyond his solo achievements, he has been instrumental in launching the careers of artists such as Eminem and producing classic albums for both Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent.

In 2023, Dr. Dre was honored with having the distinguished GRAMMY Global Impact Award carry his namesake. Since the award’s inception, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys have received this accolade.

OutKast

6 wins, 16 nominations 

OutKast’s creative approach to hip-hop has helped them win six GRAMMYs and secure 16 nominations. The duo of Andre "3000" Benjamin and Antwan "Big Boi" Patton, have pushed genre boundaries blending rap, jazz, and pop while staying true to their Southern roots. In 2001, OutKast won their first GRAMMY Awards, one being Best Rap Album for Stankonia.

Their 2004 win for their innovative double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below was a defining moment for Southern rap; it notably became the second hip-hop album to receive the GRAMMY for Album Of The Year and Best Rap Album. The album, which was certified diamond, features multiple chart-topping hits such as "The Way You Move" featuring Sleepy Brown and "Hey Ya."

Read more: 10 Reasons Why Outkast's 'Speakerboxxx/The Love Below' Is One Of Rap's Most Influential Double Albums

Honorable Mentions

There are many hip-hop artists who have received extensive nominations but have yet to receive a GRAMMY Award — notwithstanding their important contributions to the genre. Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Nicki Minaj, Travis Scott and Rick Ross each have numerous nominations but no golden gramophone. Snoop leads this pack with a total of 16 nominations, followed by Busta and Minaj (each with a dozen), Scott (10), and Ross (nine). Post Malone stands out, however, with 18 career nominations and no wins.

See the full list of winners and nominees from the 2026 Grammys.

Watch highlights and exclusive Grammys content from the 2026 Grammys all year long.

The Recording Academy has announced the presenters for the 2026 Grammys, which take place Sunday, Feb. 1: Carole King, Chappell Roan, Charli xcx, Doechii, Harry Styles, Jeff Goldblum, KAROL G, Lainey Wilson, Marcello Hernández, Nikki Glaser, Q-Tip, Queen Latifah, and Teyana Taylor are confirmed to present. Plus, an additional surprise presenter will be revealed on Grammy night.

The full performers lineup at the 2026 Grammys includes:

• Current Best New Artist Grammy nominees Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, SOMBR, and The Marías, who are performing in a special Best New Artist segment

• Bruno Mars, who is currently nominated for three Grammy Awards at the 2026 Grammys

• Clipse and Pharrell Williams, who are currently nominated at the 2026 Grammys for their work on the former's Let God Sort Em Out

• Justin Bieber, who is currently nominated for four Grammy Awards at the 2026 Grammys

• Lady Gaga, who is currently nominated for seven Grammy Awards at the 2026 Grammys

• Ms. Lauryn Hill will perform in honor of D'Angelo and Roberta Flack in the annual In Memoriam tribute at the 2026 Grammys

• Post Malone, Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan, and Slash will perform a special tribute to Ozzy Osbourne in the annual In Memoriam segment at the 2026 Grammys

• Reba McEntire joined by Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson, who will pay tribute to those we've recently lost in the annual In Memoriam tribute at the 2026 Grammys

• ROSÉ, who is currently nominated for three Grammy Awards at the 2026 Grammys

• Sabrina Carpenter, who is currently nominated for six Grammy Awards at the 2026 Grammys

• Tyler, The Creator, who is currently nominated for six Grammy Awards

See the full list of performers and hosts at the 2026 Grammys to date (updating in real time).

The 2026 Grammys, hosted by Trevor Noah, will broadcast live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on the CBS Television Network and will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+^.

Hours ahead of the live telecast, the 2026 Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony, where the majority of the Grammy Awards of the day are awarded, will stream live from Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET on the Recording Academy's YouTube channel and on live.grammy.com.

Learn more about how to watch the 2026 Grammys.

The Grammy Awards are the only peer-recognized accolade in music and are voted on by the Recording Academy's voting membership body of music makers who represent all genres and creative disciplines, including recording artists, songwriters, producers, mixers, and engineers.

Fulwell Entertainment is producing the 2026 Grammy Awards for the Recording Academy. Ben Winston, Raj Kapoor, Jesse Collins, and Trevor Noah are executive producers.

^Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on-demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live, but will have access to on-demand the day after the episodes airs.

Sister Nancy is racing around New York City, sharing her "truths and rights."

The first lady of dancehall has just left an interview at radio station Power 105 and is en route for a number of back-to-backs. She's promoting a documentary about her journey — "it's not a story, it's my life," she clarifies — called Bam Bam: The Sister Nancy Story. In August, she released a new Mad Professor-produced album, Armageddon — her first LP in over 20 years. In December, Nancy will headline a celebration of her career featuring female artists including Renée Neufville. 

This hustle isn't unusual for Nancy — the Kingston, Jamaica-born MC has been performing since she was a teenager, when she was mentored by her brother Brigadier Jerry — though the amount of activity and acclaim is something slightly more recent. The past 12 months have been the busiest of Sister Nancy's 45-year career.

"People love what I stand for. I always give [the audience] something they can think about," Sister Nancy tells GRAMMY.com, Zooming in from a car in Midtown Manhattan. "I will never be your ordinary thing. When you come to see me, it doesn't matter the time or the space, it's always going to be good."

While Sister Nancy needn't be reminded of her influence — "I'm the woman who created dancehall … on the mic system, around the sound system. I'm the one who did all of that, first" — the past 15 years have seen the artist receive her flowers on a global stage. In addition to her status as a rare female voice in a sea of male performers at the dawn of dancehall, Sister Nancy is recognized for her influential, highly sampled single "Bam Bam."

She recorded the early dancehall anthem in 1982 when she was just 20 years old as a last-minute addition to her debut album, One, Two. An interpolation of Toots and the Maytals' 1966 song of the same name, Sister Nancy's in-studio freestyle was laid over sparse rub-a-dub production, allowing her declaration of ambition and skill to ring loud and clear. 

"I went with Yellowman to Harry J's Studio. Yellowman did a 'Bam Bam,', and I had to finish my One, Two album, and I just said I am going to do a tune like Yellowman did. And I did 'Bam Bam,' my way," Nancy recalls. "I just made up in the studio right there."

Remarkably, "Bam Bam" was far from an instant classic and received little airplay in Jamaica. Sister Nancy wouldn't perform the song on a Jamaican stage for eight years, until she featured at 1990's Sting competition. Yet the song made its way to the States, where it found popularity in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut's Caribbean diaspora and caught the ear of hip-hop innovators of the '80s.

Sister Nancy's grooving refrain and undulating horns from an Ansel Collins riddim have been widely sampled in the four decades since its release. Multiple sources consider it the most sampled reggae song ever (WhoSampled.com counts 155 samples), with Beyoncé, Madlib, Run D.M.C., Lauryn Hill, Chris Brown, Alicia Keys, Ariana Grande, and Buju Banton and many others pulling from Nancy's crisses lyrics.  It's been used in film and television, including prominently in 1998's Nas- and DMX-featuring Belly.

"I didn't hear it play in Jamaica. I didn't know how big it was at all. I just didn't hear it at all," Nancy recalls. "And remember, I had songs before that like 'One, Two' and 'Transport Connection'; they were playing, but I didn't hear 'Bam Bam' until I come to the U.S." 

Sister Nancy moved to New Jersey with her daughter in 1996, and worked as an accountant in a bank. She never stopped performing, and while Sister Nancy traveled as far as Israel to sing, she was often relegated to multi-artist bills — and not in the largest text. She was known and respected among those in the diaspora and by folks with a crate-digging sensibility, but wider recognition remained somewhat elusive.

Still, Nancy kept her spirits up, locking into her faith and sense of humor. "The inspiration [comes] from almighty God himself,” she says. “You can't be a sulky person and I don't believe in that. I like to make people laugh."

Like many artists of her era who either had bad contracts or no contract at all, Sister Nancy did not benefit from the popularity of "Bam Bam" for the majority of her career. Nancy was largely unaware of its popularity as a hip-hop sample, and didn't receive royalties for the tune (itself owned by producer Winston Riley, who died in 2012). Things came to a head in 2014, when Nancy's daughter shared that "Bam Bam" was used in a Reebok commercial. After that, there was no stopping Sister Nancy.

"I just couldn't take no more. I just say it's time for me to be compensated, and I just did what I had to do," the icon says of her legal battle for royalties. "It was not a difficult process. I just did the right thing and everybody who was involved just complied, and I was satisfied."

In 2016, Sister Nancy received 10 years of back royalties as well as royalties going forward, which allowed her to retire from the bank and pursue music full time. She encourages artists in similar binds to find an attorney who's familiar with their work. 

"The attorney that I got told me that he and his wife was my biggest fans, so it was easy for him to really work for me," she says, adding, "I don't go for no young lawyer because they have name. Get people with experience to fight for you."

With her rights restored, Sister Nancy's trajectory changed dramatically in the latter half of the 2010s — due in no small part to nods and samples from two of hip-hop's biggest artists. Kanye West prominently sampled "Bam Bam" in the Rihanna-featuring "Famous"; Nancy's chorus comes in midway through the song, adding an ethereal quality to West's braggadocio. "Famous" was nominated in multiple Categories at the 2017 GRAMMYs, including for Best Rap Song.

Of the many, many samples and interpolations of her work, Sister Nancy is unequivocal about who delivered her favorite: Jay-Z

For his 2017 single "Bam" featuring Damien Marley — off the GRAMMY-nominated 4:44 — Jay-Z not only sampled "Bam Bam," but worked with Nancy directly. After hearing Nancy on Hot 97's "Ebro In The Morning," Jay-Z flew the legend to Jamaica to sing and feature in his hybrid music video-documentary. That direct connection, a deferential gesture, was not lost on Sister Nancy.

"That's the best one. I'd rather work with him than anybody, it's because he did the right thing. He took me with him. I appreciate that," Sister Nancy says of Hova. "I have a respect for him because he chose to go with me and do it the right way. The rest of them just went behind my back."

In the years since, Sister Nancy has continued to thrive. She's performed on global stages and can be seen regularly at New York hotspots such as Union Pool, Public Records, and S.O.B.'s. Janelle Monáe featured Nancy not once but twice on 2023’s Album Of The Year-nominated The Age Of Pleasure, and sampled "Bam Bam" on “Water Slide." In further recognition of her impact, Burberry asked Sister Nancy to participate in their spring/summer 2024 campaign, which was shot in Jamaica. 

She continues to release new music of her own, though she believes in letting projects simmer before embarking on something new. Armageddon —her first full-length since 2001's Sister Nancy Meets Fireproof — was released this summer, seven years after it was recorded with Mad Professor in the U.K. "Mad Professor is someone I look up to. He's a genius, and I love working with him," Sister Nancy adds. "He remind me of [Jamaican dub pioneer] King Tubby. "

While Sister Nancy's icon status has long since cemented, she remains committed to performing. She's one of few women of her generation to do so; peers like Sister Carol and Marcia Griffiths continue to share their messages in a reggae style, though with less frequency than Sister Nancy. Her presence on record and on stage has inspired generations of singers and DJs.

"If someone can patronize you or learn from what you're doing, it makes it worthwhile," Nancy says. "I'm going to do that as long as I can talk. As long as my voice is heard, I am going to be doing that. Because there ain't no stopping Sister Nancy."

More than 40 years later, she's still happy to discuss and play that single she recorded back in Kingston as a young woman. "I have to appreciate 'Bam Bam.' I have no problem talking about it because it's mine. I did the song, so I'm not tired of talking about it. I'm not tired of playing it either," Sister Nancy says. " I love it. That's my voice. I made that."

The leaves have only just started to fall, but new music is arriving in droves with the official arrival of autumn.

Mariah Carey delivers her first album of new, original music in seven years with Here For It All, while HARDY turns the amps up to eleven on COUNTRY! COUNTRY!. Christone "Kingfish" Ingram takes the Hard Road on his latest studio set and Perrie Edwards becomes the second Little Mix member to unveil her debut solo album in the last month with the self-titled Perrie.

Elsewhere, Whiskey Myers makes some serious noise with Whomp Whack Thunder, DJ Snake unveils his first LP in six years with Nomad and joan declares this won't last forever with their sophomore album. Plus, Purity Ring returns with the self-titled purity ring, Amanda Shires is Nobody's Girl on her eighth solo album, Connor Price drops About Time, Amble offer a quick follow-up to their debut album with Hand Me Downs, and Rainbow Kitten Surprise dig up bones with their fifth album.

On the new song front, Cardi B adds another track to AM I THE DRAMA? with "Don't Do Too Much," Tame Impala offers another teaser for Deadbeat with "Dracula," "TZUYU of TWICE teams up with Corbyn Besson for "BLINK," Theo Lawrence and Melissa Carper take a trip through "All Fifty States," and Alessi Rose calls out a hapless love interest with "First Original Thought." 

The week is also filled with nostalgic releases, reissues and re-recordings, including Girls Aloud's Chemistry (20th Anniversary Edition), Whitesnake's 2025 reissue of 2011's Forevermore and Rachel Platten's Fight Song (Rachel's Version). And in addition to a new Bright Eyes album (Kids Table), three acts return with their first new sets in more than a decade: The Starting Line's Eternal Youth, The Cab's Road To Reign: A Prelude and Neko Case's Neon Grey Midnight Green.

Below, press play on a dozen other new releases, including new albums from Doja Cat and Young Thug, singles by Tate McRae, Florence + the Machine, 5 Seconds of Summer and more.

Tate McRae — "TIT FOR TAT"

Tate McRae may be in the midst of her sold-out Miss Possessive Tour, but somehow found time to gift fans with surprise single "TIT FOR TAT" from the road. The pop star uses the chilly kiss-off to hit back at an ex's narrative of their breakup (perhaps in response to ex-boyfriend The Kid LAROI's pre-VMAs release "A Cold Play"?). Either way, she's ready to play the game, promising, "Let's go song for song, let's go back to back/ Let's go tit for tat, boy, you asked for that."

Tate McRae's Big Year: The "Greedy" Singer Reflects On The Moments That Made Her A Pop Superstar

P1Harmony — EX

Less than five months after dropping mini-album Duh! back in May, P1Harmony are back with EX. The five-track EP contains party-ready bops like "Dancing Queen" and "Night Of My Life," and finds the K-pop boy band encouraging every girl's "exploration…without an explanation" in both English on the title track and Spanish on its bilingual bonus cut.

K-Pop's Fall Takeover: 17 Tours & Events To Check Out, From TXT To LE SSERAFIM

Young Thug — UY SCUTI

Young Thug officially makes his musical comeback with UY SCUTI, his first album since being released from prison in October 2024 following the high-profile YSL RICO trial. The rapper comes back swinging with help from a cavalcade of A-list guest spots by everyone from Cardi B ("On The News") and T.I. ("RIP Big & Mack") to Lil Baby ("Pardon My Back"), Sexyy Red ("Mami"), Travis Scott ("Pipe Down") and more.

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Florence + the Machine — "One of the Greats"

Florence + the Machine continue building momentum for their forthcoming sixth studio set, Everybody Scream (due Oct. 31), with "One of the Greats," a nearly eight-minute epic recorded in a single take with IDLES' Mark Bowen and The National's Aaron Dessner. "I don't really know how to explain myself with this one," frontwoman Florence Welch says of the track in a press release. "It was sort of a long poem about the cost of greatness. Who gets to decide what that is? Why do I even want it? Why am I never satisfied?"

Doja Cat — Vie

On her fifth album, Vie, Doja Cat returns to the pop sound that made her famous on predecessors like 2019's Hot Pink and 2021's Planet Her. Following '80s-inspired lead-off "Jealous Type," the GRAMMY winner dives back into the decade's synth-drenched sound to delightful, empowering result on the uplifting "Gorgeous" and reunites with "Kiss Me More" pal SZA for a night of falsetto-laced revelry on "Take Me Dancing."

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FAOUZIA — "PEACE & VIOLENCE"

FAOUZIA adds another link to her string of recent singles with "PEACE & VIOLENCE." The alluring track arrives with a film noir-inspired video, which finds the mononymous Canadian-Moroccan singer draped in fur as she traipses though a grandiose, seaside mansion with gun in hand. "I'd watch the world burn down just to see you in the lighting of the embers," she vows before making her gleeful getaway.

5 Seconds of Summer — "NOT OK"

Three years and multiple solo projects since 2022's 5SOS5, the guys of 5 Seconds of Summer are back together for their sixth album, Everyone's a Star!, which is set to be released Nov. 14 via Republic Records. On grungy lead single "NOT OK," the foursome get rowdy as they shout, "Hey! I'm not ok/ I like the darker side of me/ That side of me comes out to play/ When I'm with you/ Bite the apple baby" over a jittery soundscape.

Ice Spice — "Baddie Baddie"

On her first solo release since Y2K!: I'm Just a Girl (Deluxe), Ice Spice turns to M.I.A.'s groundbreaking "Bad Girls" for inspiration. The rapper's trusty producer RiotUSA crafts an instantly recognizable beat around a sample of the 2012 hit as she shrugs off her journey from the Bronx to the top of the charts, rapping, "Grrah, they said they wanted a bop? I was just poppin' my s—, I ain't even really mean to go pop."

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Olivia Dean — The Art of Loving

On her sophomore album, The Art of Loving, Olivia Dean makes good on the promise of pre-release singles "Nice to Each Other," "Lady Lady" and recent, buzzy hit "Man I Need" with a collection of introspective, heart-on-her-sleeve grooves about love, loss and everything in between. Recorded in a house in East London, the studio set also includes highlights like the lovestruck "So Easy (To Fall in Love)" and the orchestral sweep of "A Couple Minutes."

Khalid — "out of body"

Khalid is living his full pop-star fantasy on "out of body," the second taste of his upcoming fourth album After the Sun Goes Down (due Oct. 10). In the steamy music video, the seven-time GRAMMY nominee — who came out as gay in November 2024 — channels the energy of Britney Spears' classic "I'm a Slave 4 U" as he nails choreography, gets it on with a dancing hunk and explores gay cruising culture to the fullest.

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Zara Larsson — Midnight Sun

With bold, infectious singles like "Pretty Ugly," "Crush" and the title track, Zara Larsson set expectations sky high for fans ahead of her fifth album, Midnight Sun. The Swedish pop star delivers on those expectations in spades across the studio set's 10 polished, electric pop bangers, including new highlights like "Girl's Girl," "Eurosummer" and "Blue Moon."

Marshmello & Hudson Westbrook — "Better Man Than Me"

Six weeks after teaming up with Jelly Roll on "Holy Water," Marshmello continues making his mark on the country scene with "Better Man Than Me," featuring Hudson Westbrook. The genre-melding collaboration combines the helmeted DJ's dance-floor dominance with the country upstart's heartwrung lyricism. "Well you've turned into a lesson to learn/ To a bridge I should burn/ But burning it down is more/ Your thing," Westbrook laments over the one that got away before a foot-stomping beat drop takes over.