Key Takeaways
- Complex’s 2026 Hip-Hop Media Power Ranking maps who really moves the conversation. In a year where rap has no dominant stars or overarching storylines, the media figures matter the most.
- The list now ranks not just individual personalities but also platforms like The Art of Dialogue. Complex also added writers to the mix.
- Power here means cultural influence—who can spark and steer viral rap debates. Everyone on the list was also asked to provide a temperature check on the genre—what they love about rap right now, and what they hate. Find their responses below.
In today's attention economy, when some overarching cultural event arises, all the vloggers and talking heads and op-ed writers and journalists eat. It's great for consumers, because there's a nice mix of dominant vets and opportunity for new players to stand out. But what happens when there isn’t a big story?
That’s where things stand in hip-hop. The storylines of past years have gone cold, there’s no new dominant star, and no big singles or albums with true staying power.
Last year's hip-hop media power ranking told the story of the old guard (podcasters) vs. the new (streamers). In 2026, both groups broadened their coverage in response to hip-hop's commercial slump and the lack of compelling narratives driving the genre. (There hasn't been a rap song in the top 10 since Drake's "What Did I Miss?" last summer.)
To acknowledge the changing scene, the fourth edition of the Complex media list includes some new wrinkles. Let's start with eligibility. In the past, it was only individuals and collectives being ranked. This year platforms like The Art of Dialogue are now in the mix, because their impact is impossible. To make this list, a platform or person has to regularly address issues and topics related to hip-hop; they have to be a place where news gets broken or where rappers want to appear.
Another way to describe power is cultural influence: the ability to start conversations, move those conversations in other directions, and dominate headlines. These are the figures whose moments of hip-hop coverage consistently go viral and shape the broader discourse. Most of them work across multiple video platforms. And while the written word feels less dominant than ever, for the first time we're including writers, because some of the biggest moments in rap included more traditional, magazine-led rollouts.
Like all of our power lists, this isn't the best by whatever arbitrary metric you can think of. This is a list that strives to be nonjudgmental in its construction. Some names here traffic in salacious material, while others have had moments that wouldn't survive a moral audit. But they've built real audiences and that impact can't be overlooked. (As in years past, no one actively employed by Complex is eligible, but there are plenty of alums on the list.)
Everyone on the list was asked to provide a temperature check on the genre—what they love about rap right now, and what they hate. Find their responses below.
This is the 2026 Hip-Hop Media Power Ranking.
Rob Markman
Last year’s ranking: N/A
Featured on: Genius, Just My Thoughts, The Best Interview Ever
Known for: Top-notch interview skills; integrity as a pundit
Followers: 91.6K IG, 54.3K YouTube
Fans might know Rob Markman for his work with Genius, where he serves as VP of Music and Content and has done interviews with figures like Future, Lil Durk, and J.I.D. But the media veteran has done an excellent job building his own platform: Just My Thoughts is where he regularly stirs the pot—whether it's breaking down Adin Ross' role in hip-hop, doing a historical deep dive into Jay-Z vs. Mase, or responding to Drake subs. —Jaelani Turner-Williams
What's one thing you love about rap right now?
“I love watching this new crop of artists forge their own paths—artists like Ben Reilly, Samara Cyn, Wynne, Chris Patrick, Ray Vaughn, and Marco Plus. Those are just a few names, but it's fun and inspiring to watch them create and lead hip-hop into the future.”
What's one thing you hate about rap right now?
“I hate the way hip-hop has been infiltrated with paid agitators who run up fake streams and use bots to give the illusion of something real. I hate the toxic side of stan culture and fans who pit their favorite artist against hip-hop as a whole.”
ImDontai
Last year’s ranking: N/A
Featured on: ImStillDontai
Known for: Comical reaction videos and reviews
Followers: 2.94.M YouTube, 2.1 M Twitch
In a world of clickbait nihilism, there's something wholesome about ImDontai's reaction videos. Now 33, he's grown into young OG status, giving fans the verdict on every major album drop, from Yeat's double album ADL (not a fan) to an epic three-hour rundown of J. Cole's The Fall Off. His animated delivery and productivity speak for themselves. —Peter A. Berry
Alphonse Pierre
Last year’s ranking: N/A
Featured on: Pitchfork, The Lot Radio
Known for: Brutally honest reviews that artists (and their biggest fans) get mad about
Followers: 17.9K X
Few on this list inspire vitriol like Alphonse Pierre, who’s caught heat from Clipse fans and Brent Faiyaz, to name just a couple examples.
The Pitchfork senior writer is one of the few rap critics left and he knows that being rigorous and hilarious aren't mutually exclusive. When he pens pans, they're filled with nuance and clever one-liners. When he gives something his co-sign, it's usually a smaller act, like Starker and Xaviersobased, who both got Best New Music treatments. And whether he's going on tour with Ken Carson or writing op-eds about Allstar Jr, his voice extends beyond the rap critic lane. —Will Schube
What's one thing you love about rap right now?
“The genre feels more cross-generational than ever. There’s so many references in the air that it seems just as rewarding to get hip to an old Bay Area tape or whatever as it is to find a new microgenre on SoundCloud.”
What's one thing you hate about rap right now?
“That it feels like a struggle to get people to engage with music they‘re not already familiar with. We all loved being 16 years old, but sometimes you gotta move on.”
Elliott Wilson
Last year’s ranking: 17
Featured on: UPROXX, Elliott Wilson Experience
Known for: Being a rap journalism pioneer; calling out streamers for not being real journalists; interviews with legends
Followers: 4,369 X, 2.7 IG
After heart surgery and fathering twins, Elliott Wilson has been quiet in 2026. But in the months before, when he did speak up, the rap world paid attention. Last August, he interviewed J.I.D ahead of his latest album, God Does Like Ugly. That December, he conducted a Clipse interview for the Grammy Museum. And even though his Bigger Picture podcast came to an end, he kept the UPROXX editorial ship afloat as one of its few remaining contributors, dropping lists like the Best Nas Features of 2025. The rap world will be better for it when he's fully back. —Peter A. Berry
Underground Sound
Last year’s ranking: N/A
Featured on: Underground Sound
Known for: All things the modern rap underground, whether it's news, memes, or cyphers
Followers: 255,000 IG, 93.4k X, 48.4k TikTok,
Underground Sound is the largest page dedicated to what’s become known as the rap underground (which is not the underground of 15 years ago). Fueling real-time updates on the newest talent with a meme-driven edge, Underground Sound is a launching pad for emerging artists, pushing names like Nettspend and EsDeeKid. Its cyphers have become a proving ground, effectively filling the role of XXL's Freshman Freestyle, giving new names like Benji Blue Bills, Tezzus and diamond*, and 2Slimey their own viral moments. —Antonio Johri
What's one thing you love about rap right now?
“Jacob Kavaler (Founder of Underground Sound): How fun and entertaining the underground can be. Running UGS feels like a fever dream sometimes. There is never a boring day on the job. There’s always something new or exciting happening, and it’s a blessing to be covering the scene the way we do. It’s so fun, interesting and funny. I love it more than life itself.”
What's one thing you hate about rap right now?
“The negativity. A lot of underground fans seem to be a bit depressed and take out their anger on artists and comment sections. It can be a very toxic and negative space sometimes. Life’s too short to be miserable all the time. Have some fun with us!”
DJ Hed and Gina Views
Last year’s ranking: 16 (DJ Hed only)
Featured on: Effective Immediately
Known for: Humorous and engaging interviews with a strong knowledge of West Coast rap
Followers: 23.9K IG, 41.5K YouTube
On Effective Immediately, hosts DJ Hed and Gina Views continued their momentum, giving their hot takes on Cardi B. vs. BIA, welcoming the Clipse back after their 15-year hiatus, and allowing LaRussell to address his controversial Lil Wayne remarks and the backlash surrounding his "Heaven Sent" moment. Most importantly, the pair’s chemistry is strong, with Hed's veteran media presence intersecting perfectly with Views' up-and-coming authenticity. —Jaelani Turner-Williams
What's one thing you love about rap right now?
DJ Hed: “The potential for how far the culture can take it. Rap is a skill, hip-hop is a lifestyle and it’s still the most impactful in the world.”
Gina Views: “I love the balance of nostalgia and evolution happening in rap right now. It’s become a space where multiple generations can coexist and thrive on the same stage. Millennials are being sampled by Gen Z artists, legendary acts are rapping like rent is due, and newer artists are finding innovative ways to push the culture forward. It’s a moment that honors the roots of hip-hop while still making room for fresh sounds, new perspectives, and creative risks.”
What's one thing you hate about rap right now?
DJ Hed: “What I hate has little to do with the artists and more to do with the infrastructure for it. Respect for the craft is low and the humans who are the loudest about it typically offer no nutritional value.”
Gina Views: “I don’t like rappers who don’t rap.”
Arshan Jawaid
Last year’s ranking: 23
Featured on: Kids Take Over
Known for: Music-focused conversations with underground rappers
Followers: 180k IG, 173k YouTube
Back in March, Arshan Jawaid, the muscle and brains behind Kids Take Over, posted a vlog expressing regret about being too infatuated with hustle culture and "not experiencing his 20s." It's a surprising video:he's in his mid-20s and he’s already looking back.
This year he doubled down in the underground even while scaling operations. Yes, Arshan used his trademark curiosity and rigor for talks with local rap figures like Tezzus and diamond*, Zukenee, and Lucy Bedroque. But he also showed signs of growth, playing with new formats—like vlogging—and hosting events at the Barclays. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
What's one thing you love about rap right now?
“I like how people don’t care about perfection and things being so overly polished. Like, no one cares if you have a crazy high budget music video anymore. If anything, it turns people off. I refreshed my IG reels the other day, there was this dude recording a MacBook video of him singing in his bedroom. It had like four comments. I saw it again two weeks later. Thousands of comments. SZA reposted it, and now he’s going crazy. As long as you're bringing something fresh and creative to the table—that’s all you need to cut through. It’s an equal playing field for everyone. People don’t care about followers anymore. It lowkey works in reverse.”
What's one thing you hate about rap right now?
“I don’t think it’s a rap thing, more so just a music thing—but I wish the discourse online was way less toxic. Things like fans acting really pretentious over their favorite artists and gatekeeping them, flexing being early on something, being extreme with their takes so they can get a banger tweet. It’s weird, honestly, and it rarely happens in real life. Just the internet.”
Kid Mero
Last year’s ranking: N/A
Featured on: Hot 97, Mornings with Mero
Known for: Some of the funniest, most biting takes on everything right and wrong about rap culture
Followers: 320k IG, 298.3K X,
If you went back 10 years and told Bodega Boys-era The Kid Mero what his future held, he'd probably laugh. Every morning he's riding in from New Jersey to host the Hot 97 Morning Show, an unmistakable voice in rap culture and New York City life. He sounds off hilariously on the Knicks, Akademiks, and other things he deems corny—but he's become something more, too, putting his weight behind Mayor Mamdani and planting himself at the center of the city's spirit. — Will Schube
What's one thing you love about rap right now?
“I LOVE THAT ‘WEIRD’ RAP IS GETTING SOME SHINE. I DON'T MEAN WEIRD LIKE WEIRD AL PARODY RAP, I MEAN DIFFERENT. EVERYTHING FROM DRUMLESS GANGSTA SHIT LIKE ESTEE NACK AND STOVE GOD, TO YOUNG LOUD ENERGETIC SHIT LIKE XAVIERSOBASED AND OSAMASON, TO GUYS LIKE MAVI, GUYS LIKE LIIM. EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN WAVE. I LOVE THAT.”
What's one thing you hate about rap right now?
“THE GAMBLING APP ENERGY AROUND IT. EVERYTHING IS ABOUT WHO WON, WHO SOLD THE MOST, WHO GOT THE MOST CLICKS. WHO GIVES A FUCK? MAKE BEAUTIFUL ART AND LET PEOPLE CATCH UP TO IT. COMMODIFICATION WILL RUIN THE SITUATION FASTER THAN A FART IN A SMARTCAR.”
The Art of Dialogue
Last year’s ranking: N/A
Featured on: The Art of Dialogue
Known for: A no-holds-barred interview approach yielding shocking soundbites
Followers: 1.06M YouTube, 275K IG
Deploying the Vlad model of interviewing peripheral figures, The Art of Dialogue has become a go-to forum for obscure tell-alls. Frequently hosted by Houston-based creator Mighty Bolton, TAOD has covered a wide spectrum of names but really locked into former Bad Boy Entertainment artists and associates over the last year, which makes sense given the channel's lineage and its earlier focus on 2Pac. But it's not all just the RICO trial bump; as we approach publication, two more are already in the algorithm: Trick Daddy and Dame Dash. —Jaelani Turner-Williams
What's one thing you love about rap right now?
Mighty Bolton (founder of The Art of Dialogue): “That there’s something for everybody. There’s a lot of variety. Lyrical and underground rap is still thriving; melodic rap, experimental and alternative rap, street rap, and conscious rap all have their place.”
What's one thing you hate about rap right now?
“The lack of substance in too much of the music, and how much of it can sound the same. Too often it feels like the same flows, same topics, and copy and paste artists. I’d like to hear more storytelling, more quotable bars, and more depth in the music. Hip-hop is at its best when artists bring originality, perspective, and something meaningful to say.”
Jim Jones
Last year's ranking: N/A
Featured on: Let's Rap About It, Artist 2 Artist
Known for: Sharing comedic stories and candid conversations with rap stars
Followers: 3.7M IG, 103K YouTube (Let's Rap About It)
If you can't beat them, join them. After going back and forth with rapper-turned-commentators like Cam'ron and 50 Cent, Jim Jones finally entered the video podcast arena. This year he co-launched Let's Rap About It alongside New York City vets Fabolous, Maino, and Dave East. Despite some, um, issues, the show has already become one of the funnier rapper-hosted podcasts, known for its playful banter and sometimes flaccid jokes. (This is where one would say “pause.”)
Humor is just one wrinkle. He also hosts Artist 2 Artist, where he's used the platform to release engaging, longform conversations with other musicians—even dropping a Diplomats-themed episode with bandmates Duke Da God, JR Writer, and Hell Rell. — Will Schube
N.O.R.E.
Last year’s ranking: 11
Featured on: Drink Champs
Known for: Drinking, smoking, and getting untold stories out of hip-hop legends
Followers: 1.6M IG; 575K X
This year Drink Champs celebrates its tenth anniversary, no small feat for a podcast. It is now part of a suite of shows—in 2025, N.O.R.E. launched Memphis Bleek’s ROC Solid podcast and a timepiece-focused series called Watch Stalkers—but Drink Champs remains the flagship. Over the last couple of months, he’s hosted memorable conversations with Max B and French Montana, B.G., and Swae Lee, among others. Old-school icon Fab 5 Freddy stopped by during the promo tour for his memoir, sharing memories of young Nas and Basquiat. An episode like that doesn’t become a hyper-clipped, newsmaking conversation starter, but preserving history, giving flowers—these gestures matter, too. — Ross Scarano
Shannon Sharpe
Last year’s ranking: 14
Featured on: Club Shay Shay, Nightcap
Known for: In-depth, surprisingly intimate interviews with some of the most notable names in rap and sports
Followers: 4.2M YouTube; 3.3M IG
Shannon Sharpe is a one-man content factory. Who knows how he has time to sleep with the amount of interviews, clips, takes, and general musings he offers. Sharpe has an inimitable ability to get deeply personal interviews out of his subjects, and while he's more of a generalist than most on this list, many of his best conversations involve rappers—whether it's his batshit Kevin Gates interview or his revealing chat with G Herbo. His team chops up clips and posts them all over his IG page, creating enough conversation that you could learn plenty from the highlights alone. —Will Schube
What’s one thing you love about rap right now?
“The authenticity is back. Guys are making music that actually means something again and you can feel it. Hip-hop has been through its phases but right now the real ones are rising to the top and that’s all I ever wanted to see. Love to see the resurgence from guys like Jay-Z and T.I., too.”
What’s one thing you hate about rap right now?
“Too many rappers are more focused on the lifestyle than the craft. You got guys with 10 million followers who can’t write a verse that’ll outlive the trends. Real legacy comes from what you do in the booth, not what you post on Instagram.”
Trap Lore Ross
Last year’s ranking: 13
Featured on: Trap Lore Ross
Known for: True-crime YouTube documentaries
Followers: 1.46M YouTube, 67.3 IG
The irony of Trap Lore Ross is that the more crime investigations he launches on his YouTube channel, the more grand—and controversial—his own lore becomes. Ross has reinforced his rep as one of pop culture’s foremost amateur investigators over the last nine months, documenting criminal figures like Big U, the D4vd and Celeste Rivas case, and other controversial crime sagas in Black music. It’s earned him enemies. After he posted a video about members of Central Cee's camp, one of Cench's entourage members pressed Ross at ComplexCon. Uncomfortable as it seemed to be, it also means he gave them something to be pressed about. —Peter A. Berry
What’s one thing you love about rap right now?
“I love the rise of the new underground, especially UK artists like EsDeeKid finally getting taken seriously in America. I think there’s a whole new lane and generation taking over the game with incredible creativity.”
What’s one thing you hate about rap right now?
“It’s been really disappointing to see some of the most popular gangsta rappers crash out and throw their careers away, [like] Lil Durk and Pooh Shiesty. I think it’s very unfortunate that we’re seeing so much talent go to waste but this is the unfortunate reality of the criminal element of gangsta rap showing the reality behind the music and proving actions have consequences.”
Loren LoRosa
Last year's ranking: N/A
Featured on: The Breakfast Club
Known for: On-the-ground reporting, balancing out The Breakfast Club with stone-cold facts
Followers: 322.2K IG, 25.2K X
In a hip-hop media landscape cluttered with clickbait, Loren LoRosa is doing the legwork. Her role on The Breakfast Club is to inform its audience—and her co-hosts—about current events. She got her start at TMZ and her commitment to getting a story has taken her to the biggest stage, bringing the same intensity to sleight rumors (will Drake pop up with Bad Bunny at the Super Bowl?) and serious stories, as seen in her insightful coverage of the Diddy trial. —Jordan Rose
What's one thing you love about rap right now?
“I love that the women are at the forefront of rap. When you think about the anthems that have gotten us through the last year or two, you think about GloRilla, Doechii, Latto, Cardi B. The girls are outside!”
What's one thing you hate about rap right now?
“How low the barrier of entry is. I’m a social media girly. I live and thrive there and thank God we no longer have to wait on the machines to power us up. But I do believe there should be artist development and not just the tracking of an artist or talents' social numbers or engagement for a moment.”
Nardwuar
Last year’s ranking: 7
Featured on: NardwuarServiette
Known for: Ridiculously well-researched questions and encyclopedic music knowledge, that silly hat, and interview-ending freeze frame
Followers: 3.82M on YouTube, 2.6M IG
It wasn't his biggest year, but Nardwuar's ability to pull obscure, deep-cut facts about his guests still makes him stand out in an increasingly crowded media landscape.
A Nardwuar interview is a bucket list item checked off, an infinity stone collected, a one-of-one experience. And somehow, no matter how "cool" an artist may seem, Nardwuar always finds a way to break through the exterior. His link-ups with Nettspend, The Alchemist, and MIKE display his knack for human connection—they don't call him "The Human Serviette" for nothing. —Jon Barlas
What's one thing you love about rap right now?
“It's been this way for a few years, but it's so cool that rappers can create whole albums on their phones!”
What's one thing you hate about rap right now?
“No one should get discouraged! Patience sucks but eventually you can do it!”
Nadeska Alexis
Last year's ranking: 19
Featured on: Rap Life Review Podcast
Known for: In-depth, insightful interviews with some of the biggest rappers in hip-hop
Followers: 101K IG, 61.8K X
A seasoned vet, Nadeska Alexis's biggest strength is her consistency. She is a regular presence on this list, consistently in the middle of the biggest rap moments—and unlike others here, it's off the strength of the music rather than the drama.
Last year, she was the only journalist to really sit down with Kendrick Lamar, her crowning achievement this year was landing J. Cole's first interview about The Fall-Off, as well as conducting the only on-camera interview with Baby Keem. —Jordan Rose
What's one thing you love about hip-hop in 2026?
“The variety of serious artists that are getting active. Considering the releases we saw in the first few months, this could end up being a golden year for hip-hop albums.”
What's one thing you hate about it?
“Talking or debating about music feels much more contentious than enjoyable in a lot of spaces. This should still be fun.”
N3on
Last year’s ranking: N/A
Featured on: Kick
Known for: Creating experiential content with rappers
Followers: 1.5M IG, 550K Kick
N3on is a master of spectacle. He gave fans a front-row seat when he seemingly got arrested during a charity drive on O Block earlier this year. Was it staged? Unclear. Was treating O Block like a silly social experiment a cool thing to do? Probably not. But moments like that have made N3on a media star—the king of experiential content with rappers, whether hanging out with BigXthaPlug or going on a double date with Kevin Gates. And it’s not creating new moments but maximizing big ones. According to Business Insider, he spent over $1.4 million paying "clippers" to turn his streams into viral clips. —Peter A. Berry
What's one thing you love about rap right now?
“Rap right now feels raw and real. It’s either about what someone’s already conquered or what they’re still chasing. You can hear the hunger in it. It’s all passion, and that’s what makes it hit.”
What's one thing you hate about rap right now?
“I feel like everything just moves so fast in that industry. Someone drops, it’s viral for like a minute, and then everyone’s already onto the next thing. It’s like nobody lets music breathe anymore. Everything feels kinda quick and forgettable, like moments don’t really stick the way they used to.”
Gillie and Wallo
Last year’s ranking: 9
Featured on: Million Dollaz Worth of Game
Known for: A mix of comedic banter, sprawling conversations, and motivational moments
Followers: Gillie: 4.2M IG; Wallo: 2.9M IG; 1.82M YouTube
Gillie and Wallo have been going at it for so long, and have been so consistent, it's easy to underrate them. Even in a year where it didn't seem like they had the most viral moments, they were cranking out good shit. They scored the first big Pooh Shiesty interview after he came home and before he went back in; got T.I. to open up about the 50 Cent situation; and gave DaBaby the space—acres and acres of space—to speak in very specific terms about what his drop-off meant for him financially. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
Bootleg Kev
Last year’s ranking: 21
Featured on: The Bootleg Kev Podcast, The Bootleg Kev Show
Known for: In-depth interviews that feel more like a conversation between friends
Followers: 500K YouTube, 160K IG
Bootleg Kev has every hip-hop nerd's dream job. This year, he caught DaBaby at the peak of his comeback arc, secured one of Blueface's first interviews since his release from jail, chopped it up with Lil Yachty, and spoke with De La Soul about the group’s first album together in over a decade. That hustle mentality has never left Kev, despite how established he's become. Attacking each interview from multiple angles, Kev never runs out of things to say, reminisce on, or dig a bit deeper into the lore. —Jon Barlas
What's one thing you love about rap right now?
“The rule book has been thrown out! Clipse dropped the album of the year in 2025 in their 50s and T.I. has the most successful rap song of 2026. It feels like the algorithm is dying and artists are super serving their fans with physical media, direct to consumer stuff, and building community directly with the people who actually matter—their fans.”
What's one thing you hate about rap right now?
“The fact we legitimize some of these platforms that hate hip-hop and dibble and dabble in the culture when it's lucrative or brings in numbers.”
Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli
Last year's ranking: 25
Featured on: The New York Times, Popcast
Known for: In-depth interviews, very sharp and smart analysis around contemporary hip-hop,pop, and more
Followers: 70.4K YouTube, 52,300 IG, 112.7k TikTok
The New York Times may be synonymous with tradition, but Popcast is the place for more off-the-cuff moments between today’s music stars in conversation with veteran pop music critic Jon Caramanica and culture reporter Joe Coscarelli. Together they balance sharp criticism and deep knowledge with a conversational energy that makes the show a breeze to listen to. That looseness carries into the interviews themselves, producing candid moments, like Jack Harlow maybe getting a little too honest about the role Black music played on his new album, and A$AP Rocky opening up about his tension with Drake. They also drew out one of the most expressive interviews from the introverted cloud rap legend Yung Lean. —Antonio Johri
What's one thing you love about rap right now?
Jon Caramanica: “Widespread playfulness and experimentation with form, both lyrical and production-wise. The genre is limitless.”
Joe Coscarelli: “I love the vastness of the landscape, the sheer amount of rabbit holes, niches and tributaries you can go down with minimal effort and little to no cost. There are more thriving regional scenes, online and in real life, than there are hours in the day—Birmingham, Philly, Baton Rouge, Nashville, etc., etc., to say nothing of micro-genres. And while making up for the dearth of new mainstream superstars requires SOME effort (and most listeners are too passive to dig at all), the reward is there in the form of variety/quality/lore/experimentation and it is great.”
What's one thing you hate about rap right now?
Jon Caramanica: “How hard it is for an artist to grow beyond that initial phase of throwing shit against the wall and learning how much of it sticks. There are more eyes and ears on rappers at an earlier phase in their development than there has been at any time in history. But it's easier for observers to be distracted by a new new thing than it is to commit to sticking with someone as they grow and develop.”
Joe Coscarelli: “I hate the shortness of the shelf life for our 21st century legends—or those who could've and should've been. When I ended my book, Rap Capital: An Atlanta Story, on a wistful, this-can't-last note for the mid-2010s Atlanta all-stars (Migos, Lil Baby, Young Thug, et al.), I don't think I could've imagined just how bleak it would get for a whole generation that seemed untouchable such a short time ago.”
Cam'ron
Last year’s ranking: N/A
Featured on: It Is What It Is, Talk with Flee
Known for: Shit talking, inside baseball stories about rap music, playful interviews
Followers: 3.3M IG, 986K YouTube
We now know Cam'ron as a sports commentator, with his It Is What It Is show alongside Ma$e. But with his other series, Talk with Flee, Killa Cam has gone deeper into his hip-hop bag, speaking on his own personal history,telling Dipset and Big L stories, weighing in on contemporary issues, like the No Limit vs. Cash Money Verzuz, and even interviewing rappers like J. Cole and Shyne. He's also used the platform to go back and forth with former pals Dame Dash and Jim Jones—beef he seems to relish playing out in front of the massive audience he's built. —Will Schube
Frazier Tharpe
Last year's ranking: N/A
Featured on: GQ, Tap In newsletter
Known for: Insightful interviews, clever and informed op-eds, Hov expertise
Followers: 27.9K IG, 25K X
Frazier Tharpe might appear on a video here and there, but he's one of the few traditional rap journalists keeping the written word alive. The Complex alumnus has been putting up triple doubles at GQ as a senior editor for a few years now, but shifted into a whole new gear this year, with his Jay-Z cover story—the the biggest interview of 2026 so far. That follows his dominant coverage of Clipse's comeback and being the first to chronicle Max B the day he was released from prison. Tharpe is living proof that even in a splintered hip-hop media space, you can still make motion with a pen. —Jordan Rose
What's one thing you love about hip-hop in 2026?
“Gonna pivot to optimism and say it feels like we're on the precipice of an exciting new sea change. Maybe it's one that won't even be obvious in real-time, but the genre's been in need of some new energy for a while—a fresh new movement right at the center of things—and I think it's coming sooner than later.
At the same time, it's honestly kind of fire that a bunch of pushing-40s are still commanding the monoculture, with albums that feel vital. A decade or two, we would've scoffed at that idea; we've come a long way from ''You 38 and you still rappin? Ugh.’”
What's one thing you hate about it?
“All the different Stanbase factions treating this shit like it's geopolitics. Jigga was right.”
Big Bank
Last year's ranking: N/A
Featured on: Perspektives with Big Bank
Known for: In-depth, impactful interviews with Atlanta rap legends
Followers: 601K IG, 293K YouTube
Perspektives with Big Bank, had been chugging along for about a year before its big breakout moment. Young Thug, who was in the news due to a series of leaked jailhouse calls, gave maybe the most in-depth and emotive interview of his career to Bank. From there, Big Bank became one of the most exciting new podcasters— uniquely tapped into the knotty Atlanta scene. He soon followed with the viral "Fuck the Streets" interview with 21 Savage, and another with DaBaby, who was still wrestling with his cancellation all these years later. That's before even mentioning sit-downs with figures like 2 Chainz or Thug affiliate turned snitch Lil Woody. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
What's one thing you love about rap right now?
“One thing I love about rap right now is how independent artists can really control their own lane—no label needed to build a real fanbase, go viral, and create culture. Authenticity hits harder now than industry polish.”
What's one thing you hate about it?
“There is too much clout-chasing over craftsmanship. A lot of people focus more on moments, beef, and social media antics than actually making timeless music. Sometimes the art gets lost in the noise.”
Kai Cenat
Last year’s ranking: 1
Featured on: KaiCenat on Twitch
Known for: Streaming…but not recently
Followers: 20.2M Twitch; 7.76M YouTube
In April, Kai Cenat teased the return of Mafiathon on Instagram, an announcement that carried extra weight, because in September 2025 the most famous streamer in the world announced that he would stop streaming.
This is why Cenat moved from being the most powerful person in rap media to his current stature. Emeritus? That’s hyperbolic. The 24-year-old hasn’t retired—he shared a reaction to Bully on YouTube—but he is not creating hijinks on Twitch. Mafiathon 3, with appearances from Mariah Carey, Ice Spice, and Kim Kardashian, is a distant memory. (Really, who isn’t trying to forget Ray J calling himself “the new Diddy”?) There’s little doubt that when Cenat returns to the space he revolutionized, he’ll be welcomed back with open arms, from fans and celebrities alike. —Ross Scarano
On the Radar
Last year's ranking: N/A
Featured on: On the Radar Radio
Known for: performances and freestyles across genres and generations
Followers: 2M IG, 1.7M YouTube
Gabe P and his On the Radar team have cracked the code. Not only are they a crucial music discovery platform for up-and-coming rappers via their cyphers, but they also allow veterans to find new audiences, like when Max B and Fetty Wap made viral moments off of old cult hits. What's made it especially impressive this year is how they've expanded. On the Radar was featured prominently during Kai Cenat's Mafiathon 3, with memorable interactions with 41 and Chris Patrick. And its Latin extension has opened On the Radar up to entirely new audiences as well. —Jordan Rose
What’s one thing you love about rap right now?
Gabe P (founder of On the Radar): “How diverse it is. While people keep saying rap is “dying” if you look across America and around the world so many new pockets of rap are appearing and thriving, from Chicago, New York, to the Carolinas, to the Midwest to countries like China, Australia, The UK, France etc. Rap is alive and well and as diverse as ever!”
What's one thing you hate about rap right now?
“The discourse about rap. Everyone's feeds online are so personalized to their own liking that when music comes across their timeline that is even remotely outside of their bubble instead of giving it a chance they immediately hate on it. I hate how we can’t even enjoy music without think pieces every five seconds now.”
Plaqueboymax
Last year’s ranking: 4
Featured on: Twitch, In the Booth, Song Wars series
Known for: For making songs on stream, taking viewers inside the recording process
Followers: 2.4. M Twitch; 1.77M YouTube
Despite his crossover into music creation, Plaqueboymax still has one of the most important platforms in hip-hop media. After dealing with an illness that made him stop streaming for an extended period of time last year, he returned and found a rhythm between rapping and going live. He's still got his Song Wars and In the Booth series going, with the latter featuring memorable link ups with Rio da Yung OG, Lil Baby, and Lil Yachty. At ComplexCon he was even able to make a song with Xaviersobased, Che, and Young Dabo live on the convention floor. —Jordan Rose
Ebro
Last year's ranking: 12
Featured on: Apple Music, Rap Life Podcast, The Ebro Laura Rosenberg Show
Known for: Pointed and critical music takes colored with historical knowledge and experience
Followers: 886K IG, 292.3K X
No more Hot 97? No problem. Ebro is still one of the most respected voices in hip-hop media. He adapted to the constantly changing media landscape by going independent with his morning show cohosts Laura Stylez and Peter Rosenberg, while being open about the challenges that came with it. He did that while still running the Rap Life Podcast on Apple Music. He's also still one of the more pugnacious media figures in rap, getting into tiffs with everyone from Akademiks to Drake. Even if you don't agree with all of his takes and feel like he's "algorithm hustling" at times, you can't deny he's figured out how to stay relevant without the machine behind him. —Jordan Rose
Kurrco
Last year’s ranking: N/A
Featured on: Kurrco
Known for: Being the quickest to deliver breaking hip-hop news on X
Followers: 385.5 X, 19.5k IG
In an era of talking heads and short-form video, who would have imagined that an anonymous page on X would be the No. 1 source for rap news?
The curiously named Kurrco has built a reputation for dominating the rap news cycle, firing off quick-hit posts within minutes of a move being made. Despite being anonymous, based outside of America, and operating with a staff of only three, Kurrco's output is vast, covering niche parts of the rap underground to news around the biggest stars, like when they were among the first to confirm that Bad Bunny was performing at the Super Bowl. —Antonio Johri
What’s one thing you love about rap right now?
Anonymous founder of Kurrco: “I think we’re seeing more subgenres and niches come up, and they’re able to thrive now more than ever before. I guess it’s a byproduct of monoculture fading and algorithms being able to hyper-curate things for us to an almost excessive level.
“There are branches of hip-hop that a lot of people don’t even know exist, and they can all coexist in their own corners without needing major coverage from mainstream media. I think that’s beautiful.”
What’s one thing you hate about rap right now?
“The division, the ‘us vs. them’ mentality. How many people go online just to find confrontation because they feel so strongly and defensively about their favorite artists.
I think we all need to chill a bit. Things really aren’t *that* serious for us as fans at the end of the day. Most of the arguments people get into online, the ones that turn into insults and conspiracy theories, are just pointless. This applies to all fan bases. It’s interesting too, because a lot of the people going back and forth online are probably more similar personality-wise than they’d like to admit.”
Rory and Mal
Last year's ranking: 9
Featured on: The New Rory & Mal Podcast
Known for: Comedic and insightful commentary about current rap topics
Followers: 309K YouTube, 124k IG
Five years after splitting with Joe Budden and launching the New Rory & Mal, Rory, Mal, and third chair co-host Demaris have fully settled into their roles as industry insiders, with Mal, in particular, becoming a go-to source for any new Drake or J. Cole tidbit—whether you believe him or not (and whether it comes to pass or not). And yet it wasn't all smooth sailing. Notably, a wave of Rory's old racially charged tweets resurfaced online, prompting him to apologize and delete his X account. But the trio weathered the storm, addressing the controversy head-on and turning the content about them into content for them. —Jordan Rose
What’s one thing you love about rap right now?
Rory: “Rap has reached a point where artists don’t need access to a major label system to thrive. They can create the music they want, stay profitable, connect directly with their audience, tour, sell merch, and build loyal communities, without having to compromise their sound.”
Mal: “That everyone has something to say and wants to be heard.”
What’s one thing you hate about rap right now?
Rory: “There’s this new wave of loud voices who care more about content than the music itself. They’re fans of artists, not the art, it feels like hip-hop social media has turned into the worst version of a football tailgate.”
Mal: “That everyone has something to say and wants to be heard.”
Anthony Fantano
Last year’s ranking: 8
Featured on: The Needle Drop
Known for: Being the highest regarded music critic, with music reviews that are highly detailed and informed
Followers: 1.3M IG, 900k X
“Y'all know this is just my opinion, right?" This is the sentence that sits under every review on Anthony Fantano's YouTube channel.
But given the size of his platform, those opinions rarely stay casual. Artists and superfans take them personally, which is why he's still the defining music critic of our time. Fantano's full 10–20 minute reviews show wide knowledge on music, breaking down songwriting, sound choices, and more.
He is still one of the few music critics out there whose reviews and rating system become news on other artists' pages. He has also upped the volume and content variety considerably, responding to rap news — whether it be Jack Harlow's step into R&B or shitting all over Complex's hottest rappers list. —Antonio Johri
What’s one thing you love about rap right now?
“I love that the new generation is embracing their own definition of the underground, and it's encouraging to see them figure out how to appeal to themselves as opposed to the charts. It's not deeply informed or self-aware, but what young music scene is? All that stuff, hopefully, will come with time, and all they can do until then is create and allow the experience to snowball into something that might withstand the test of time.”
What's one thing you hate about rap right now?
“I hate the lack of acknowledgement women in the genre are getting at the moment. The ladies of this generation are making waves at a scale they never have before, and yet they don't drive even half the discourse we're seeing at the moment. Flo Milli is quietly pulling in at least two times the monthly listeners of your average Carti clone, but people act like she doesn't exist. And if bars and charisma were actually what mattered, Little Simz and TiaCorine should both be twice as huge as they are right now, respectively. We could do a whole thinkpiece on how Megan Thee Stallion continues to be one of the most defamed and maligned artists of the 2020s—and has every reason to quit for the sake of her own sanity—but continues to craft hits and put butts in seats. Doechii has done nothing but showcase creativity and put out solid music that scales well, but there's somehow still an endless sea of losers who make hating her their whole personality. So, yes, I hate this.”
Charlamagne Tha God
Last year’s ranking: 5
Featured on: The Breakfast Club, The Brilliant Idiots
Known for: Sensational commentary, provocative questions, and his “Donkey of the Day” segment
Followers: 4.5M IG; 6.03M YouTube
Admittedly, there've been moments when Charlamagne Tha God has been a top candidate for Donkey of the Day. But not the day he signed a five-year $200 million deal with iHeartMedia.
When he hasn't been signing deals, he's been giving brands a reason to give him new ones, keeping up the inquisitive and critical intensity regardless of circumstances. The Breakfast Club is now on Netflix, and there have been concerns about what the reach of Charlamagne and his outlandish commentary will be without farming YouTube clips. But he is still all over the timeline, whether it's going back and forth with Dame Dash or providing poignant commentary on the superstars of rap like Drake, Kendrick, or ASAP Rocky. —Peter A. Berry
Jadakiss and Fat Joe
Last year’s ranking: 15
Featured on: Joe and Jada
Known for: Using their elder statesmen in hip-hop to have lively conversations spanning music, entertainment, and sports.
Followers: 627K IG, 521K YouTube
In just one year of existence, veteran rhymers and hosts Fat Joe and Jadakiss have sat down with the likes of Cardi B, De La Soul, French Montana, Rapsody, and 42 Dugg, to name a few,showcasing their reach as tastemakers across generations.
Proving how much they've matured since the petty hip-hop feuds of the 2000s, Joey Crack and Jada even broke bread with 50 Cent's close companions Tony Yayo and Uncle Murda, opening the door for other rappers entering the podcast space. And despite all the interviews they've done, Hov is right: Joe and Jada are often at their best when they're kicking it by themselves, with Fat Joe doing his typical capping and Kiss acting incredulous, flagging comments when necessary. — Will Schube
What's one thing you love about rap right now?
Fat Joe: “I love the resurgence of the OGs in hip-hop right now. We’re seeing T.I. and French Montana still delivering hits like they’re in their 20s and Clipse coming back with a No. 1 album and a Grammy, so it’s been beautiful to watch that shift. I really feel like ageism in hip-hop is starting to disappear and the OGs are as relevant as ever.
What's one thing you hate about rap right now?
Fat Joe: “Too much snitching in rap.”
DJ Vlad
Last year’s ranking: 6
Featured on: VladTV
Followers: 229k Twitter, 6.3 M YouTube
Few in the space covered the hip-hop story of the year—the Diddy trial—like Vlad.
VladTV was one of the main go-to places for all things RICO, even near the tail end when he was still doing interviews with figures allegedly involved in freak-offs like Sly Diggler and Daniel Phillips. He also had one of the biggest rap interviews of last year when he hosted 6ix9ine; the rapper, in typical 6ix9ine fashion, was shooting at everyone—from Trippie Redd to Lil Durk.
The line between Vlad the man and Vlad the personality seems to be blurring. He's recently been in headlines about the money behind his interviews — specifically, what he's willing to pay his guests. This came to the forefront when Boosie BadAzz complained that Vlad wouldn't pay him more than the $25,000 fee they'd been working with. In the process, Vlad lost his most consistent revenue driver—though knowing Vlad, that's unlikely to slow him down. —Peter A. Berry
What's one thing you love about rap right now?
“I love that the biggest artists push the boundaries of what rap is artistically—like Playboi Carti, Don Toliver, etc. Music has to evolve or die.”
What's one thing you hate about rap right now?
“There's no young superstar rapper that's leading the genre. The biggest rappers are in their late 30s and early 40s, trying to hold on to their spots. This is why the charts don't have any hip-hop anymore. It's sad to see it for the first time in decades.”
Joe Budden
Last year’s ranking: 3
Featured on: The Joe Budden Podcast
Followers: 1.53M YouTube; 1.7M IG
March was the 10-year anniversary of Drake's Views, which, in some ways, also means it's the 10-year anniversary of Joe Budden's career as a pundit.
Budden was already a known entity in the podcast world, but his scathing response to the album launched the Joe Budden Podcast, which was still called I'll Name This Podcast Later.
All these years later, a bunch has changed—the title, the location, the ever-expanding cast—but what hasn't is Budden's talent as a talking head: his ability to lead conversations with a mix of humor, passion, and sharp analytical breakdowns is pretty much one of one in the hip-hop space.
Budden and his ever-changing collective—a rotating mix of friends including Marc Lamont Hill, Ish, Mona, and more—are finding ways to consistently transcend the podcast niche, making headlines commenting on everything from Drake's Iceman rollout to Nicki Minaj's drift into Trumpland.
The group is also great at randomly debating evergreen topics—old-head rap nerd video SEO shit like "which rappers don't have classics" or "songs where the worst rapper has the best verse."
Despite the success the pod has had, and how lost Budden is with contemporary hip-hop, you see the love come out at those moments, as well as when he sits down with Nas and Primo or JID or Rod Wave. (The list keeps going here.) There was once a time when the hip-hop podcast space was competitive, with Budden still clearly in the lead. Budden is still in the lead—it's just not really competitive anymore. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
What's one thing you love about rap right now?
“The business savvy of artists and all the tension.”
What's one thing you hate about rap right now?
“Albums not dropping fast enough.”
DJ Akademiks
Last year’s ranking: 2
Featured on: DJ Akademiks on YouTube, Twitch, Rumble, Spotify, and Instagram
Known for: Getting inside information from notable rappers; livestreaming the biggest moments in hip-hop
Followers: 5.2 M IG; 1.6M X
Last year, Ak was no. 2 on the media list. His response? Jubilance. He couldn't really argue with the No. 1, Kai Cenat, but there was also this sense that for all his success he felt like he was still being cancelled for his various transgressions.
This was obviously never true.
If anything, Ak has only grown stronger over the years, even as controversies have built up and he has grown more emboldened to say shit with his chest. (Check out his latest comments about Megan Thee Stallion and Jay-Z if you need proof.) Ak, who called this year his “Jordan year” on Re-Rank, is clearly the top dog in hip-hop media. He's the best at covering the underground, seedier aspects of hip-hop (whether it be the Lil Durk trial or breaking down Pooh Shiesty robbing Gucci Mane); but he does this knowing that rap is a billion-dollar industry, which means you still need to present that proximity to the power players.
And when we say power players, we mean Drake. His cozy relationship with The Boy ultimately makes him a go-to source for the biggest album in rap. He's been eating off Iceman for months, like when he talked about the need for Drake to starve haters or when he shits on Lil Baby for insinuating the Atlanta rapper is on Iceman. And come May 15, when the hip-hop community is listening to the new Drake, one screen will be saved for an Ak stream.
Unless something drastic happens, it's hard to imagine Ak giving up the pole position . His work ethic and his access to power (even while presenting himself as an outsider) allows him the same latitude to be a ball-knower who’s sometimes wrong about shit. And frankly the fact that he loves a good fight means he will keep people entertained for an extended period. He has or will almost certainly have beef with half the people on this list, from Ebro to Roy and Mal to Kid Mero. In fact, you can watch him do precisely this on Re-Rank. —Dimas Sanfiorenzo
What's one thing you love about rap right now?
“I love the fact that we're experiencing a complete reset within music and culture. It means a rebirth—and I'm waiting to see which artists figure out the new meta to become successful or lead an influential movement.
“In an age where a lot of artists blow up from one viral song that gives them enough leverage to become social media stars and even tour locally, there's never been a bigger question around what it means to be a new superstar—or whether it's even worth going down that path. How do you do it? What is mainstream? What is niche? There hasn't been an authentic movement from a budding superstar rapper in a while, and this reset over the last few years has left the field wide open, and that breeds creativity, and encourages someone to break the mold. It's only a matter of time. Music and culture never remain stagnant or die. They just take different forms. I think the next superstar is probably some kid in their bedroom with a unique style, playing around on Fruity Loops and reading this article right now.”
What's one thing you hate about rap right now?
“The thing I hate most about hip-hop right now is everyone wanting to turn it into what they think it should be—or what it used to be. A lot of influencers, media personalities, and even fans don't realize they're responsible for most of the change in hip-hop.”
