2016 in hip hop music

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This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in hip hop music for the year 2016.

Events

January

• On January 20, Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) was arrested in South Africa for allegedly using an unrecognized World Passport and then he had to lived there illegally since 2014.^[1] Bey then released his newest freestyle via Kanye West's website for West's GOOD Fridays series, announcing his retirement from music and films.^[2]

March

• On March 4, rapper Bankroll Fresh was shot and killed in Atlanta, Georgia.^[3]
• On March 22, rapper Phife Dawg from A Tribe Called Quest passed away from complications due to diabetes.^[4]

Released albums

Release date	Artist(s)	Album	Record label(s)	Notes
January 1	Boosie Badazz	In My Feelings. (Goin' Thru It)	Lil Boosie Music[5]	Debuted at No. 105 on the Billboard 200
January 15	Anderson Paak	Malibu	Steel Wool, OBE, Art Club, Empire Distribution[6]	Debuted at No. 79 on the Billboard 200 Singles: "The Season / Carry Me", "Am I Wrong", "Room in Here", "Come Down"
	Blaze Ya Dead Homie	The Casket Factory	Majik Ninja Entertainment[7]	Debuted at No. 89 on the Billboard 200
	Daz Dillinger & Snoop Dogg	Cuzznz	Felder Entertainment[8]
	Torae	Entitled	Internal Affairs Entertainment[9]	Singles: "Saturday Night"
January 29	Beneficence	Basement Chemistry	Ill Adrenaline Records[10]	Singles: "Digital Warfare"
	Kevin Gates	Islah	Bread Winners' Association[11]	Debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 Singles: "Kno One", "La Familia", "The Truth", "Really Really", "2 Phones", "Jam"
	PeeWee Longway	Mr. Blue Benjamin	MPA Bandcamp Music Group[12]	Debuted at No. 39 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
February 5	Boosie Badazz	Out My Feelings (In My Past)	Lil Boosie Music[13]	Debuted at No. 57 on the Billboard 200
	Dizzy Wright	Wisdom and Good Vibes	Dizzy Wright[14]	Debuted at No. 24 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
	Trae tha Truth	Tha Truth, Pt. 2	ABN Entertainment, Hustle Gang, Empire Distribution[15]	Debuted at No. 30 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Singles: "Takers", "All Good", "Slugs"
	Wiz Khalifa	Khalifa	Taylor Gang Records, Atlantic Records, Rostrum Records[16]	Debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 Singles: "Bake Sale"
	Young Thug	I'm Up	300 Entertainment, Atlantic Records[17]	Debuted at No. 22 on the Billboard 200 Singles: "F Cancer"
February 6	Future	Evol	A1, Freebandz, Epic Records[18]	Debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200
February 12	Statik KXNG (Statik Selektah & KXNG Crooked)	Statik KXNG	Showoff Records, Penalty Entertainment[19]	Singles: "Dead or in Jail"
February 14	Kanye West	The Life of Pablo	GOOD Music, Def Jam Recordings[20]	Debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Singles: "Famous"
February 18	Agallah	Bo: The Legend of the Water Dragon	Propain Campaign[21]
February 19	Brotha Lynch Hung	Bullet Maker	MadeSicc Muzicc[22]
	Yo Gotti	The Art of Hustle	CMG, Epic Records[23]	Debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 Singles: "Down in the DM"
	Young Dolph	King of Memphis	Paper Route Empire[24]	Debuted at No. 49 on the Billboard 200
February 25	Yung Lean	Warlord	Year0001[25]
February 26	Macklemore & Ryan Lewis	This Unruly Mess I've Made	Macklemore LLC[26]	Debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 Singles: "Downtown", "White Privilege II"
	Philthy Rich	Real Niggas Back in Style	Empire Distribution, SCMMLLC[27]	Singles: "Make a Living"
	Rome Fortune	Jerome Raheem Fortune	Fool's Gold Records[28]	Singles: "Dance"
March 4	2 Chainz	ColleGrove	Def Jam Recordings[29]	Debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200
	Bas	Too High to Riot	Dreamville Records, Interscope Records[30]	Debuted at No. 49 on the Billboard 200
	Kano	Made in the Manor	Parlophone, Bigger Picture Music[31]	Debuted at No. 8 on the UK Albums Chart
	Kendrick Lamar	Untitled Unmastered	Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment, Interscope Records[32]	Debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200
	Smoke DZA	He Has Risen	SRFSCHL[33]
March 11	Flatbush Zombies	3001: A Laced Odyssey	Glorious Dead Recordings[34]	Debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard 200
March 15	Joell Ortiz	That's Hip Hop	That's Hip Hop LLC[35]
March 16	Boosie Badazz	Thug Talk	Lil Boosie Music[36]	Debuted at No. 130 on the Billboard 200
March 25	Domo Genesis	Genesis	Odd Future Records[37]	Debuted at No. 110 on the Billboard 200
	Elzhi	Lead Poison	GLOW365LLC[38]
	N.O.R.E.	Drunk Uncle	Militainment Business[39]
	Open Mike Eagle & Paul White	Hella Personal Film Festival	Mello Music Group[40]
	Planet Asia & DJ Concept	Seventy Nine	Coalmine Records[41]
April 1	Big Sean & Jhené Aiko	Twenty88	GOOD Music, Artium Recordings, Def Jam Recordings[42]	Debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200
April 4	Black Milk & Nat Turner	The Rebellion Sessions	Computer Ugly Records[43]
April 8	Krizz Kaliko	Go	Strange Music[44]	Debuted at No. 89 on the Billboard 200
	Sir Michael Rocks	Part 2	6 Cell Phones[45]
April 15	Boosie Badazz & C-Murder	Penitentiary Chances	TRU Records, RBC Records[46]	Debuted at No. 172 on the Billboard 200
	J Dilla	The Diary	Pay Jay Productions, Inc., Mass Appeal Records[47]	Debuted at No. 77 on the Billboard 200 Singles: "Fuck the Police", "The Anthem", "Diamonds", "Give Them What They Want", "The Introduction", "Gangsta Boogie"
	Mr. Lif	Don't Look Down	Mello Music Group[48]
	Royce da 5'9"	Layers	Bad Half Entertainment[49]	Debuted at No. 22 on the Billboard 200
April 22	ASAP Ferg	Always Strive and Prosper	ASAP Worldwide, Polo Grounds Music, RCA Records[50]	Debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 Singles: "New Level"
	Bankroll Mafia	Bankroll Mafia	Bankroll Mafia, Empire Distribution[51]
April 29	Aesop Rock	The Impossible Kid	Rhymesayers Entertainment[52]
	Chuck Inglish & Blended Babies	Ev Zeppelin	BBMG[53]
	Drake	Views	OVO Sound, Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, Boy Better Know, Republic Records[54]	Singles: "Hotline Bling", "One Dance", "Pop Style"
	Freeway	Free Will	Babygrande Records[55]
	Stevie Joe & Mozzy	Extracurricular Activities	Green Carpet, Stevie Joe, Livewire, Rapbay, Urbanlife Distribution[56]
May 6	Homeboy Sandman	Kindness for Weakness	Stones Throw Records[57]
	Rittz	Top of the Line	Strange Music[58]

Upcoming releases

May 13

• The Falling Season by Masta Ace^[59]

May 20

• The Silent Partner by Havoc & The Alchemist^[60]

May 27

• Son of a Pimp, Pt. 2 by Mistah F.A.B.^[61]

June 10

• Handshakes With Snakes by Apathy^[62]

June 24

• Ms. Gladys by Birdman^[63]
• FC3 the Epilogue by Lil Bibby^[64]
• SremmLife 2 by Rae Sremmurd^[65]

July 1

• Rich Gang 2 by Rich Gang^[63]

August 19

• The God Box by David Banner^[66]

August 26

• And the Anonymous Nobody by De La Soul^[67]

September 9

• The Storm by Tech N9ne^[68]

TBA

• Turbo Grafx 16 by Kanye West^[69]
• The Dime Trap by TIP^[70]

Highest-charting singles

Hip hop singles which charted in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100

Song	Artist	Peak position
"Panda"	Desiigner	1
"Hotline Bling"	Drake	2
"One Dance"	Drake featuring WizKid and Kyla	2
"Summer Sixteen"	Drake	6
"Me, Myself & I"	G-Eazy and Bebe Rexha	7
"679"	Fetty Wap featuring Remy Boyz	11
"Jumpman"	Drake and Future	12
"Don't"	Bryson Tiller	13
"Down in the DM (Remix)"	Yo Gotti featuring Nicki Minaj	13
"White Iverson"	Post Malone	14
"Antidote"	Travi$ Scott	16
"Pop Style"	Drake featuring The Throne	16
"2 Phones"	Kevin Gates	17
"Low Life"	Future featuring The Weeknd	18
"Say It"	Tory Lanez	23
"Exchange"	Bryson Tiller	26
"Famous"	Kanye West	34
"Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1"	Kanye West	37
"Again"	Fetty Wap	38

Highest first-week sales

List of top 10 albums with the highest first-week sales + streaming, as of April 2016 in the US.

Number	Album	Artist	1st-week sales	1st-week position	Refs
1	Untitled Unmastered	Kendrick Lamar	178,000	1	[71]
2	Evol	Future	134,000	1	[72]
3	Islah	Kevin Gates	112,000	2	[73]
4	The Life of Pablo	Kanye West	94,000	1	[74]
5	Khalifa	Wiz Khalifa	64,000	6	[72]
6	ColleGrove	2 Chainz	64,000	4	[71]
7	This Unruly Mess I've Made	Macklemore & Ryan Lewis	61,000	4	[75]
8	The Art of Hustle	Yo Gotti	61,000	4	[76]
9	Twenty88	Twenty88	49,000	5	[77]
10	Always Strive and Prosper	ASAP Ferg	35,000	8	[78]

Highest critically reviewed albums (Metacritic)

Number	Artist	Album	Average score	Number of reviews	Reference
1	Kendrick Lamar	Untitled Unmastered	86	31 reviews	[79]
2	Anderson Paak	Malibu	85	17 reviews	[80]
3	Kevin Gates	Islah	81	10 reviews	[81]
4	Flatbush Zombies	3001: A Laced Odyssey	80	7 reviews	[82]
5	Open Mike Eagle	Hella Personal Film Festival	79	7 reviews	[83]
6	Young Thug	I'm Up	76	11 reviews	[84]
7	Young Thug	Slime Season 3	76	11 reviews	[85]
8	Kanye West	The Life of Pablo	75	34 reviews	[86]
9	J Dilla	The Diary	75	17 reviews	[87]
10	ASAP Ferg	Always Strive and Prosper	74	15 reviews	[88]

See also

• Previous article: 2015 in hip hop music
• Next article: 2017 in hip hop music

References

1. Puente, Maria (20 January 2016). "Mos Def held on immigration charges in South Africa, family ordered out". USA Today. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
2. Young, Alex (2016-01-20). "Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) announces retirement from music and film". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
3. "Bankroll Fresh Reportedly Murered; 2 Chainz & Juicy J React". HipHopDX. March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
4. "A Tribe Called Quest's Phife Dawg Dead At 45". RollingStone. March 23, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
5. "In My Feelings. (Goin' Thru It) by Boosie Badazz on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
6. "Malibu by Anderson .Paak on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
7. "The Casket Factory by Blaze Ya Dead Homie on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
8. "Cuzznz by Daz & Snoop on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
9. "Entitled (Deluxe Edition) by Torae on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
10. "Basement Chemistry by Beneficence on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
11. "Islah by Kevin Gates on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
12. "Mr. Blue Benjamin by PeeWee Longway on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
13. "Out My Feelings (In My Past) by Boosie Badazz on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
14. "Wisdom and Good Vibes by Dizzy Wright on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2016-02-05. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
15. "Tha Truth, Pt. 2 by Trae tha Truth on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
16. "Khalifa by Wiz Khalifa on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-01-22.
17. "I’m Up by Young Thug on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2016-02-05. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
18. "EVOL by Future on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
19. "Statik Kxng by Statik Selektah & KXNG Crooked on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
20. "The Life of Pablo / Kanye West TIDAL". Listen.tidal.com. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
21. "Bo: The Legend of the Water Dragon by Agallah on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-02-21.
22. "Bullet Maker by Brotha Lynch Hung on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2016-02-19. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
23. "The Art of Hustle by Yo Gotti on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
24. "King Of Memphis by Young Dolph on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
25. "Warlord by Yung Lean on iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
26. "This Unruly Mess I've Made by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
27. "Real N****s Back in Style by Philthy Rich on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
28. "Jerome Raheem Fortune by Rome Fortune on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
29. "Collegrove by 2 Chainz on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 1977-09-12. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
30. "Too High to Riot by Bas on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-02-05.
31. "Made In The Manor by Kano on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
32. "untitled unmastered by Kendrick Lamar on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
33. "He Has Risen by Smoke DZA on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
34. "3001: A Laced Odyssey by Flatbush Zombies on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
35. "That's Hip Hop by Joell Ortiz on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-03-11.
36. "Thug Talk by Boosie Badazz on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 1982-11-14. Retrieved 2016-03-17.
37. "Genesis by Domo Genesis on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
38. "Lead Poison by Elzhi on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
39. "Drunk Uncle by N.O.R.E. on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-03-22.
40. "Hella Personal Film Festival by Open Mike Eagle & Paul White on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-03-18.
41. "Seventy Nine by Planet Asia & DJ Concept on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
42. "TWENTY88 by TWENTY88 on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
43. "The Rebellion Sessions by Black Milk & Nat Turner on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-03-18.
44. "Go by Krizz Kaliko on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2016-04-08. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
45. "Part 2 by Sir Michael Rocks on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2016-04-08. Retrieved 2016-04-24.
46. "Penitentiary Chances (Deluxe Edition) by Boosie Badazz & C-Murder on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2016-04-15. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
47. "The Diary by J Dilla on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-02-19.
48. "Don't Look Down by Mr. Lif on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
49. "Layers by Royce da 5'9" on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
50. "Always Strive and Prosper by A$AP Ferg on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2016-04-14. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
51. "Bankroll Mafia by Bankroll Mafia on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2016-04-26.
52. "The Impossible Kid by Aesop Rock on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2016-04-29. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
53. "Ev Zeppelin by Chuck Inglish & Blended Babies on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-04-23.
54. "Views by Drake on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2016-04-29. Retrieved 2016-04-29.
55. "Free Will by Freeway on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
56. "Extracurricular Activities by Stevie Joe & Mozzy on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-04-23.
57. "Kindness for Weakness by Homeboy Sandman on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2016-05-06. Retrieved 2016-05-06.
58. "Top of the Line (Deluxe Edition) by Rittz on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. 2016-05-06. Retrieved 2016-05-06.
59. "The Falling Season by asta Ace on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-04-16.
60. "The Silent Partner by Havoc & The Alchemist on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
61. "Son of a Pimp, Pt. 2 by Mistah F.A.B. on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
62. "Apathy - JUNE 10th. "Handshakes With Snakes" on CD, vinyl,...". Facebook. 2016-03-11. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
63. Walker, Angus (2016-04-09). "Birdman Shares Release Date For "Ms. Gladys" & "Rich Gang 2"". Hotnewhiphop.com. Retrieved 2016-04-22.
64. "FC3 the Epilogue by Lil Bibby on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
65. "Rae Sremmurd Reveals ‘SremmLife 2’ Tracklisting, Release Date". Rap-Up. Retrieved 2016-04-15.
66. "The God Box by David Banner on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-01-15.
67. "De La Soul Delays Album, Releases "For Your Pain & Suffering" EP". Hotnewhiphop.com. 2016-04-29. Retrieved 2016-05-03.
68. "Tech N9ne Announces ‘The Storm’ Release Date". XXL Mag. 2016-04-16. Retrieved 2016-04-19.
69. Adelle Platon (2016-02-29). "Kanye West Heads to Studio With Mike Dean, Kid Cudi & Plain Pat". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
70. Dan Rys (2016-02-22). "T.I. Signs Distribution Deal With Roc Nation, Becomes Latest Co-Owner of Tidal". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
71. Keith Caulfield (2016-03-13). "Kendrick Lamar’s Surprise ‘Untitled’ Project Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
72. Keith Caulfield (2016-02-14). "Future Scores Third No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
73. Keith Caulfield (2016-02-07). "Rihanna's 'Anti' Rules at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-04-08.
74. Keith Caulfield (2016-04-10). "Kanye West's 'The Life of Pablo' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
75. Keith Caulfield (2016-03-06). "The 1975 Earns First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
76. Keith Caulfield (2016-02-28). "Adele's '25' Scores 10th Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
77. Keith Caulfield (2016-04-10). "Chris Stapleton Surges to No. 2 on Billboard 200, Lukas Graham, Weezer and Twenty88 Debut in Top 10". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-04-10.
78. Keith Caulfield (2016-05-01). "Beyonce Earns Sixth No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Lemonade'". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
79. "Reviews for untitled unmastered by Kendrick Lamar". Metacritic. 2015-03-16. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
80. "Reviews for Malibu by Anderson Paak". Metacritic. 2015-06-30. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
81. "Reviews for Islah by Kevin Gates". Metacritic. 2015-05-29. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
82. "Reviews for 3001: A Laced Odyssey by Flatbush Zombies". Metacritic. 2015-12-18. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
83. "Reviews for Hella Personal Film Festival by Open Mike Eagle". Metacritic. 2015-04-06. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
84. "Reviews for I'm Up by Young Thug". Metacritic. 2015-08-07. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
85. "Reviews for Slime Season 3 by Young Thug". Metacritic. 2015-03-23. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
86. "Reviews for The Life of Pablo by Kanye West". Metacritic. 2015-05-19. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
87. "Reviews for The Diary by J Dilla". Metacritic. 2015-07-17. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
88. "Reviews for Always Strive and Prosper by ASAP Ferg". Metacritic. 2015-10-30. Retrieved 2015-12-31.