These are the defining hip-hop events that made history today.

1. Kendrixk Lamar Dropped “GNX” (November 22, 2024)

Kendrick Lamar’s career is so overwhelmingly stacked with greatness that you could genuinely argue GNX is only his fourth-best album.

With GNX, Kendrick intentionally crafted a West Coast-rooted experience filled with undeniable hits like “tv off,” “squabble up,” and “reincarnated,” songs that hit harder than lowriders on hydraulics and resonate deeply with the culture while still pushing the sound forward.

The album didn’t just connect — it conquered: 319K first-week sales, 2× platinum eligibility, 3.8B+ Spotify streams, multiple #1 singles, seven GRAMMY nominations, every track eligible for Gold or higher, and was the linchpin for the highest-grossing hip-hop tour in history. It became the highest-selling and most-streamed rap album of 2025 and even broke records with “luther,” the longest-running #1 rap song of the decade.

2. Ye Dropped “‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy'” (November 21, 2010)

I genuinely believe My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is the greatest hip-hop album ever constructed. Funny enough, it’s not even my favorite Kanye album — wild, I know.

The guest roster alone is legendary, with Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, and Kid Cudi all showing up and delivering verses that never feel out of place. But the real showstopper is the production. Every track feels like its own cinematic universe — massive, layered, orchestral, and meticulously sculpted. No two beats sound alike, yet they all fit together like pieces of a chaotic, beautiful puzzle. As for my personal standouts? “Runaway,” “Hell of a Life,” “All of the Lights,” and “Blame Game” still hit the hardest.

3. Nicki Minaj Dropped “Pink Friday” (November 21, 2010)

Do you know what made this day so iconic? Not only did Nicki Minaj drop her debut album — the one that officially launched her into household-name status — but she also appeared on what I just called the greatest rap album ever made, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.

Pink Friday proved that Nicki’s star power wasn’t hype; it was undeniable. The album moved a massive 375K units in its first week, setting a 21st-century sales record for female rap, went on to become 6x platinum, and has racked up over 2.7 billion Spotify streams to date. As for the standouts? “Moment 4 Life,” “Did It On Em,” and “Your Love” still hit like the day they dropped.

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.