The 2026 XXL Awards have celebrated outstanding achievements in hip-hop. A distinguished board selected the year’s top artists. This year featured 15 categories. Winners were announced on February 19, 2026. The hip-hop music world gathered to honor its brightest stars. This news marks a significant event in the music awards calendar.
Clipse made a powerful comeback. The duo secured Artist of the Year. Their album ‘Let God Sort ‘Em Out’ won Album of the Year. Furthermore, their track “Chains & Whips” featuring Kendrick Lamar took Song of the Year. King Push also won Verse of the Year. He earned it for his verse on Clipse’s “So Be It”.
Kendrick Lamar was a major honoree. He claimed Male Rapper of the Year. Lamar also won Performer of the Year. His collaboration with SZA, “Luther,” earned Video of the Year. Notably, Lamar’s “Luther” also won Record of the Year at the Grammys. His feature on Clipse’s “Chains & Whips” also won a Grammy.
Doechii earned Female Rapper of the Year. Her track “Anxiety” won a Grammy for Best Music Video. This marked her second Grammy win.
Key figures in hip-hop music were recognized across various categories. Metro Boomin was named Producer of the Year. He also won Viral Song of the Year for “Take Me Thru Dere”. Tyler, the Creator received Artist of the Year. He also won Performer of the Year. However, other sources list Tyler, the Creator as Performer of the Year. The initial context incorrectly stated Tyler won Artist of the Year. J.I.D was awarded Lyricist of the Year.
Additional significant awards were presented. 50 Cent was honored as Social Media Master of the Year. The Joe Budden Podcast won Rapper-Hosted Podcast of the Year. Joe and Jada (Fat Joe and Jadakiss) also won this category according to some sources. Hip-Hop’s Humanitarian of the Year was awarded to Gunna. Gunna’s “wgft” featuring Burna Boy was nominated for Song of the Year. NBA YoungBoy was named The People’s Champ. This award was fan-voted.
The XXL Awards board comprises 353 music industry members. They vote on 14 of the 15 categories. The People’s Champ award is decided by fans. The awards highlight significant achievements in hip-hop music. They recognize artists, producers, and cultural impact. This year’s awards also introduced new categories. These included Verse of the Year and Viral Song of the Year.
It is important to note that the initial context contained some inaccuracies. For instance, it mentioned Clipse and Kendrick Lamar winning Grammys. While they did win Grammys, these were separate from the XXL Awards 2026 announcements. Kendrick Lamar also broke Jay-Z’s record for most Grammy wins by a hip-hop artist at the 2026 Grammys. Doechii also won a Grammy for Best Music Video for “Anxiety”. Tyler, the Creator won a Grammy for Best Album Cover for “Chromakopia”. These Grammy wins occurred on February 1, 2026. The XXL Awards were announced February 19, 2026. The news covers major events in hip hop news.
