2020 in hip-hop

January

• On January 1, Saint Paul, Minnesota, rapper Lexii Alijai died of an accidental drug overdose.^[1]
• On January 2, DaBaby was detained by Miami police for robbery investigations.^[2]
• On January 6, G Herbo pled guilty to battery.^[3] On the same day, Florida rapper 9lokkNine was arrested for carrying a concealed firearm and potentially faces up to five years in prison.^[4]
• On January 9, New Orleans bounce rapper 5thward Weebie died of a heart attack.^[5]
• On January 17, Eminem released his eleventh studio album, Music to Be Murdered By, with no prior announcement and he became the first artist ever to have 10 consecutive albums debuting at number one on the Billboard 200. On the same day, New York rapper Pop Smoke was released from jail on a bond of $250,000 after having been arrested with a stolen Rolls-Royce vehicle worth $375,000. He was prohibited to leave the United States without the government's permission.^[6]
• On January 26, Tyler, the Creator won a Grammy for Best Rap Album with Igor, and 21 Savage won a Grammy for Best Rap Song with "A Lot" featuring J. Cole.^[7] Nipsey Hussle posthumously won two Grammys for Best Rap/Sung Performance with "Higher" with DJ Khaled and John Legend, and Best Rap Performance for "Racks in the Middle" with Roddy Ricch and Hit-Boy.

February

• On February 19, Pop Smoke was murdered in a home invasion robbery in Hollywood Hills California.^[8][9]
• On February 21, it was announced that Paul Rosenberg would be stepping down as CEO of Def Jam.^{[citation needed]}

March

• On March 8, a person was shot at a Lil Baby concert in Birmingham.^[10]
• On March 30, Kodak Black was sentenced to 12 months in prison.^[11]

April

• On April 2, 6ix9ine was released from prison because of his health condition due to COVID-19 concerns. He was on house arrest for the remainder of his sentence which ended in August the same year. On the same day, YNW Melly told fans he was diagnosed with COVID-19 in a Florida jail.^{[citation needed]}
• On April 3, Playboi Carti was arrested on gun and drug charges in Georgia. Police found guns, 12 bags of marijuana, Xanax, codeine and oxycodone.^[12]
• On April 6, Mac P Dawg, a frequent collaborator of Shoreline Mafia, was shot and killed.^{[citation needed]}
• On April 8, rapper and model Chynna died of an apparent drug overdose.
• On April 16, French Montana and Jim Jones squashed their beef after 15 years.^{[citation needed]}
• On April 21, Lil Wayne launched Young Money Radio on Apple Music.^[13]
• On April 23, Fred the Godson died of COVID-19 complications.^[14]
• On April 28, Orlando, Florida, rapper LPB Poody and three other people were shot during a visual.^{[citation needed]}

May

• On May 7, rapper Richie Jerk was shot and killed in Chicago while driving with a friend.^[15]

June

• On June 19, Chicago rapper Tray Savage was shot and killed.^[16] On the same day, Hurricane Chris was arrested for murder in Louisiana.^[17]
• On June 25, rapper Huey was shot and killed in St Louis, Missouri.
• On June 30, rapper Stepa J. Groggs of Injury Reserve died.^[18]

July

• On July 4, Kanye West announced his 2020 presidential campaign.
• On July 12, rapper Marlo was shot and killed.^[19]
• On July 13, Tory Lanez was arrested for gun possession. He is also accused of shooting Megan Thee Stallion in the foot.^[20]
• On July 29, American rapper and singer Malik B. died. He was a founding member of hip hop group The Roots.^[21] On the same day, British rapper Wiley was permanently suspended from Twitter over antisemitic comments. He was banned from Facebook and Instagram just days prior.^[22]

August

• On August 4, Chicago rapper FBG Duck was shot and killed at a shopping area in Chicago's Gold Coast.^[23]
• On August 5, Juelz Santana was released from prison.^{[citation needed]}
• On August 6, rapper YBN Nahmir announced via Twitter that the YBN collective has officially disbanded.^{[citation needed]}
• On August 9, Rick Ross squashed his beef with 50 Cent.^{[citation needed]}
• On August 11, the XXL 2020 Freshman Class was revealed, in which rappers Polo G, Lil Tjay, Jack Harlow, Baby Keem, Lil Keed, Calboy, Fivio Foreign, Latto, NLE Choppa, 24kGoldn, Rod Wave, and Chika.
• On August 29, Silentó was arrested for domestic violence in Santa Ana, California.^[24]

September

• On September 8, Juicy J and DJ Paul sued Suicideboys for $6.4 million.^{[citation needed]}
• On September 15, Cardi B filed for divorced from Offset.^[25]
• On September 30, Nicki Minaj gave birth to a son with her husband Kenneth Petty.^[26]

October

• On October 1, 6ix9ine was hospitalized due to overdosing on caffeine and weight loss pills.^{[citation needed]}
• On October 8, Tory Lanez was arrested for the felony assault with a weapon in the shooting of Megan Thee Stallion.
• On October 12, Blac Youngsta was arrested for possession of a firearm. On the same day, Fivio Foreign was arrested for assault.^{[citation needed]}
• On October 13, Saint Dog was pronounced dead after being found unresponsive.^[27]
• On October 14, Lil Xan was sued for pulling a gun on a man during a 2Pac argument.^[28]
• On October 23, Young Buck was arrested for domestic assault.^{[citation needed]}
• On October 31, MF Doom died. His death wasn't publicly announced until December 31.

November

• On November 4, Drakeo the Ruler was released from prison.^[29]
• On November 6, King Von was shot and killed in Atlanta, Georgia.^[30]
• On November 11, MO3 was shot and killed in Dallas, Texas.^[31]
• On November 15, Benny the Butcher was shot in Houston outside of a Walmart.^[32]
• On November 17, Lil Wayne was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm.^{[citation needed]}
• On November 19, Gucci Mane and Jeezy squashed their beef after 15 years during a Verzuz battle.^{[citation needed]}
• On November 28, Lil Yase was shot and killed in Alameda County, California.^[33]

December

• On December 1, Casanova was charged by the FBI for racketeering murder, narcotics, firearms, and fraud offenses. Later on, he turned himself into the authorities.^[34]
• On December 2, G Herbo was allegedly charged in fraud scheme for using fake identification.^{[citation needed]}
• On December 4, Young M.A was arrested for reckless driving.^{[citation needed]}
• On December 8, A Boogie wit da Hoodie was arrested for drug and gun possession.^[35]
• On December 9, Zoey Dollaz was shot multiple times in Miami, Florida.^[36]
• On December 11, Lil Wayne pled guilty to a firearm charge.^{[citation needed]}
• On December 15, Rowdy Rebel was released from prison.^{[citation needed]}
• On December 23, Ecstasy of the group Whodini died.^{[citation needed]}
• On December 31, MF Doom's death was made public. He died on October 31.^{[citation needed]}

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November