Last year, we published our inaugural Hip-Hop Media Power Ranking. Joe Budden took the top spot. Fierce commentary ensued, from those both on and off the list. Life moved on. The hip-hop media ecosystem continued its relentless churn.
But then: In late March, the sudden release of an incendiary Kendrick Lamar verse on a song from Future and Metro Boomin called “Like That” brought a simmering megastar beef to full boil. Many back-and-forths followed, and the Kendrick Lamar-Drake war took our timelines hostage. It hasn’t let go since, and the ongoing beef stimulus has provided endless fodder for hip-hop media; those who leaned in hardest benefited greatly, while some who stayed out of the fray lost ground.
The 2024 Hip-Hop Media Power Ranking reflects the shifts that have resulted as the smoke from the battle has cleared. There are seven newcomers who weren’t ranked at all last year, plus a new name at the No. 1 spot.
As with the previous list, the ranking below reflects the current moment, not the entirety of one’s career. We ranked each media personality based on their impact in the space since the release of our inaugural list in 2023. Complex employees and hosts were not eligible for inclusion. Let the debates commence.
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