This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in hip hop music for the year 2021.
Events
January
On January 1, Swae Lee and Mike Will Made It were involved in a severe car accident. They both survived. On January 5, Dr. Dre was admitted to the hospital after suffering a brain aneurysm. He later recovered. On January 7, DaBaby was arrested for gun possession in Beverly Hills, California. On January 12, YFN Lucci was on the run for murder in Atlanta, Georgia. He later turned himself in to the authorities. Then he was later released on $500,000 bond. On January 13, Chicago rapper Rico Recklezz was sentenced to prison for three years. On January 15, Denzel Curry and Smino found out that they were related due to an shared uncle. On January 19, Lil Wayne and Kodak Black were both pardoned by President Donald Trump on his last full day in office. On January 20, 9lokkNine was arrested for multiple counts of attempted second-degree murder. On January 26, Georgia-based rapper 6 Dogs died from an apparent suicide. On January 30, Double K of People Under the Stairs died from unspecified causes.
February
On February 1, Silentó was arrested for the murder of his cousin in DeKalb County, Georgia. On February 2, Chief Keef was hospitalized. On February 12, Nicki Minaj's father Robert Maraj was killed by a hit-and-run driver. On February 13, Yella Beezy was arrested for a gun charge in Dallas, Texas. On February 18, Prince Markie Dee of The Fat Boys died. On February 21, a shooting occurred at Roddy Ricch and 42 Dugg's music video shoot, which left three people injured in Atlanta, Georgia. OMB Peezy was later charged in connection with the shooting with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. On February 22, Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from Kanye West. She cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for their divorce. On February 23, Bobby Shmurda was released after serving almost 7 years in prison.
March
On March 4, Square bought Jay-Z's streaming service Tidal. On March 6/7, Florida-based rapper and Kodak Black associate, Jackboy, was arrested for illegal gun possession. On March 13, Megan Thee Stallion won the Best New Artist award at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards. She also won Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song with her song, "Savage (Remix)", featuring Beyoncé on the remix. Anderson .Paak won Best Melodic Rap Performance for "Lockdown" and Nas won his first Grammy with King's Disease. On March 15, Rich the Kid was arrested for gun possession at LAX. On March 18, Famous Dex was arrested in Los Angeles, California, for carrying a concealed firearm. On March 19, Saweetie announced on Twitter she broke with up fellow rapper Quavo and accused him of cheating on her. On March 22, YoungBoy Never Broke Again was arrested from fleeing the police in Los Angeles, California. On March 29, NLE Choppa was arrested for burglary, weapon charges, and drug charges in Davie, Florida. That same day, Lil Nas X gets sued by Nike, Inc. for controversy over the Satan Shoes, tied to release of his single, "Montero (Call Me by Your Name)" and the song's music video (which features similar imagery as the shoes and also caused controversy). On March 30, Young Dolph stated he was retiring from music.
April
On April 2, DMX suffered a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. On April 5, Kodak Black and his security and entourage were shot at in Tallahassee, Florida, after an altercation with record producer Southside. On April 9, DMX's family confirmed his death exactly a week after he was rushed to the hospital. It was revealed on July 8 by the Westchester County Medical Examiner's Office that his official cause of death was a cocaine-induced heart attack. On April 14, Rich the Kid signed a multi-million dollar deal with Rostrum Records. On April 17, Black Rob, a former Bad Boy recording artist, died from kidney failure. On April 22, Shock G of Digital Underground died at 57. On April 23, Lil Mosey was charged with second-degree rape. The same day, Kehlani came out as lesbian. On April 24/25, DMX's celebration of life and funeral took place at Barclays Center, featuring tributes, testimonies, memorials and a performance from Kanye West's Sunday Service Choir. On April 28, Kodak Black pled guilty in South Carolina to assault and received 18 months of probation. On April 30, Jack Harlow was involved in a shootout in Louisville, Kentucky. He fled the scene without any injuries.