This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in hip-hop for the year 2017.
Events
January On January 8, Drake's Summer Sixteen Tour was declared the highest grossing hip-hop concert tour in history with a gross of $84,300,000 from a total of 54 different shows. The previous record holder was Jay-Z and Kanye West's Watch the Throne Tour, which made a total of $75,000,000 from 63 live shows. On January 9, West Coast record producer and DJ Crazy Toones died at the age of 45 from a heart attack. On January 18, 21 Savage announced that he had signed a deal with Epic Records. The same day that Fat Joe announced that he had signed a management deal with Jay Z's Roc Nation company. On January 19, XXXTentacion's court date for his October 2016 arrest was pushed back to April 1.
February On February 7, Jim Jones announced that he signed a management deal with Jay Z's Roc Nation company, ending their long-standing feud. On February 10, Gucci Mane announced that Ralo was the first artist to sign to his latest imprint of 1017 Records. On February 13, Philadelphia rapper E-Dubble died from a blood infection. On February 16, Canadian rapper Nav announced that he had signed to The Weeknd's label XO Records. On February 20, Atlanta-based rapper J.I.D announced that he had signed to J. Cole's record label, Dreamville Records. On February 24, Nicki Minaj's lyrics on the songs "Make Love" and "Swalla" ignited a feud between herself and Remy Ma. The following day, Remy Ma released the song "ShETHER" in response. On February 28, Kodak Black was arrested for probation violation. The same day Vic Mensa was arrested in Beverly Hills and charged with carrying a concealed weapon. He was later released on a $35,000 bail.
March On March 3, Shady Records announced that it had signed a deal with Griselda Records for artists Westside Gunn and Conway. On March 5, Lud Foe was involved in a life-threatening car accident with an 18-wheeler that left him a broken jaw, two broken wrists, and several fractures and wounds. On March 7, PUMA announced that Big Sean had signed a deal to launch a line of clothing with the company under the title of "Creative Collaborator and Global Brand Ambassador". On March 15, Meek Mill was charged with misdemeanor assault after being involved in an altercation with two employees at St. Louis International Airport. He was later given a court summons. On March 20, Nicki Minaj surpassed Aretha Franklin for the most entries on the Billboard Hot 100 of any female artist with 76 different entries on the chart. On March 29, both XXXTentacion and Lil Twist were released from prison.
April On April 1, Big Sean was awarded the key to the city of Detroit for his work with his own charity, the Sean Anderson Foundation. He is the youngest person in history to receive the award. Other holders of the key to the city of Detroit include former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and Stevie Wonder. On April 4, Kanye West's The Life of Pablo became the first streaming-only album to be certified platinum by the Recording Industry of America (RIAA), with it being streamed over 3,000,000,000 times worldwide. On April 12, Birdman revealed on picture-sharing social network Instagram that he had accepted a plaque in honor of his record label Cash Money Records, selling 1,000,000,000 units.
June On June 13, XXL released their tenth annual Freshman Class, including A Boogie wit da Hoodie, PnB Rock, Playboi Carti, Ugly God, Kyle, Aminé, MadeinTYO, Kamaiyah, Kap G, and XXXTentacion. On June 15, 40 Glocc was shot twice while attending a funeral in San Bernardino, California. On June 20, Prodigy died in Las Vegas, Nevada, with no official cause of death known. Initially, it was presumed his death was from sickle-cell anemia; which he had suffered from his entire life. However, it was revealed in August that he died from accidental choking at a hospital in Las Vegas.
July On July 17, Forbes reported that hip-hop/R&B (which Nielsen SoundScan classifies as the same genre) had recently usurped rock as the most consumed musical genre, becoming the most popular genre in music for the first time in U.S. history.
September On September 3, Lil Wayne was hospitalized in Chicago for suffering multiple seizures. On September 11, "Da Real Gee Money" was shot and killed in Baton Rouge. On September 27, Young Dolph was ambushed during a gunfight in Hollywood. He was rushed to the hospital after gunshot wounds were discovered.
October On October 27, XXXTentacion announced on Instagram that he would be retiring from the music industry due to negativity and backlash. On October 30, Remy Ma signed a deal with Columbia Records.
November On November 5, Meek Mill was sentenced to 2–4 years of prison for violating probation on a 10-year drug and weapon case. On November 15, Lil Peep was pronounced dead due to an overdose, moments before he was supposed to perform at a show in Tucson. It was reported to be a mixture of Xanax laced with fentanyl. On November 27, Nipsey Hussle signed a multi-album deal with Atlantic Records.
December On December 3, Quelle Chris and Jean Grae got engaged.
Released albums January Day Artist(s) Album Record label(s) Entering chart position4Pink GuyPink SeasonPink RecordsDebuted at No. 76 on the US Billboard 2006JipstaBan2oozleBandoozle BeatzNo Limit BoysWe All We GotNo Limit Forever RecordsSubstantialThe Past Is Always Present in the FutureHipnott Records8StitchesCocaine HolidaySelf released 12 BonesDisgrace TeamSESH13Chief KeefTwo Zero One SevenGlory Boyz Entertainment, RBC RecordsPnB RockGTTM: Going Thru the MotionsAtlantic Records, Empire DistributionDebuted at No. 28 on the US Billboard 200Social Club MisfitsThe Misadventures of Fern & MartyCapitol CMGDebuted at No. 80 on the US Billboard 200TriState & Oh No3 Dimensional PrescriptionsHieroglyphics Imperium RecordingsWileyGodfatherSelf-releasedDebuted at No. 9 on the UK Official Albums ChartYukmouthJJ Based on a Vill StorySmoke-a-Lot Records, EMPIRE18Alex Wiley & Mike GaoVillage Party III: Stoner SymphonySelf-released20Cardi BGangsta Bitch Music, Vol. 2 KSR GroupDyme-A-DuzinGhetto OlympicsFocus Or Fold MusicFredo SantanaPlugged InRBC RecordsLoyle CarnerYesterday's GoneVirgin EMI RecordsProblemChachivilleDiamond Lane Music GroupProdigyHegelian Dialectic (The Book of Revelation)Infamous Records27Agallah & Duke WestLake3-Day TheoryThe Order LabelBoldy JamesThe Art of Rock ClimbingMass Appeal RecordsEric BiddinesThe Local CafeJuggernaut Sound Productions, Empire DistributionM-DotEgo and the EnemyOwn Lane MusicMatt MartiansThe Drum Chord TheoryThree QuarterMigosCultureQuality Control Music, 300 EntertainmentDebuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200MozzyFake FamousMozzy Records, Empire DistributionNew GenNew GenXL RecordingsDebuted at No. 98 on the UK Official Albums ChartP.O.SChill, DummyDoomtree RecordsBang BelushiHelp YourselfSelf-released Twiztid The Continuous Evilution of Life's ?'s Majik Ninja EntertainmentDebuted at No. 28 on the US Billboard 20028Bishop Nehru NehruviaNehruvia LLC29 Strictly Flowz30 Riff Raff & DJ Afterthought Aquaberry Aquarius Neon Nation Corporation, Empire Distribution31Denmark Vessey x Azarias x DRXQUINNXDoppelgangerEther Jung
February Day Artist(s) Album Record label(s) Entering chart position3 Big Sean I Decided. GOOD Music, Def Jam RecordingsDebuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 Iamsu! Boss Up Eyes on Me Lil Reese Better Days RBC Records Kirk Knight Black Noise Pro Era Records, Cinematic Music Group Paul Wall & C Stone Diamond Boyz Paul Wall Music Slim Thug Welcome 2 Houston Hogg Life Entertainment, SoSouth MusicSwifty McVayGrey BloodArsonal Vision Entertainment Syd Fin The Internet, Columbia Records, Sony MusicDebuted at No. 75 on the US Billboard 200 Wyclef Jean J'ouvert Heads Music, Entertainment One MusicDebuted at No. 117 on the US Billboard 200 Young Dolph Gelato Paper Route EmpireDebuted at No. 54 on the US Billboard 2007 Planet Asia Velour Portraits Sovanna Yun10 Ces Cru Catastrophic Event Specialists Strange MusicDebuted at No. 150 on the US Billboard 200 Clyde Carson S.T.S.A. 2 (Something to Speak About) Moe Doe Entertainment, Empire Distribution Devlin The Devil In Devlin MusicDebuted at No. 16 on the UK Official Albums Chart Fly Guy Entertainment No Surrender, No Retreat Fly Guy Entertainment Larry June Larry Two Warner Bros. Records Lupe Fiasco Drogas Light 1st & 15th EntertainmentDebuted at No. 28 on the US Billboard 200 Mr. Criminal Palm Trees and SunsetsCrime Family Entertainment Nines One Foot Out XL RecordingsDebuted at No. 4 on the UK Official Albums Chart Quelle Chris Being You Is Great, I Wish I Could Be You More OftenMello Music Group Siya Commitment R&B Money LLC Thundamentals Everyone We Know High Depth, Island Records Australia, Universal Music AustraliaDebuted at No. 2 on the ARIA Australian Top 50 Albums Two-9 FRVR Ear Drummers Entertainment, Interscope Records Westside Gunn Riots on Fashion Avenue Effiscienz, Modular12 Ralo Famerican Gangster II Famerica Records13 Lucky Luciano 2017 Reasons GT Digital14 Mickey Avalon Teardrops on My Tombstone R.E.A.L. Records Moneybagg Yo Heartless Be Great Music GroupDebuted at No. 181 on the US Billboard 200 Tef Poe Black Julian Footklan Music Group, Stretched Out Management16 Starlito Manifest Destiny Grind Hard Records17 Celly Cel Dirty Mind Realside Records Fat Joe & Remy Ma Plata O Plomo RNG, Empire DistributionDebuted at No. 44 on the US Billboard 200 Future Future A1 Recordings, Freebandz, Epic RecordsDebuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 Jidenna The Chief Epic Records, Sony MusicDebuted at No. 38 on the US Billboard 200 Jonwayne Rap Album Two Authors Recording Company, The Order Label Saga & Thelonious Martin Molotov Saga 718, Empire Distribution21 Paper Tiger In Other Words: Part Three Doomtree Records Roc Marciano Rosebudd's Revenge Marci Enterprises Wise Intelligent TheBlueKluxKlan Self-released 22 Berner & Blaze1 Packboys Blaze One RecordsBoldy James House of Blues Mass Appeal Records24FutureHndrxxA1 Recordings, Freebandz, Epic RecordsDebuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200Horrorshow Bardo State Elefant TraksDebuted at No. 4 on the ARIA Australian Top 50 AlbumsKarriem Riggins Headnod Suite Stones Throw RecordsMessy Marv Still Marked for Death: Vol. 1 (Recorded Live from Prison) Champland LLCMr. Capone-E Gangster Love Hi-Power EntertainmentNav Nav XO Records, Republic RecordsDebuted at No. 24 on the US Billboard 200Oddisee The Iceberg Mello Music GroupStormzy Gang Signs & Prayer Merky RecordsDebuted at No. 1 on the UK Official Albums ChartTaelor Gray In The Way of Me Self-releasedTaylor BennettRestoration of an American Idol Tay Bennett EntertainmentTHEY. Nü Religion: Hyena Mind of a Genius Records, Warner Bros. Records25 Theory Hazit I See What You Did There Wet Music28Code KunstMuggles' MansionHighgrnd Debuted at No. 26 on the Gaon Album Chart Onry Ozzborn C V P ii D Self-released
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