The Best Music Of 2026 So Far

Welcome to Listening Habits, a column where I share the music and musical topics I’ve been fixated on recently.

We are just over the halfway point of the year, and after a robust first quarter, the first half of 2026 has turned out to be a fascinating year of music, even when it isn’t always successful. Some of our biggest artists have released their most curious music yet, sometimes in good ways even! A collection of burgeoning stars have made great strides toward realizing their potential. If there is one takeaway of this year so far, it’s that there is no grand takeaway. No one can decide if music should be bubblier or uglier, hopeful or cynical. The algorithms shape what we hear, while at the same time artists are rebelling against the machine’s influence. There is, however, so much yearning. Rap is in an interesting place, and so is every genre in what’s left of the husk of the entire music industry. Fellas, I’m no longer scared to say it: music is good.

The Best Rap Album Of The Year (So Far)