Cardi B and Kehlani Take Home Best Hip-Hop at the 2026 MTV VMAs
Cardi B and Kehlani took one of the biggest hip-hop prizes at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards after their collaboration “Safe” won Best Hip-Hop. The victory came during a star-studded ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, where some of the biggest names in music gathered to celebrate the year’s standout releases. Cardi B and Kehlani faced strong competition from Don Toliver, Drake, Megan Thee Stallion, Travis Scott and Tyler, The Creator. The category featured several major records, making the final result one of the key moments for hip-hop fans watching the ceremony. With “Safe” taking the award, Cardi B and Kehlani added another major achievement to their respective careers.
The Best Hip-Hop category featured an impressive lineup of artists and songs. Don Toliver entered the race with “E85,” while Drake was nominated for “Janice STFU.” Megan Thee Stallion competed with “LOVER GIRL,” Travis Scott received a nomination for “DUMBO” and Tyler, The Creator was recognized for “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE.” Each nomination represented a major name in contemporary hip-hop, giving the category plenty of attention before the winner was announced. Cardi B and Kehlani ultimately came out on top with “Safe,” putting their collaboration at the center of the night’s hip-hop story.
For Cardi B, the Best Hip-Hop win adds another important moment to her MTV Video Music Awards history. The rapper has previously received major recognition at the ceremony, including a Best Hip-Hop victory for “Money” in 2019. Her latest win shows the continued presence of her music at one of the industry’s most prominent annual awards shows. This time, she shared the honor with Kehlani, making the victory a major achievement for both artists. The collaboration also gave fans a chance to see two established performers recognized together in one of the VMAs’ genre categories.
Kehlani also had a significant presence at the 2026 VMAs beyond “Safe.” The singer received recognition in the Best R&B category for “Folded,” putting her name in contention across two different genre categories. Her involvement in both categories highlighted the range of her work during the awards cycle. Winning Best Hip-Hop alongside Cardi B gave her another major VMA moment and placed “Safe” among the night’s recognized collaborations. For fans of both artists, the award represented a notable meeting point between Cardi B’s rap background and Kehlani’s R&B-driven sound.
While Cardi B and Kehlani provided one of the night’s major hip-hop highlights, the broader ceremony featured several historic moments. Madonna dominated the awards with seven victories, giving her the highest number of wins during the ceremony. Her achievements also added to an already extensive MTV VMA legacy, with her career total reaching 26 awards. Madonna also opened the show for the fifth time in her career, adding another record to her long history with the event. Her performance and awards haul made her one of the central figures of the 2026 ceremony.
Taylor Swift also had a major night at the VMAs. She won Video of the Year and Best Direction while also receiving the MTV VMA Artist Director Honors. Her Video of the Year victory marked her sixth win in the category, further extending her record at the awards show. Swift also used the ceremony to debut her new self-directed video for “Patient Zero,” which featured Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell. The combination of her awards and new video made her another major focus of the evening.
The 2026 VMAs also recognized artists from a wide range of musical genres. BTS won Song of the Year and Best K-Pop for “SWIM,” while LISA won Best Pop for “Dream” featuring Kentaro Sakaguchi. Olivia Rodrigo took home Best Alternative for “the cure,” while Bruno Mars won Best R&B for “I Just Might.” Ella Langley received Best Country for “Choosin’ Texas,” and Sienna Spiro won Best New Artist. The ceremony also honored Nirvana with the Video Vanguard Award, giving the legendary band another prominent place in MTV history.
Snoop Dogg hosted the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, which aired live from Los Angeles on September 27. The ceremony brought together established performers, major contemporary stars and newer artists for one of the biggest events on the annual music calendar. The VMAs continued their tradition of combining competitive awards with major performances, premieres and career celebrations. For hip-hop audiences, the Best Hip-Hop category remained one of the most closely watched parts of the night. Cardi B and Kehlani ultimately gave those viewers a major result to celebrate with their victory for “Safe.”
Cardi B and Kehlani’s Best Hip-Hop win stands out as one of the defining moments for rap and R&B at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards. “Safe” overcame a competitive field that included Don Toliver’s “E85,” Drake’s “Janice STFU,” Megan Thee Stallion’s “LOVER GIRL,” Travis Scott’s “DUMBO” and Tyler, The Creator’s “SUGAR ON MY TONGUE.” The victory added another VMA achievement to Cardi B’s career while giving Kehlani recognition in a major hip-hop category. Meanwhile, Madonna and Taylor Swift created some of the ceremony’s biggest historical moments with their respective achievements. The 2026 VMAs ultimately delivered a night of major wins across genres, with Cardi B and Kehlani’s “Safe” securing a prominent place in the show’s hip-hop history.
