Hip-hop’s biggest names and sharpest up-and-comers make regular stops across Upstate New York, from arena shows at KeyBank Center in Buffalo to club nights at Empire Live in Albany and stages throughout Syracuse, Rochester, and the Capital Region. Rap headliners, R&B crossover bills, and homegrown talent all share the calendar.
This page collects every hip-hop and rap concert we’re tracking across the region, with the next show always at the top. Marquee tours, festival appearances, and local showcases land here as soon as they’re confirmed.
From the arenas of Western NY to the clubs of the Capital Region, we cover the whole state. On-sales for the big rap tours move fast — we keep this guide current as new dates drop and include presale and ticket links so you can secure your spot before it sells out.
More guides: Rock Concerts in Upstate New York · Country Concerts in Upstate New York · Comedy Shows in Upstate New York
By region: Hip-Hop Concerts in Albany & the Capital Region · Hip-Hop Concerts in Buffalo & Western NY · Hip-Hop Concerts in Syracuse & Central NY
Afropunk BLKTOPIA
Two days of music, art, and radical self-expression in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. AFROPUNK BLKTOPIA celebrates the Afro-diasporic creative community with a lineup and energy found nowhere else.
Governors Ball
Lorde, A$AP Rocky, and Stray Kids headline three days of multi-genre music in Queens. Governors Ball is NYC’s signature summer festival at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.
Roots Picnic
Jay-Z, Erykah Badu, and De La Soul headline two days of hip-hop, R&B, and soul at Belmont Plateau. The Roots Picnic is Philadelphia’s signature summer music event — curated by The Roots themselves.
Osheaga
Twenty One Pilots, Lorde, and Tate McRae headline three days of music on the St. Lawrence at Parc Jean-Drapeau. Osheaga is Montreal’s defining indie rock festival and a bucket-list trip from Upstate NY.
Ghostface Killah at Bardavon | May 8, 2026
On May 8, 2026, Ghostface Killah takes the stage at Bardavon. On May 8, he brings that legendary presence to the Bardavon Opera House in Poughkeepsie, and the Hudson Valley hip-hop community is about to have a night they will not forget. You won’t want to miss this.
Fetty Wap at Palace Theatre | April 16, 2026
His debut single became a massive hit, climbing to the top of the charts and establishing him as a major force in popular music seemingly overnight. See them at Palace Theatre on April 16, 2026. Mark your calendar.
G Herbo at Water Street Music Hall | March 28, 2026
G Herbo at Water Street Music Hall in Rochester on a Saturday night.
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie at JMA Wireless Dome | March 29, 2026
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie rolls into JMA Wireless Dome on March 29, 2026. About A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie is a Bronx-born rapper and singer who blends melodic rap with R&B influences into some of the catchiest hooks in all of modern hip-hop. Don’t miss it.
A Tribe Called Quest at SUNY Albany — April 27, 1997
JAY-Z at Pepsi Arena — March 23, 1999
On this day in 1999, JAY-Z brought the Hard Knock Life Tour to the Pepsi Arena in Albany — with DMX, Method Man & Redman, and DJ Clue on the…