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Upon being presented with this year’s Icon award at Billboard Women in Music 2025 by next-gen R&B star Summer Walker, Erykah Badu didn’t waste any time drilling down to the heart of the occasion.
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“Sisters, how y’all feel?” drawled the Dallas native as she scanned the YouTube Theater audience. Then to resounding applause, she declared, “This night is for us! It’s a night to celebrate the womb of the world, the womb of life, the womb reverse of all things. The smartest creature on planet Earth. The wisest, the most invincible, sexiest, purest, finest. The woman. I want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to be born a woman!”
The five-time Grammy Award winner had just delivered an exuberant performance of her funky 2007 non-album track “Annie Don’t Wear No Panties” to the delighted audience of fellow music stars, industry executives and music fans. And she did so in keeping with the inimitable and eclectic style that’s made her such an influential singer-songwriter, performer and musical visionary for multiple generations since breaking through in 1997 with her debut album, Baduizm.
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Badu wore a black-hooded capelet atop a tan-colored oversize pants outfit (think Teletubbies) featuring exaggerated breasts, feet and booty — the latter of which she shook to full effect at one point during the song, eliciting rowdy audience laughter. That was just one of several memorable moments during Badu’s award presentation segment.
Saluting Badu’s “fearless artistry,” Walker shared that her idol and mentor has been her “fave artist” since she was 12. And that it was also the multifaceted Badu, in her role as a doula, who delivered Walker’s twin sons.
During the remainder of her acceptance speech, Badu went on to thank all mothers. “I want to thank my mother and all the mothers,” she continued. “Miss Tina [Knowles], you said it well. I see Doechii’s mama out there, all the mothers. Thank you so much for giving us so much inspiration and examples of what it means to be resilient, what it means to take charge, what it means to be courageous, what it means to be authentically ourselves. And that’s all we gonna be. That’s all I want to be.”
Then she concluded with an anecdote involving her youngest daughter. “I don’t really have a lot of things to say,” said Badu, “but I want to end with this story. My daughter is out here. Her name is Puma … My sister Joy is out there. This is for both of y’all … I was bathing my youngest daughter Mars, and Mars was about four. I was washing her up. You know, you teach them while you’re washing them up. And I said, ‘This is the vagina.’ And she said, ‘Oh, vagina.’ I said, ‘Yes, it’s the vagina. It’s the most important thing on the planet.’ And Mars said, ‘Really?’ Then she looked at me with those big brown eyes and she said, ‘Where is the planet’s vagina?’”
After noting that she may have paused too long between the setup and the punchline, Badu repeated the final part of her anecdote. And on the second go-round, the Billboard Women in Music icon had the whole theater laughing.
Muni Long had an incredible 2024. The Florida singer’s fourth solo album, Revenge, not only ranked high on the Billboard staff’s Best R&B Albums of 2024 list, it was also nominated for four Grammys, with her single “Made for Me” winning for best R&B performance. And for her breakthrough efforts, Billboard presented her with the Rising Star award at Saturday night’s Billboard Women in Music event.
During her speech, she touched on her journey and the importance of Black women in popular culture. “I stand before you tonight in awe of the incredible journey that has brought me to this moment,” she began. “It is a testament to the power of perseverance, dedication and the unwavering belief in the artistry that courses through my veins. But as I stand here, I know this moment is not just about me. It’s about the shoulders. I stand on the culture that shaped me and the people who continue to push the boundaries of what is possible.”
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She added: “I want to acknowledge Black women … the bedrock of not only the music industry, but the very heart of the culture itself. Black women have always been the architects of innovation, resilience and power. From the soulful tones of Patti LaBelle and Aretha Franklin to the boldness of Beyoncé and Miss Lauryn Hill, we have seen our brilliance shape the world in ways that transcend music and art. To the artists before me, those who dared to dream, to break barriers, to challenge the status quo, the Tina Turners, the Sister Rosetta Tharpes, and Janet Jacksons, Mariah Careys and Whitney Houstons, their influence echoes through every note I sing.”
Muni then acknowledged the community of Gifford, Florida, where she grew up and fell in love with singing, as she thanked “the aunties with four rings on every finger and a mouth full of slugs. The unpaved, unincorporated Florida streets, the communities that birthed the soul of modern music, the hood which is the genesis of pop culture. A place where the creativity of the people screams back into the mainstream.”
She also blessed the Women in Music attendees with a soulful performance of her song “Superpowers.”
Video of Muni Long’s performance and speech will be live here at 7 p.m. ET on Monday night (March 31).
As her eldest daughter prepares for what’s sure to be one of the defining tours of the year, Tina Knowles graced the 2025 Billboard Women in Music stage to accept the inaugural Mother of the Year honor at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California, on Saturday (March 29).
After beginning her acceptance speech praising all the other awardees — like Woman of the Year honoree Doechii, who gushed over Cowboy Carter on the red carpet before the show — Knowles took some time to reflect on her evolution as a mother, stressing that “there is no formal training class to prepare you for the most important job you’ll ever have in your life.” For Knowles, motherhood is all about committing to being the best you can be for your children each day.
“I want to thank my daughters, Solange, Beyoncé, Kelly [Rowland], [niece] Angie [Beyincé], and also Michelle [Williams], LaTavia [Roberson] and LeToya [Luckett],” she said to close her speech, name-dropping her “bonus” children in addition to her two daughters. “I got to mother you all in some way, and you believed in me early on to dress you and give love [and] creative input. Thank you, Mathew Knowles, who always fought for me, and I thank God Almighty for the privilege to be a mother. I’ll always say it’s the best job I’ve ever had. I dedicate this award to my amazing mother, Agnes, and all the mothers out there who have supported their kids in their dreams. Thank you.”
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Presented by Billboard editor-in-chief Hannah Karp during the final weekend of Women’s History Month, this year’s Mother of the Year award honors the ultimate 21st-century music matriarch. Tina Knowles, the mother of Grammy-winning, Billboard 200-topping music and cultural forces Beyoncé and Solange has been a key player behind the scenes of both of her daughters’ careers. In the early days of Destiny’s Child — and throughout their tenure as a group — Tina Knowles designed and crafted costumes for the R&B divas, cementing their singular Houston-indebted style. Her costume design also appeared in a slew of Beyoncé-led films, including Dreamgirls, Obsessed, Cadillac Records and Austin Powers in Goldmember.
In 2004, she and Beyoncé teamed up to launch House of Deréon, a clothing line named after Knowles’ own mother, Agnes Deréon. Twenty years later, the iconic mother-daughter duo would once again join forces for Cécred, an award-winning haircare line that brings Tina Knowles back to where it all started: the hair salon. Of course, she is also the grandmother of Grammy winner Blue Ivy, who recently starred in Disney’s box-office-topping Mufasa movie; rising fashion model Julez Smith; and twin siblings Rumi and Sir Carter.
Tina Knowles’ full Mother of the Year acceptance speech will be available here at 7 p.m. ET on Monday night (March 31).
For the first time in what feels like a century, the temperature in NYC broke 80 degrees — time to break out Amerie’s “Why Don’t We Fall In Love”! Funnily enough, the Grammy-nominated singer is back this week with her first new song in seven years. But before we get into that track, let’s recount the past week in hip-hop and R&B — one filled with several controversy-streaked MCs making major moves.
The evening before Lyrical Lemonade announced that Young Thug would be headlining the third night of their forthcoming Summer Smash Festival (June 22) — marking his first live performance since his release from jail last fall — the NFL sent out a memo banning the “nose wipe” gesture in touchdown celebrations. Thugger, alongside rappers like Future, popularized the gesture and its accompanying slang, further cementing how central to the culture Young Thug continues to be. The “Digits” rapper has yet to comment on the ban, but maybe he’ll allude to it at Summer Smash.
Last Friday (March 28), Academy Award-winning actor and Grammy-winning rapper Will Smith dropped his first LP in 20 years, on which he addressed his marriage to Jada Pinkett Smith and, yes, the infamous Oscars slap. On the other end of the hip-hop spectrum, Lil Durk dropped a 17-track set as he remains behind bars awaiting trial for murder-for-hire charges related to the 2022 killing of Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson. As Chicago and Philly enjoyed marquee releases from hometown stars, ATL mourned yet another pillar of their iconic 2010s trap scene: According to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and details from Atlanta Police, Scooter died after sustaining injuries while attempting to flee police.
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With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Amerie’s comeback to YG’s silence-breaking triumph. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: YG feat. Buddy & The Gang, “2004”
“When I was young, I got raped by a b–ch twice my age/ Picked me up from school to meet at hers and got laid/ Ever since that day, I never looked at s–t the same/ F—-d up in the brain, p—y what I blame,” spits YG over a jazzy beat built by DJ Swish, Ya Boy N.O.I.S. & SmokeyBeatz. It may only be the tail-end of March, but you’ll likely be hard-pressed to find such a hard-hitting pair of couplets to open a rap song this year. Assisted by Compton rapper-singer Buddy, YG holds ample space for one of the most complicated and nuanced discussions when it comes to Black men, masculinity and hip-hop: the sexual abuse of young boys by older women.
Expertly weaving through the double consciousness that comes with existing as a survivor within a culture that, at times, celebrates the early sexual development of young boys as proof of their manhood, “2004” further cracks open a conversation that’s taken several turns recently — from the backlash Boosie Badazz got for promising to gift his underage son time with sex workers for his birthday to Phonte’s heartbreakingly revelatory verse on Black Milk’s 2023 LP. — KYLE DENIS
NAV feat. Playboi Carti, “Unlimited”
The Opium-XO bond strengthens. Carti pops up to power OMW2 Rexdale’s headlining track as he teams up with NAV for “Unlimited.” The Atlanta native mixes up his deep-voiced flows over the uplifting melody before passing the baton to NAV, who brags about making $10 million from VLONE and jokes he could “go deep-voice just like I’m Carti.” Carti fans might be familiar with the “Unlimited” beat as it was previously Offset’s track, but was missing from the Migos rapper’s last project and somehow ended up in NAV’s hands. The Weeknd pops up to deliver a grand finale, lending his croon to the cinematic outro. — MICHAEL SAPONARA
Coco Jones, “You”
Coco Jones is back with another single from her highly anticipated album Why Not More? “You” is a heartfelt celebration of love that feels like fate. She reflects on finding someone who restores her faith in love, describing the connection as effortless and healing. With poetic lyrics and soulful vocals, she compares their bond to rare and perfect pairings, like “a drink in the Sahara,” emphasizing how refreshing and necessary this love feels. More than just romance, “You” is about gratitude, trust and the joy of feeling truly seen. — CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON
Crimeapple, “Sabado Gigante”
The lead single off Crimeapple’s latest tape Jaguar on Palisade 3, “Sabodo Gigante” highlights why the Jersey rapper remains one of the game’s most underrated artists. Produced by Loman, the song has an infectious hook and features Crime spitting lines like, “Sous chef, I used to prep the onion,” which could make it into the next season of The Bear. Stop sleeping on Rap Game Don Francisco. — ANGEL DIAZ
Mahalia feat. Masicka, “Different Type of Love”
Between her recent collaborations with Lila Iké and Bayka, Mahalia is prepping what’s sure to be the year’s sultriest dancehall-R&B project — and her new single, “Different Type of Love,” is further proof that she has something excellent in store for the summer. Assisted by Jamaican dancehall star Masicka — who’s enjoying a massive hit of his own right now with “Whites” — Mahalia’s flirtatious tone floats across a beat that blends steady dancehall drums with a synth line that recalls the harp on Brandy and Monica’s “The Boy Is Mine.” With two verses from Masicka, “Different” feels more like a true collaboration than the scores of rent-a-rapper moments that inundate the mainstream scene; the two artists perfectly match each other fly and capture the energy of a frisky night out. — K.D.
Mynameisntjmack, “Lemon/Ginger”
It’s easy to get lost in the haziness of Mynameisntjmack’s music. The Virginia native returned with his Bookmark 2 project on Friday, which finds him recounting his turbulent journey from the East Coast to Los Angeles while looking to cash in on his music dreams. “Lemon/Ginger” finds him introspectively reflecting on his travels and the pressures of trying to make it from friends and family while stretching a dollar. There’s a certain discipline needed to never get too high from the wins but not too low from the losses along the way. Now on tour with Tommy Richman, it’s all starting to pay dividends for the L.A.-based rhymer. — M.S.
Ivory Scott & Tink, “Control it”
Ivory Scott has been shaping the sound of today’s music, writing for superstars like Beyoncé, Latto and Fabolous. Now, he’s stepping out on his own with his debut album, Mud. A standout track from the project is Ivory Scott and Tink’s “Control It,” a seductive anthem about confidence, power and fiery connection. The repeated line “control it” underscores the track’s theme of dominance and desire, with Scott and Tink asserting their authority in the relationship. Lyrics like “You a boss, you so cold, you a cough” reflect deep admiration and respect for their partner. The track blends sensuality with confidence, capturing an irresistible chemistry that’s impossible to ignore. — C.C.
Amerie, “Mine”
Where there’s springtime, you’ll find Amerie. The DMV crooner is back with her first new music since her 2018 double-single “4AM Mulholland”/”After 4AM,” and it’s a winner. Co-written with Troy Taylor, who also produced the track, “Mine” is a soaring ballad accented by her trademark upper register, twinkling harp-like strings, and subtle bassline peppered with syncopated finger-snaps. “The way your lips fill in tonight, the way they pressed against mine/ The way you pulled me closer, closer, under the moonlight/ This is how it could always be, you and me/ More than friends, we could be everything,” she delicately coos in the intro. — K.D.
Naomi Sharon, “Can We Do This Over”
Naomi Sharon returns with her first single of 2025 to kick off her anticipated follow-up era to Obisidian. Dealing with an emotionally unavailable partner is a tireless obstacle to climb — and the First Lady of OVO vulnerably opens up about her own experience, as her stirring vocals capture what can be a helpless feeling. Still, Sharon remains direct and steadfast in not playing these games and running in a circle, as her silky flow ventilates the warm acoustic production. Even though our hopes of a guest appearance on Drake and PND’s $$$4U didn’t materialize, her sophomore album’s arrival should be marked on every R&B fan’s calendar. — M.S.
Ari Lennox, “Soft Girl Era”
Ari Lennox is fully embracing her Soft Girl Era, and to celebrate her birthday, she dropped her new single, “Soft Girl Era.” The track serves as a celebration of luxury, self-care and embracing a carefree, feminine energy. Produced by hitmakers Jermaine Dupri and Bryan Michael Cox, The track embodies the idea of prioritizing your own comfort and well-being while indulging in the finer things in life. With playful confidence, Ari declares that she’s here for the “soft girl” lifestyle — pampered, relaxed, and loving every minute of it. Lyrics like “a million dollars in the mirror” and “Ain’t tryna do nothing but look pretty in here” capture the essence of self-worth, while the track’s carefree vibe encourages women to revel in their worth and enjoy the luxury of being unapologetically themselves. — C.C.
Xowié, “Nobody’s Fool”
Recently named Apple Music’s Up Next in South Africa artist for April, rising star Xowié has unleashed the lead single from her forthcoming EP ALLO (A Little Long Overdue). “Nobody’s Fool” finds Xowié using a neo-soul-steeped soundscape to pick up the pieces and build herself up after allowing a disappointing romance to “waster her time.” Frank and vulnerable, her restrained vocal performance is the perfect pairing for Sundae Beats’ lush, ethereal soundscape. — K.D.
Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “Luther” rules the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart for a sixth total and consecutive week. The single, whose title fêtes late R&B icon Luther Vandross, who is sampled on the track, became Lamar’s sixth No. 1 and SZA’s third. Lamar and SZA each extend their longest career Hot 100 reigns with the song.
Meanwhile, “Luther” ties Jack Harlow’s “Lovin on Me,” in 2023-24, for the longest Hot 100 command for a rap hit since 24kGoldn’s “Mood,” featuring iann dior, led for eight weeks in 2020-21. The only longer domination for a rap hit this decade: 11 weeks, for Roddy Ricch’s “The Box” in 2020. (Rap titles are defined as those that have hit or are eligible for Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart.)
Plus, Morgan Wallen’s “Just in Case” launches at No. 4 on the Hot 100, marking the country star’s 14th top 10 – and record fifth from an album prior to its release; his I’m the Problem is due May 16 – and Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” trots to No. 5, becoming her third top five hit.
Browse the full rundown of this week’s top 10 below.
The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data, the lattermost metric reflecting purchases of physical singles and digital tracks from full-service digital music retailers; digital singles sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites are excluded from chart calculations. All charts (dated April 5, 2025) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow, April 1. For all chart news, you can follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both X, formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram.
Luminate, the independent data provider to the Billboard charts, completes a thorough review of all data submissions used in compiling the weekly chart rankings. Luminate reviews and authenticates data. In partnership with Billboard, data deemed suspicious or unverifiable is removed, using established criteria, before final chart calculations are made and published.
‘Luther’ Airplay, Streams & Sales
Morgan Wallen’s “Just In Case” debuts in the top five of the Hot 100. Tetris Kelly: This is the Billboard Hot 100 top 10 for the week dated April 5. “APT” is back in the top 10 while “Not Like Us” slips to nine. “Beautiful Things” also returns to the top 10, as does “Nokia” […]
Julia Michaels hits the studio and chats with Muni Long ahead of Billboard Women in Music 2025 and introducing her as the recipient of the Rising Star Award presented by Honda Stage. Julia Michaels: I first discovered my love for music when I was a teenager, and then my mom got me a piano, then […]
This is partner content. Muni Long talks her process, her “bootcamp” come-up and the importance of “me” time. Learn more about her journey with Billboard andHonda. Watch Muni Long talk about how she first discovered her love for music, going viral during her early career and staying true to her instincts in a conversation with […]
Influential women in music graced the red carpet at Billboard’s 2025 Women in Music event, which took place on Saturday (March 29). See the best red carpet photos from the night here.Host Laverne Cox, music stars and industry leaders were pictured on the carpet ahead of the ceremony that honors accomplished women and their contributions to the music industry, their communities and beyond.
Artist nominees at this year’s prestigious event include Doechii, receiving the Woman of the Year Award, as well as aespa (Group of the Year), Ángela Aguilar (Breakthrough Award), Erykah Badu (Icon Award), GloRilla (Powerhouse Award), Gracie Abrams (Songwriter of the Year), JENNIE (Global Force Award), Megan Moroney (Rulebreaker Award presented by Crown Royal Whisky), Meghan Trainor (Hitmaker Award), Muni Long (Rising Star Award Presented by Honda Stage) and Tyla (Impact Award presented by Bose). Global Women of the Year are ANNA (Billboard Italy Woman of the Year) and Charlotte Cardin (Billboard Canada Woman of the Year).
Tina Knowles, mom to Beyoncé and Solange Knowles, is the first-ever Mother of the Year honoree at Billboard’s Women in Music, held at the YouTube Theater at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif.
The list of presenters features Becky G, Kali Chis, Madison Beer, Julia Michaels, Lauren Jauregui, Mickey Guyton, Suki Waterhouse, Summer Walker, Tanner Adell, Victoria Monét and Zara Larsson.
The red carpet was also expected to see appearances from Ari Lennox, Ashe, Ava Max, Bella Poarch, Heidi Montag, JoJo Siwa, Kandi Burruss, Keyshia Cole, Loren Gray, Madison Bailey, Queen Naija, Sophia Culpo, Tinashe, Victoria Justice and more.
See many of them pictured on the red carpet in this photo gallery of not-to-be-missed moments.
Meghan Trainor
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores
Meghan Trainor at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Kali Uchis
Image Credit: Christopher Polk
Kali Uchis at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Victoria Monét, Ari Lennox & Muni Long
Image Credit: Christopher Polk
Victoria Monét, Ari Lennox and Muni Long at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Julia Michaels
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores
Julia Michaels at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Zara Larsson
Image Credit: Christopher Polk
Zara Larsson at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Ravyn Lenae
Image Credit: Christopher Polk
Ravyn Lenae at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Tinashe
Image Credit: Christopher Polk
Tinashe at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Maeta
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Maeta at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Ledisi
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores
Ledisi at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Dalia Ganz
Image Credit: JC Olivera
Dalia Ganz at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Cindy Oliver
Image Credit: Jesse Grant
Cindy Oliver at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Sabrina Phillips, Pam Sturchio & Elena Quandt
Image Credit: Jesse Grant
Sabrina Phillips, Pam Sturchio and Elena Quandt at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Rania Aniftos
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores
Rania Aniftos at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Tanner Adell
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Tanner Adell at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Diane Warren
Image Credit: Christopher Polk
Diane Warren at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Laverne Cox
Image Credit: Christopher Polk
Laverne Cox at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Melody Thornton
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores
Melody Thornton at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Mary Conde & Judy Heyman
Image Credit: JC Olivera
Mary Conde and Judy Heyman at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Gina Harrell
Image Credit: JC Olivera
Gina Harrell at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Kiona Nikiy Reaves & Alexandra Lyzwa
Image Credit: JC Olivera
Kiona Nikiy Reaves and Alexandra Lyzwa at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Meg Donnelly
Image Credit: Christopher Polk
Meg Donnelly at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Queen Naija
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Queen Naija at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Mickey Guyton
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Mickey Guyton at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Megan Moroney
Image Credit: Christopher Polk
Megan Moroney at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Ari Lennox
Image Credit: Christopher Polk
Ari Lennox at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles,.
Muni Long
Image Credit: Christopher Polk
Muni Long at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Bella Poarch
Image Credit: Christopher Polk
Bella Poarch at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Madison Bailey
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores
Madison Bailey at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Melissa Ruderman
Image Credit: JC Olivera
Melissa Ruderman at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Lauren Jauregui
Image Credit: Michael Buckner
Lauren Jauregui at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Dana Droppo & Mike Van
Image Credit: Christopher Polk
Dana Droppo and Mike Van at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Kiana Lede
Image Credit: Christopher Polk
Kiana Lede at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Victoria Monét
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores
Victoria Monét at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Suki Waterhouse
Image Credit: Gilbert Flores
Suki Waterhouse at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Jenna Park Adler
Image Credit: JC Olivera
Jenna Park Adler at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater on March 29, 2025 in Los Angeles.
GIVĒON, whose latest single “Twenties” reached No. 6 on Hot R&B Songs, celebrated another momentous milestone last night (March 27): the five-year anniversary of his debut EP Take Time. Released on March 27, 2020, the eight-track project features the seven-time Grammy nominee’s two breakthrough singles, “Like I Want You” and “Heartbreak Anniversary.” Both are now RIAA-certified at 3x and 6x platinum, respectively,
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Celebrating with GIVĒON inside the Los Angeles club Living Room were members of his Epic Records team, headed by chairwoman/CEO Sylvia Rhone, president Ezekiel Lewis and general manager Rick Sackheim. Also spotted at the intimate gathering were Grammy-winning songwriter-producer Jimmy Jam, fellow R&B singer Amerie and actress/producer Lena Waithe.
Nominated for best R&B album at the 2021 Grammy Awards, Take Time was followed by GIVĒON’s top 10 R&B album When It’s All Said and Done in October 2020 and his guest turn on Justin Bieber’s 2021 multiplatinum smash “Peaches.” Now the singer-songwriter is at work on his sophomore set, which will include current hit “Twenties.” The Long Beach, Calif. native has also scored a second top 10 this year with his feature on Teddy Swims’ Hot R&B Songs No. 4 hit “Are You Even Real.”
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Sam Balban
A couple of days prior to his Take Time celebration, Billboard caught up with GIVĒON during a phone interview. Here are a few soundbites from that conversation.
Who he was as an artist five years ago: When I wrote the songs for Take Time, I was only 23-24. But I was also very confident in myself, especially for someone who hadn’t released a body of work on a major label. That’s because I knew this EP was my life’s work at the time. It took 24 years to make because it was all of my life experiences wrapped up into one unique project.
Who he is as an artist now: I feel a lot more aware when it comes to my process and what I need to do to grow at all times. I never want to become stagnant with my creative process I’ll also say I’m more polished, more professional; I just understand things more. And I’m a lot more decisive: I don’t really waste too much time when I’m creating. I just get right down to it, saying, “This is exactly what it is that I want to say.”
What he’s been doing between albums: I get that question a lot [laughs]. I always tell people that I’ve just been absorbing bodies of work that inspire me. Not just music but multiple mediums like paintings films, life itself. Because there’s a lot of inspiration that comes from life and all of my music is autobiographical. So I don’t have a choice but to experience life and then write it out while working on my craft.
Jimmy Jam and Amerie
Jerritt Clark/Getty Images
Tapping into the aching and yearning that music: I grew up in a house with all boys, so there wasn’t a lot of expressing emotions. So this [music] has always been an outlet to express my emotions. Sometimes the story I’m telling comes off more on the somber or melancholy side because it’s something I’m not comfortable in freely telling people. But I’m a lot more than just that emotion [laughs]. My biggest goal is always to just be believable and honest.
The inspiration behind “Twenties”: I love to just keep it vague so people can leave it up to their own interpretation and apply it to whatever it specifically means in their life. But I will say it’s just trying to capture that feeling of wasting time on something. It could be a person, it could be a place, it could be an idea or a career. For me, it was a specific person in a relationship. But, yeah, I was just trying to capture the emotion of feeling like you spent time on something or somewhere that you can’t get back.
Hints about his sophomore album: Just that I’m excited for people to hear it. With my first album, I was just making music and having fun. Now I’m still having. But I’m also like, “Oh, I have a responsibility with this music because I see how it touches and helps people.”
Giveon and Lena Waithe
Sam Balban