hip-hop/R&B
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Drake’s For All the Dogs album — and his subsequent back-and-forth with Joe Budden — took up a lot of airtime this weekend, but the rest of the music world was just as active. As usual, New Music Friday (Oct. 6) unleashed a fresh batch of new R&B and hip-hop tracks to sort through as we count down to the BET Hip-Hop Awards on Tuesday (Oct. 10).
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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 Fivio Foreign’s fiery new drill anthem to Megan Thee Stallion’s swing at hip-hop musical theatre. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: Fivio Foreign, “Why Would I?”
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For his first unaccompanied release in several months, Fivio delivers a biting piece of authentic New York drill. With pop-drill — a subgenre that Fivio helped pioneer — topping Top 40 radio and soundtracking the Barbie movie, the skittering snares and staccato flows of New York drill have reached the apex of pop culture. With “Why Would I,” Fivio goes back to basics, as he flexes his real-life successes and achievements in the face of Internet haters, over a menacing drill beat crafted by LS Da Producer and FritzThaProducer.
Megan Thee Stallion, “Out Alpha the Alpha”
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After making a return to the rap scene alongside Cardi B with “Bongos,” Megan Thee Stallion commemorates her foray into film acting with a new song for D—ks: The Musical, a musical comedy based on Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson’s off-Broadway musical of the same name. More Hamilton than Traumazine, “Out Alpha the Alpha” finds the Hot Girl Coach delivering familiar rhymes serenading women’s independence and power — but this time she adds an extra dose of comedy in her delivery to play on the arrangement’s jaunty piano and horns.
Connie Diiamond & Jenn Carter, “Ghetto & Ratchet (Remix)”
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As two of the buzziest names coming out of the New York rap scene, it’s no surprise that Connie and Jenn have found their way on a track together. On the remix to Connie’s fast-rising “Ghetto & Ratchet,” Jenn delivers a characteristically rambunctious verse full of bars flexing both his street cred and his status as one of his city’s hottest rappers. His high-octane delivery offers a smart complement to the smoothness of Connie’s tone.
Digga D, “TLC”
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On this tender G-funk-inflected track — which incorporates a well-known guitar lick from Soul Mann & The Brothers’ “Bumpy’s Lament,” by way of Dr. Dre’s “Xxplosive” — British rapper Digga D offers an introspective number in which he waxes poetic about needing something a bit more real and human in the face of his fast-moving career. “I know it’s insane / I’m grateful, but I’m kinda tired of fame / I need some TLC, I’m drained,” he spits.
Majid Jordan, “Hands Tied”
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For the latest taste of their forthcoming Good People album, Majid Jordan delivers a vibe in the spirit of Sade. Steady percussion and twinkling keys soundtrack a love story concerned with two loves, for whom risk is the reward itself. “Suspicious, suspicious, dismissive, dismissive, dismiss us, dismiss us/ Love is the answer, love is the message, you know it,” they croon. On this smooth, quiet storm-evoking track, the duo makes the smart choice to prioritize singing straight, instead of over-embellishing the song with runaway riffs.
Mannywellz, “Serious”
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On “Serious,” ManNywellz continues his soulful blend of Afrobeats and R&B. Here, Manny extends the spirit of “no weapon formed against me shall prosper” for a war-ready anthem of resilience steeped in faith. He waltzes across the peppy, percussive beat with swagger and confidence, sourced from his knowledge of God’s protection over his life. “I identify as God’s n—a / No weapon can dance with us / Can’t compete, I got stamina,” he proclaims.
Even in the midst of the announcement of Beyoncé’s imminent Renaissance World Tour documentary concert film, there was still an onslaught of new music unleashed upon the world over the weekend. From marquee mainstream rappers to British crossovers, there’s a whole lot of material to sort through.
With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most exciting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — including Cleo Sol’s gospel-informed affirmations and Paul Wall’s sleek synthesis of Southern and East Coast hip-hop.
Make sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
Freshest Find: Cleo Sol, “There Will Be No Crying”
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On this gospel-steeped opener to Gold — her second new album in as many weeks — British singer-songwriter Cleo Sol blends gospel, soul, jazz and ambient music for a transformative rumination on the vitality of emotional resilience. Obviously a nod to Revelations 21:1-4, the song’s lyrics are a practice in affirmation, a paean for freedom and release in a world desperately in need of it. “There will be no fighting/ In a river full of dreams/ Make it better, one thing that I need, is to be free/ Life’s a battle that don’t scare me,” she coos in one of the song’s verses. The Inflo-produced track — which completely eschews typical song structures — delicately balances plaintive piano, bass, guitar, and drums for a serene yet intentional reclamation of inner strength.
Paul Wall & Termanology feat. Bun B & Deandre Nico, “No Apologies”
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Southern hip-hop icon Paul Wall is currently readying his forthcoming collaborative album with Billboard-charting rapper and producer Termanology — due Oct. 13 — and this latest taste from the record promises a set that celebrates Southern hip-hop traditions while pushing the scene in a few new directions. “No Apologies,” which features Grammy-nominee Bun B and Texan musician Deandre Nico, finds Paul and Termanology blending elements of drum-heavy East Coast-nodding production with the slower, more languid vibe of Hoston rap production. The result is a lush ode to the power of ambition, set against of backdrop of Static Selektah’s soulful keys and DeAndre Nico’s commanding chorus.
No Guidnce, “Spicy”
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Something of an all-male counterpart to FLO — the British girl group who broke through in 2022 and currently prepping their debut studio album — No Guidnce is seeking to solidify themselves in a similar manner with their new Spicy EP. Three of the tracks on the EP have already been out for months, but their new single — the groovy, bed squeak-touting “Spicy” — is their strongest attempt at a proper radio single. On the new song, the quartet not only showcases their impressive blend, but they also sell a level of camraderie that’s necessary to sell the idea of a boy band. Moreover, the song’s production keeps them in line with most of the contemporary pop&B landscape without threatening to be a sound that casts an insurmountable shadow of their future releases.
Kenyon Dixon feat. RL, “2000s R&B”
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Grammy nominee Kenyon Dixon released his new The R&B You Love album last Friday (Sept. 29), and the record is a nuanced, heartfelt tribute to an era of R&B that prioritized soul music above all else. Tucked away in the back half of the album is a duet with RL of Next titled “2000s R&B,” a prime encapsulation of all the histrionic no-holds-barred journey through the throes of a romance rollercoaster. “Since you left, ain’t been the same/ Got me singin’ 2000s R&B, all in this f–kin’ rain like/ I wish I never met her, no/ D–n, I wish I never met her,” he croons in the chorus.
Sha EK, “Last One Left”
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This standalone EMRLD & Wizical Beats-produced track finds Bronx rapper Sha EK turning down the bombast and opting for a more introspective vibe. Over an instrumental that’s closer to G-Unit’s luxurious street anthems than his usual dynamic take on New York drill, the “New Opps” rapper reflects on his rise to prominence and pledges to put longevity before cheap thrills. “I be going through s—t, but I’m never gonna fold/ N—a, my momma happy cause she see me growin’ ol,” he spits.
Sexyy Red, “No Panties”
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After making the round-up last week, Sexyy Red returns with a fiery new track for the forthcoming second season of Issa Rae’s acclaimed Max series Rap Sh!t. “I ain’t got no panties on, gotta let this coochie breathe/ Bend that shit over, touch them toes, grab your knees,” the “SkeeYee” rapper spits over YA & Snacks-produced banger that leans more Southern rap than her Midwestern comfort zone. From a booming bassline to steady handclaps, Sexyy delivers a bevy of memorable NSFW one-liners throughout this ode to going commando.
Philly Goats, PGS Spence & Armani White, “Buckle Up (Remix)”
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Before its official release to streaming services, Philly Goats’ “Buckle Up” garnered over one million posts on TikTok. Now, the runaway Jersey club snippet hit has grown into a full-fledged smash, complete with a new remix featuring “Billie Eilish” rapper Armani White. Sometimes, songs that gain their popularity through TikTok snippets can become beholden to those thirty seconds — but luckily, this new remix allows “Buckle Up” to feel like a solid standalone song, instead of a track that you’d only encounter while watching TikToks explicitly participating in the accompanying dance trend. “Man, now cuz all on his lawn and I can’t say I’m not in the car / It’s fully, damn / Now I’m in a jawn with a jar and my jawn don’t know I be drawin’ / You feel me? Damn,” Armani raps over the danceable beat.
SZA achieves her fourth No. 1 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Airplay chart as “Snooze” ascends from the runner-up rank to lead the list dated July 15. Despite a 1% decline in plays for the last tracking week (June 30 – July 6), the single became the week’s most played song on U.S. monitored rhythmic radio stations, […]
Kelis is keeping her private life private. After it was reported last week that the 43-year-old “Milkshake” singer and chef is dating 72-year-old Ghostbuster star Bill Murray, the internet could not get enough of the alleged May-December romance. And while neither of them have officially confirmed the relationship, Murray was seen watching Kelis’ set at […]
Thanks to its second wind 11 years after its initial chart run, Miguel’s “Sure Thing” breaks the record for the title with the most weeks on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
The track logs an unprecedented 76th week on the list dated May 6, surpassing the 75-week marathon of the previous record holder, Mary J. Blige’s “Be Without You” in one continuous run in 2005-07.
“Sure Thing” achieves the record-breaking mark as it jumps 8-6 on the newest published chart. The song, released in 2010, is enjoying a TikTok-fueled renaissance, as a sped-up version, has soundtracked more than 4 million videos on the social media platform. While activity TikTok does not directly contribute to the Billboard charts, many of the app’s most popular songs have seen corresponding gains on streaming services that factor into Billboard chart rankings.
“I’m glad that ‘Sure Thing’ still connects and resonates with a new audience, and that they feel what I’ve always felt with this song,” Miguel tells Billboard upon hearing the news of his new honor. “More than anything, this achievement is a wild reminder of how things – all across the board – can cycle back into cultural relevance.”
A clear hit today, “Sure Thing” was a smash in its original era too. The second single from Miguel’s 2010 debut album, All I Want Is You, reached No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for one week among the 61 total frames it logged in its initial run. Starting with its No. 20 re-entry on the list on the chart dated Jan. 14, 2023, “Sure Thing” has since added 15 more weeks to its total to accumulate its historic run.
As “Sure Thing” resets the leaderboard, here is a look at the tracks with the most weeks at No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart since it became an all-encompassing genre survey in 1958:
Weeks on Chart, Song Title, Artist, Peak Position, Year(s) Charted76, “Sure Thing,” Miguel, No. 1 (one week), 2011-12, 202375, “Be Without You,” Mary J. Blige, No. 1 (15), 2005-0774, “God in Me,” Mary Mary featuring Kierra “KiKi” Sheard, No. 5, 2008-1073, “On the Ocean,” K’Jon, No. 12, 2008-1071, “You Make Me Wanna…,” Usher, No. 1 (11), 1997-9871, “There Goes My Baby,” Usher, No. 1 (four), 2010-1170, “Step in the Name of Love,” R. Kelly, No. 1 (two), 2002-0468, “Can’t Let Go,” Anthony Hamilton, No. 13, 2005-0766, “Blinding Lights, The Weeknd, No. 1 (11), 2019-2163, “In My Bed,” Dru Hill, No. 1 (three), 1997-9863, “Just Fine,” Mary J. Blige, No. 3, 2007-08
Though “Sure Thing” has already secured its place in the record books, it’s primed to extend its stay on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, which blends streaming, radio airplay and sales data into its rankings. In the latest tracking week (March 21 – 27), the song improved in two of the three metrics: sales and radio airplay. “Sure Thing” sold 2,000 downloads, up 21% from the previous frame and registered 46.6 million in total audience, a 10% increase from the prior week, according to Luminate. While the former No. 1 R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart hit is receiving renewed play at that format, the majority of “Sure Thing” radio success comes from the pop and rhythmic format this time around. The single repeats at its No. 5 peak thus far on this week’s Pop Airplay chart – after never having made the list in its initial era – and advances 21-19 on Rhythmic Airplay, nearing its No. 14 peak from July 2011.
Radio gains help counter streaming slides in the past weeks, though the song maintains an overall high count. “Sure Thing” generated 11.1 million official U.S. streams in the most recent tracking week, essentially even with the prior week, and keeps it near its performance in prior weeks, with 11.1 million, 11.4 million and 11.7 million totals in the past three weeks, respectively.
Rod Wave nabs his seventh top 10 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart as “Fight the Feeling” opens at No. 7 on the list dated April 15. The song also begins at the most-streamed rap song of the week and returns him to the top 20 of the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 for the first time in two years.
“Feeling” traces its strong start largely to 17.4 million official U.S. streams in the tracking week of March 30 – Apr. 6, according to Luminate. The nine-figure sum generates the single’s No. 2 debut on the R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs chart and No. 1 entrance on Rap Streaming Songs. On the latter, “Feeling” is Rod Wave’s second career champ, after “Tombstone” led for one week in 2021.
While streaming plays the main role behind the “Feeling” debut on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, the track also sold 1,000 downloads in the same tracking week to earn a No. 15 start on R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales. It also registered 56,000 audience impressions across all formats, a low sum due to the single not having been officially promoted to radio formats during its debut week.
As “Feeling” becomes Rod Wave’s newest top 10, here’s a recap of the rapper’s full collection on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart:
Song Title, Peak Position, Peak Date“Rags2Riches,” featuring ATR Son Son, No. 7, Aug. 22, 2020“Tombstone,” No. 5, April 10, 2021“Street Runner,” No. 9, April 10, 2021“By Your Side,” No. 10, Dec. 11, 2021“Cold December,” No. 9, Feb. 5, 2022“Alone,” No. 7, Aug. 27, 2022“Fight the Feeling,” No. 7 (to date), April 15, 2023
Elsewhere, “Feeling” begins at No. 3 on the Hot Rap Songs chart, where it secures the rapper/singer’s ninth top 10 placement, and at No. 16 on the Hot 100. The latter’s debut ends a two-year gap for Rod Wave inside the Hot 100’s top 20, as he ranks inside the region for the first time since the April 10, 2021-dated chart.
SZA’s “Kill Bill” achieves one of the biggest honors ever on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, as the track breaks the record for the most weeks at No. 1 by a lead female artist in the list’s nearly 65-year history. The single cements the feat with its 16th week on top, passing Mary J. Blige’s “Be Without You,” which captured 15 weeks at the summit in 2006.
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The “Kill Bill” coronation comes on the April 15-dated Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, which factors streaming, radio airplay and sales into its methodology. For the corresponding tracking week of March 31-April 6, “Kill Bill” earned 23.4 million official U.S. streams, according to Luminate, a 5% dip from the prior week. Despite the decline, the single logs a 15th nonconsecutive week at No. 1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Streaming Songs chart. The song sold 6,000 downloads in the week (up 158%, helped by 69-cent sale-pricing in the iTunes Store), prompting a 3-1 jump for its first week atop the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart. In the radio world, “Kill Bill” registered 93 million in total airplay audience for the week, essentially even week-over-week. (All airplay, regardless of radio format origin, contributes to a title’s rank on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.)
As mentioned, a 16th week atop Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs gives “Kill Bill” sole possession of the record for the most weeks at No. 1 for a song by a woman in a lead role. It breaks from a tie, set last week, with Mary J. Blige’s “Be Without You,” which ruled for 15 weeks in 2006. Now that “Kill Bill” has defeated all such competitors, here’s a look at the longest-running No. 1s by women in lead roles, since the chart became an all-encompassing genre survey in 1958.
Weeks at No. 1, Song Title, Artist, Date Reached No. 1:16, “Kill Bill,” SZA, Dec. 24, 202215, “Be Without You,” Mary J. Blige, Jan. 7, 200614, “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here,” Deborah Cox, Nov. 7, 199814, “We Belong Together,” Mariah Carey, June 4, 200514, “Diamonds,” Rihanna, Oct. 20, 201213, “Fancy,” Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX, June 7, 201412, “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” Beyoncé, Nov. 29, 200812, “Un-Thinkable (I’m Ready),” Alicia Keys, May 22, 2010
Including featured artists, British singer Kyla owns the all-time mark among women. She, with Wizkid, guested on Drake’s smash “One Dance,” an 18-week champ in 2016.
On the overall scorecard, “Kill Bill” sits in the top five of the longest-leading Hot R&B/Hip-Hop champs since 1958. A 16th leading week ties it with Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines,” featuring Pharrell and T.I., for fourth place. The pair places behind, in order, Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road,” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus (20 weeks, 2019) and Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow’s “Industry Baby” (18 weeks, 2021-22) and the aforementioned “One Dance” (18). As “Kill Bill” has ranked at No. 1 for 16 of its 17 weeks on the chart since its debut last December, the song could likely challenge for the all-time title in just over a month’s time.
“Kill Bill” is SZA’s second career No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, after “I Hate U” debuted at the summit and led for a week in December 2021. Both tracks appear on her latest album, SOS – itself a juggernaut in the genre. The album has posted 16 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart since it debuted in the top slot last December.
Metro Boomin has been creeping back into the studio just months after dropping his third Billboard 200-topping album Heroes & Villains in December. And it looks like he’s already cooking up another project with none other than J.I.D, which a rep from the rapper’s team confirmed to Billboard on Wednesday (March 29).
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The superproducer took to Twitter on Tuesday to share some pics of the new dynamic duo from the studio with the caption, “Got a lot of new music coming but when me and @JIDsv drop,” followed by a string of fire emojis. The “151 Rum” rapper commented, “I love working with u brudda, it’s an honor,” to which Metro replied, “Honor is mine family,” with a handshake emoji.
Honor is mine family 🤝🏾— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) March 28, 2023
Metro later wrote “Yessir!!” in response to the Debating Hip-Hop Twitter account, announcing, “we’re really getting a @JIDsv x @MetroBoomin album.”
He might’ve hinted at the album earlier in the year when he sat down with Streetz Is Watchin Radio and told DJ Drama about a collab project that he was releasing this year. “I’mma just say when this drop, honestly, it’ll be like one of the biggest things of this generation,” the producer said. “And you know I be chilling, I don’t like to just jump out and say that, but I can confidently say that.”
In his Flaunt cover story, Metro confirmed a collab album with Future is also on the way, affirming, “I would bet on it. I would definitely bet on it.” Metro is clearly no stranger to collab albums, having worked on Without Warning alongside 21 Savage and Offset in 2017, Double or Nothing with Big Sean the same year, and Savage Mode II with 21 Savage (with special narrative assistance from Morgan Freeman) in 2020.
Angela Bassett and Beyoncé were the top individual winners at the 2023 NAACP Image Awards, with three awards each. Bassett took the top award – entertainer of the year – and opened her speech by having a little bit of fun with Ariana DeBose’s widely-mocked rap at last weekend’s Brit Awards, where the young star rapped, “Angela Bassett did the thing.”
“I guess Angela Bassett did the thing,” Bassett said, to much laughter. This marked the first time all five entertainer of the year nominees were women. The other nominees were Mary J. Blige, Quinta Brunson, Viola Davis and Zendaya.
Bassett also won outstanding supporting actress in a motion picture for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and outstanding actress in a drama [TV] series for 9-1-1 on FOX. The veteran actress is considered the front-runner to win an Oscar in the Oscar for best supporting actress on March 12. (DeBose won in that category last year for the reboot of West Side Story.)
All three of Beyoncé’s categories were presented prior to Saturday and she wasn’t present on the telecast. She took outstanding album for Renaissance (her third win in the category), outstanding soul/R&B song for “Cuff It” and outstanding female artist (her record-extending seventh win in the category).
Chris Brown, Brunson, Ryan Coogler and Davis each won two awards. (Some of their shows also won awards; this counts only awards presented to individuals.)
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever won outstanding motion picture, just as the original Black Panther did four years ago. This marks the second time in three years that a franchise film has won in this category. Two years ago, the award went to Bad Boys for Life, the third film in that franchise.
ABC’s Abbott Elementary won outstanding comedy [TV] series. The show was nominated for a Primetime Emmy in that same category last year and while it didn’t win, it’s practically a foregone conclusion that it will win this year.
That doesn’t mean there were no surprises at the 54th annual NAACP Image Awards, which were presented at nightly ceremonies this past week, culminating in a live broadcast on Saturday (Feb. 25) from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Calif. The show, ably hosted by Queen Latifah, aired on BET and was also simulcast across a dozen Paramount Global networks including CBS, MTV, VH1 and CMT.
One of the biggest surprises is that Kendrick Lamar didn’t win a thing. The acclaimed rapper received five nominations, which put him in a tie with Beyoncé for the most nods by anyone in the music categories. But where she won three awards this year, he was shut out.
Another hip-hop superstar, Drake, went 0-3 this year.
Without further ado, here are 14 Snubs & Surprises at the 2023 NAACP Image Awards.
Snub: Kendrick Lamar
Lamar lost outstanding male artist (which he has yet to win) to Chris Brown (who won it for the third time). In addition, Lamar’s Billboard 200-topping Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers lost outstanding album to Renaissance; “Die Hard” (featuring Blxt & Amanda Reifer) lost outstanding duo, group or collaboration (traditional) to Silk Sonic’s “Love’s Train”; and “The Heart Part 5” lost twice. It lost outstanding hip hop/rap song to “Hotel Lobby” by Quavo and Takeoff and outstanding music video/visual album to Rihanna’s “Lift Me Up.”
Surprise: Will Smith
It both is and isn’t a surprise that Smith won outstanding actor in a motion picture for Emancipation. This was his first nomination here since The Slap on last year’s Oscar telecast, which tarnished his image and imperiled his career. Smith also won here last year for King Richard, the role that brought him his first Oscar. Smith is the first actor to win back-to-back Image Awards in this category since Denzel Washington scored in 2002-03 with Training Day and John Q, respectively. Smith wasn’t on hand to receive his award. Instead, presenter Janelle Monáe simply accepted it on his behalf.
Snub: Samara Joy
Joy won two Grammys on Feb. 5 – best new artist and best jazz vocal album for Linger Awhile. So you might think she’d be a shoo-in to win here for outstanding jazz album – vocal. Nope. The award went to Adam Blackstone’s Legacy. Blackstone is also coming off a major award win. He won his first Primetime Emmy in September for outstanding music direction for The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, 50 Cent.
Surprise: Coco Jones
Jones took outstanding new (recording) artist for “ICU” over Steve Lacy for Gemini Rights, among others. Lacy’s album won a Grammy for best progressive R&B album and spawned the smash “Bad Habit,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks.
Snub: Future’s “Wait for U”
The hit by Future featuring Drake and Tems topped the Billboard Hot 100 and won a Grammy for best melodic rap performance. But it came up short in both categories in which it was nominated here. It lost outstanding hip hop/rap song to “Hotel Lobby” by Quavo and Takeoff and outstanding duo group or collaboration (contemporary) to Chris Brown featuring Wizkid’s “Call Me Every Day.”
Surprise: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Prince-Bythewood won outstanding directing in a motion picture for The Woman King (Sony Pictures Releasing). She beat Ryan Coogler, the director of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, among others. This is Prince-Bythewood’s record-setting third win in the category, following The Secret Life of Bees (2009) and The Old Guard (2021). Coogler has won twice in the category for Creed (2016) and Black Panther (2019). Coogler won two awards on the night – outstanding writing in a motion picture and outstanding soundtrack/compilation album, both for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
Snub: Jerrod Carmichael
Jerrod Carmichael won his first Primetime Emmy in September for outstanding writing for a variety special for his HBO Max special, Jerrod Carmichael: Rothaniel, but he lost in the equivalent category (outstanding writing in a television movie or special) here. The winner? Netflix’s Entergalactic, with a story by Scott Mescudi (better known as Kid Cudi) and written by Ian Edelman and Maurice Williams.
Surprise: Keke Palmer
Palmer won outstanding character voice-over performance – motion picture. She beat out a pair of past Oscar nominees – Angela Bassett (nominated for Wendell & Wild) and Taraji P. Henson (nominated for Minions: The Rise of Gru).
Snub: Sheryl Lee Ralph
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Ralph won her first Primetime Emmy in September for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for her role in Abbott Elementary, but lost here to her castmate Janelle James. Both were vying here for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series. The two actresses presented the first award on the telecast. Ralph warmly congratulated James on her win the previous night.
Surprise: Tabitha Brown
The host of Tab Time on You Tube Originals won outstanding host in a reality/reality competition, game show or variety (series or special) – individual or ensemble. (That category name is longer than the show!) Her win was sweet because she was up against four major names – Lizzo for Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, Trevor Noah for The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Taraji P. Henson for hosting the 2022 BET Awards and Keke Palmer for NBC’s revival of Password. Tab Time also won outstanding children’s program.
Snub: ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’
Guillermo del Toro’s film is the front-runner to win the Oscar for best animated feature film, but it lost outstanding animated motion picture here to Wendell & Wild. The latter film wasn’t even nominated for an Oscar.
Surprise: Nicco Annan
The star of Starz’ P-Valley won outstanding actor in a drama [TV] series, beating, among others, Sterling K. Brown of NBC’s just-wrapped This Is Us (who won in this category twice). Annan stars as Uncle Clifford Sayles, the non-binaryowner and proprietor of a strip club called The Pynk in the fictional city of Chucalissa, Miss. P-Valley also won outstanding drama series.
Not a Surprise: Michelle Obama
Image Award voters seem to prefer the real Michelle Obama to a dramatized version. ABC News 20/20 Michelle Obama: The Light We Carry, a Conversation with Robin Roberts won outstanding news/information (series or special). But Viola Davis’ portrayal of the former first lady on The First Lady (Showtime) lost in the category of outstanding actress in a television movie, limited-series or dramatic special. (The winner there was Niecy Nash-Betts, playing the suspicious neighbor on Netflix’s Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.)
Not a Surprise, but Really?: Jennifer Hudson
Hudson took outstanding host in a talk or news/information (series or special) – individual or ensemble for the first season of her syndicated The Jennifer Hudson Show. That’s not a surprise. Hudson is an EGOT, after all. Her competition included Lester Holt for NBC Nightly News. These shows – a resolutely positive daytime talk show and an evening news broadcast – should not be in the same category. It’s not really fair to either.
The 2023 Roots Picnic is returning to Philadelphia’s Mann Center on June 3-4 with headlining sets by Diddy with The Roots, Lauryn Hill celebrating the 25th anniversary of her Miseducation of Lauryn Hill album, and Lil Uzi Vert.
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The three-day event, presented by The Roots and Live Nation Urban, will launch on June 2 with a stand-up comedy show and concert Dave Chappelle and The Roots at Philly’s Wells Fargo Center.
“Roots Picnic Weekend returns to Philadelphia June 2-4, 2023! We’re partnering with @livenationurban to bring you three days of black culture, music, comedy, and podcasts in one of the most beautiful cities in the world!!!!” organizers announced Monday (Feb. 20) on Instagram.
Other artists making an appearance throughout the annual hip-hop and R&B festival include Ari Lennox, City Girls, Maverick City, DJ Drama, Lucky Daye, Syd, GloRilla, Kindred the Family Soul, a State Property reunion, and a “live mixtape” from Black Thought featuring Busta Rhymes and Eve.
This year’s event will also include a podcast stage featuring Charlamagne Tha God, Off the Record with DJ Akademiks, Don’t Call Me White Girl, Lip Service with Angela Yee, People’s Party with Talib Kweli, and Questlove Supreme.
A fan club presale begins on Tuesday (Feb. 21) at 12 p.m. ET, with a general on-sale to follow on Wednesday at 10 a.m. ET through therootspicnic.com.
See the 2023 Roots Picnic announcement on Instagram below.