R&B/Hip-Hop

2025 is only three weeks old and the rap world is in full-swing. Outside of the headlines, album and single releases are starting to pick up once again while the United States heads into a new era with Donald Trump back in the Oval Office.

As Diddy remains behind bars awaiting the start of his trial, Hollywood has already started peeling back the layers on his downfall. Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy shook up Peacock with the documentary’s arrival last week.

LiAngelo Ball’s “Tweaker” gave hip-hop its first breakout hit of 2025 (debuting at No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100) while Lil Baby’s WHAM album beat out Bad Bunny for the top slot on last week’s Billboard 200.

All eyes will be on the Grammy Awards and Kendrick Lamar’s anticipated Super Bowl Halftime Show this February, as fans are particularly counting down the days until Lamar hits the stage in New Orleans.

With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Joey Bada$$’s continued shots at the West Coast to Jorjiana’s spin on elevator trap. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.

Jorjiana, “Elevator Spaghetti”

Jorjiana is an acquired taste, but buy stock now before it’s too late. She carves out her own niche sub-genre of trap elevator music with the smooth “Elevator Spaghetti.” This is what we need playing in our office elevators going forward. The Indiana native’s flow has a Midwest drawl, but her style leans more toward elements of the DMV scene. While Jorjiana’s freestyles have caught fire on social media, her bars are still as direct as they come. “I’m bubbly as hell but I don’t drink pop,” she boasts over the samba jazz instrumental. As someone on YouTube crowned her, Atlanta Del Rey is here. – MICHAEL SAPONARA

Joey Bada$$, “Sorry Not Sorry”

Joey Bada$$ and Conductor Williams are 2/2 in 2025. The Brooklyn titan continues to represent for the East Coast while poking at the West. “N—-s Wit Attitude mad I’m bigging up my city, that’s something I had to do,” he spews. JB even delivers a possible swipe at J. Cole for exiting stage right from the Kendrick Lamar and Drake feud while he’s ready to stand 10 toes down with more heat on the way. ​​”Might Deletе Later, I know damn sure that Joey won’t,” Joey raps. He even compares himself to being a combination of Biggie and 2Pac. If “The Ruler’s Back” was a warning shot, the sequel should have the alarms blaring. — M.S.

Jagged Edge, “Just Might Get It”

It’s 2025 and Jagged Edge is still doing the damn thing. Before hitting the road in March to celebrate 25 years of the R&B legends’ 1999 J.E. Heartbreak album, the Atlanta crew sets the stage for their upcoming 11th studio LP with the soulful “Just Might Get It.” Penned by founding member Brandon Casey, the moral of the song is essentially saying to be careful what you ask for, because you “Just Might Get It.” While the sultry track showcases the group’s evolution and maturity, the single doesn’t stray far from their signature R&B sound. Fans can purchase Jagged Edge’s All Original Parts Vol. 1 directly on Jan. 31 before it heads to streaming services. – M.S.

NLE Choppa & Imagine Dragons, “Dare U”

Nobody has NLE Choppa and Imagine Dragons joining forces for an explosive collaboration on their 2025 bingo card. Well, LiAngelo Ball delivered rap’s first hit of the year, so it seems to be another unpredictable campaign. Choppa called teaming up with the band a “dream come true” as they pushed him to tap into another side of his artistry. “Who got the most heart? I’ma show something,” he promises before passing the baton back to Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds. – M.S.

4Fargo & Eric Bellinger, “Your Love Is Gold” 

4Fargo kicks off 2025 with his new single “Your Love Is Gold,” a heartfelt collaboration with none other than R&B powerhouse Eric Bellinger. The track dives into themes of deep appreciation, commitment, and the priceless value of a genuine relationship. Comparing love to gold — a symbol of beauty and lasting worth — 4Fargo and Bellinger express their devotion and admiration for a love they see as rare and irreplaceable. Lines like “You’re the prize, you don’t need no contestants” and “She authentic, I don’t need to see no proof” highlight unwavering trust, while “I’ll put you up somewhere safe” conveys a desire to protect their bond from outside influences. With smooth vocals and heartfelt lyrics, “Your Love Is Gold” is a soulful celebration of love’s enduring value. – C.C.

Bryant Barnes, “Why Can’t You”

19-year-old rising singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Bryant Barnes is proving unstoppable with the release of his deeply personal track, “Why Can’t You.” The heartfelt song dives into themes of unrequited love, longing, and emotional vulnerability. Barnes explores the painful reality of loving someone who doesn’t feel the same, with the repeated plea “Why can’t you be in love?” echoing his frustration and confusion. The track touches on feelings of loneliness and the fear of a future without love, expressed in the line “I don’t wanna be alone for the rest of my life.” Balancing hope and heartbreak, “Why Can’t You” captures the universal struggle of holding on to a love that may never be returned. – C.C.

THEY., “Choosin’” 

R&B duo THEY. seems to be having a hard time with love. The pair dives into the complexities of love and success in latest track “Choosin’.” The song delves into themes of superficial relationships, trust issues, and the fast-paced lifestyle that often comes with fame. Through lyrics like “She don’t really love me, she just want the money,” the duo captures the frustration of feeling desired for status rather than true connection. The recurring term “choosin’” reflects a culture of opportunism, where love is secondary to material gain. Despite recognizing the transactional nature of their relationships, the protagonist finds themselves caught in a cycle of luxury, nightlife, and fleeting romance — painted vividly through references to flashy cars, champagne and the allure of the fast life. – C.C.

Stephen A. Smith doesn’t understand the backlash rappers like Snoop Dogg, Nelly and Soulja Boy are receiving for performing at events around Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration.

During a recent episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show on YouTube, the media personality started his rant about the vitriol they’ve been receiving online by asking some questions. “What if this person voted for him because they’re broke and they think he can put some more money in their pocket?” he asked. “What if this person voted for him because they’re in a crime-ridden neighborhood and they feel leftists aren’t having the streets patrolled well enough? What if they wanna call 911, but they live in an environment that people were supporting defunding the police? … What if the job market mattered to them?”

He then continued by asking whether Soulja Boy had a right to make a living. “Soulja Boy ain’t got no right to make some money?” he asked. “Everybody’s quick to say, ‘If it was me, there’s a different way to make money.’ You sure about that? I saw Soulja Boy pull out some cash. I couldn’t count, but it looked like at least six figures. What it takes most people to make in a year, the brother made in one night.”

Smith then set his sights on Snoop and pointed out that the Long Beach rapper actually performed at the Crypto Ball — one of the events surrounding the inauguration — and that he was there for Trump’s Crypto and A.I. czar David Sacks and not the new president, who reportedly didn’t attend the event but was the guest of honor. “David Sacks is someone who Snoop has had a relationship with for decades,” Smith revealed. “David Sacks is that cat when nobody else put their hand out offering dollars to Snoop’s football league and beyond, that brother does it.”

Smith added: “Snoop Dogg’s worth over $100 million. He’s got a youth football league — this brother’s sending cats to college, this brother’s sending cats to the NFL. We just gonna ignore that cause he performed at the inauguration?”

When it came to Nelly, Stephen A. claimed the St. Louis rapper isn’t into politics and will perform for the right price.

“Nelly is not a political person, he doesn’t get involved in the campaigns,” he said. “Nelly does perform for people who will pay the right fee and believes in respecting the office because of the power that comes with it. That’s his position. Like it or not, you gotta respect it.”

However, Nelly recently said he didn’t agree to perform for money; he agreed because he saw it as an honor and likened it to the military who have to serve the country no matter who’s in office. “I’m not doing this for money,” he said on Willie D Live. “I’m doing this ’cause it’s an honor. I respect the office. It don’t matter who’s in office. The same way that our men and women, our brother and sisters who protect this country have to go to war and have to put their life on the line for whoever in office. If they can put their life on the line for whoever’s in office, I can perform for whoever’s in office.”

You can watch the full episode below.