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Drake Takes Over Rap Categories At 2023 Billboard Music Awards

Author Autumn Hawkins
INDIO, CA - APRIL 15: Drake performs on the Coachella stage during day 2 of the Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival (Weekend 1) at the Empire Polo Club on April 15, 2017 in Indio, California.

Drake dominated the rap categories at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday (Nov. 19). The Toronto rapper took home five awards.

Drake and 21 took home a trophy for their 2022 project Her Loss for Top Rap Album. The duo beat out Future’s I Never Liked You, Lil Baby’s  It’s Only Me, Metro Boomin’s HEROES & VILLAINS, and Travis Scott’s Utopia. The duo’s “Rich Flex” from Her Loss also got Top Rap Song, which won over Coi Leray’s “Players,” Gunna’s “F–UMean,” Lil Durk and J. Cole’s collab on “All My Life,” and Toosii’s “Favorite Song.”

While 21 was on the It’s All A Blur Tour with Drake, Drizzy won Top Rap Touring Artist coming out on top of 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa.

Drake also took home Top Rap Artist and Top Male Rap Artist as he took the crown over many of his peers in the genre.

While Drake dominated rap, the awards for Top R&B Artist, Top Female R&B Artist, Top R&B Album (SOS), and Top R&B Song (“Kill Bill”) all went to his “Slime You Out” partner SZA.

With Drake’s five awards won last night, and Taylor Swift’s impressive 10, they are now tied for the most wins at the Billboard Awards of all time.

Take a look at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards Winners list below for hip-hop and R&B categories:

ARTIST AWARDS

Top Artist

Drake

Luke Combs

Morgan Wallen

SZA

WINNER: Taylor Swift

Top New Artist

Bailey Zimmerman

Ice Spice

Jelly Roll

Peso Pluma

WINNER: Zach Bryan

Top Male Artist

Drake

Luke Combs

WINNER: Morgan Wallen

The Weeknd

Zach Bryan

Top Female Artist

Beyoncé

Miley Cyrus

Olivia Rodrigo

SZA

WINNER: Taylor Swift

Top Billboard 200 Artist

Drake

Luke Combs

Morgan Wallen

SZA

WINNER: Taylor Swift

Top Hot 100 Artist

Drake

Luke Combs

WINNER: Morgan Wallen

SZA

Taylor Swift

Top Hot 100 Songwriter (NEW)

Ashley Gorley

Jack Antonoff

SZA

WINNER: Taylor Swift

Zach Bryan

Top Hot 100 Producer (NEW)

Jack Antonoff

WINNER: Joey Moi

Metro Boomin

Taylor Swift

Zach Bryan

Top Streaming Songs Artist

Drake

WINNER: Morgan Wallen

SZA

Taylor Swift

Zach Bryan

Top Radio Songs Artist

Miley Cyrus

Morgan Wallen

SZA

WINNER: Taylor Swift

The Weeknd

Top Billboard Global 200 Artist

Bad Bunny

Morgan Wallen

SZA

WINNER: Taylor Swift

The Weeknd

R&B AWARDS

Top R&B Artist

Beyoncé

Chris Brown

Rihanna

WINNER: SZA

The Weeknd

Top R&B Male Artist

Chris Brown

Miguel

WINNER: The Weeknd

Top R&B Female Artist

Beyoncé

Rihanna

WINNER: SZA

Top R&B Touring Artist

WINNER: Beyoncé

Bruno Mars

The Weeknd

Rap Awards

Top Rap Artist

21 Savage

WINNER: Drake

Lil Baby

Metro Boomin

Travis Scott

Top Rap Male Artist

21 Savage

WINNER: Drake

Travis Scott

Top Rap Female Artist

Doja Cat

Ice Spice

WINNER: Nicki Minaj

Top Rap Touring Artist

50 Cent

WINNER: Drake

Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa

Top Afrobeats Artist (NEW)

WINNER: Burna Boy

Libianca

Rema

Tems

Wizkid

Top Dance/Electronic Artist

WINNER: Beyoncé

Calvin Harris

David Guetta

Drake

Tiësto

Top Gospel Artist

CeCe Winans

Elevation Worship

WINNER: Kanye West

Kirk Franklin

Maverick City Music

ALBUM AWARDS

Top Billboard 200 Album

Drake & 21 Savage, Her Loss

Metro Boomin, HEROES & VILLAINS

WINNER: Morgan Wallen, One Thing at a Time

SZA, SOS

Taylor Swift, Midnights

Top Soundtrack

WINNER: Barbie: The Album

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By

ELVIS

Metro Boomin Presents Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Soundtrack From and Inspired by the Motion Picture)

Top Gun: Maverick

Top R&B Album

Beyoncé, RENAISSANCE

Brent Faiyaz, WASTELAND

Drake, Honestly, Nevermind

Steve Lacy, Gemini Rights

WINNER: SZA, SOS

Top Rap Album

WINNER: Drake & 21 Savage, Her Loss

Future, I Never Liked You

Lil Baby, It’s Only Me

Metro Boomin, HEROES & VILLAINS

Travis Scott, UTOPIA

Top Dance/Electronic Album

WINNER: Beyoncé, RENAISSANCE

Drake, Honestly, Nevermind

ILLENIUM, ILLENIUM

Kim Petras, Feed the Beast

Tiësto, DRIVE

SONG AWARDS

Top Hot 100 Song

Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage, “Creepin’”

Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”

WINNER: Morgan Wallen, “Last Night”

SZA, “Kill Bill”

Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”

Top Streaming Song

Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”

WINNER: Morgan Wallen, “Last Night”

SZA, “Kill Bill”

Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”

Zach Bryan, “Something in the Orange”

Top Radio Song

Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage, “Creepin’”

WINNER: Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”

Rema & Selena Gomez, “Calm Down”

Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”

The Weeknd & Ariana Grande “Die for You”

Top Collaboration

David Guetta & Bebe Rexha, “I’m Good (Blue)”

WINNER: Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage, “Creepin’”

Rema & Selena Gomez, “Calm Down”

Sam Smith & Kim Petras, “Unholy”

The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, “Die for You”

Top Billboard Global 200 Song

WINNER: Miley Cyrus, “Flowers”

Rema & Selena Gomez, “Calm Down”

SZA, “Kill Bill”

Taylor Swift, “Anti-Hero”

The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, “Die for You”

Top R&B Song

Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage, “Creepin’”

Miguel, “Sure Thing”

The Weeknd & Ariana Grande, “Die for You”

WINNER: SZA, “Kill Bill”

SZA, “Snooze”

Top Rap Song

Coi Leray, “Players”

WINNER: Drake & 21 Savage, “Rich Flex”

Gunna, “fukumean”

Lil Durk ft. J. Cole, “All My Life”

Toosii, “Favorite Song”

Top Afrobeats Song (NEW)

Ayra Starr, “Rush”

Libianca, “People”

Oxlade, “KU LO SA”

WINNER: Rema & Selena Gomez, “Calm Down”

Victony, Rema, & Tempoe ft. Don Toliver, “Soweto”

Chart Achievement Award

WINNER: Mariah Carey, “All I Want for Christmas Is You”

Drake: All Of His No. 1 Hits, Ranked

Drake has been cranking out hits for over a decade now, and just recently, the rap star has tied with Michael Jackson in No. 1 hits. Both artists have 13 No. 1 accounted-for hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Now, both Drake and Jackson have the fourth most No. 1 songs on the chart by a male artist.

Billboard also notes that the scoring of songs and music has changed drastically because of streaming. “As streaming has become more prominent in recent years, certain acts have been able to achieve impressive Hot 100 feats after releasing high-profile albums. The model contrasts with prior decades, when acts generally promoted one single at a time in the physical-only marketplace and on radio. That shift in consumption helps explain why artists have been able to increase their total number of career entries and top 10s over short spans in recent years,” the website reads.

While there are some logistics to note about how the scoring has changed, that didn’t stop Drake from celebrating this monumental achievement. He posted a photoshopped photo of Michael Jackson wearing an OVO hoodie while taking a mirror selfie.

To add to his celebration, he wore a white crystal-studded glove that emulated MJ’s famed glove that he wore during his 1984 Victory Tour and on stage a year prior at the Grammys when he performed “Billie Jean.”

Drake’s latest studio album, For All The Dogs, also was a top charter debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The project included guest appearances from SZA, Teezo Touchdown, 21 Savage, J. Cole, Bad Bunny, PartyNextDoor, Chief Keef, Sexxy Red, Yeat, and Lil Yachty. The project was released on Oct. 6.

Note only 13 of his 14 No. 1 hits are counted towards his career score as the rapper was not properly credited for one of the songs. That song has been marked with an asterisk (*).

Take a look at Drake’s No. 1 songs ranking:

  • 14. "Toosie Slide" - Drake (2020)

    “Toosie Slide” was Drake’s attempt at creating a viral dance amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The song has easy dance movements that he raps throughout the song: “Right foot up, left foot slide/Left foot up, right foot slide.” “Tootsie Slide” was a chart-topper for one week.

  • 13. "What's Next" by Drake (2021)

    Drake gave us Scary Hours 2 to hold us over before he decided to release Certified Lover Boy in 2021. On “What’s Next” the rapper is propelling forward on and anticipating what’s next. “What’s Next” stayed at No. 1 for one week.

  • 12. "Slime You Out" Drake feat. SZA (2023)

    We finally got a collab between Drake and SZA after all this time. The song is the lead single to Drake’s For All The Dogs which is his eighth studio album. In the song, Drake speaks on the childish ways of a woman he’s seeing after she tries to replace him with someone new. “Slime You Out” was No. 1 for one week.

  • 11. "Way 2 Sexy" by Drake feat. Future & Young Thug (2021)

    Drake called trap kings Future and Young Thug for “Way 2 Sexy.” The song is on Drake’s Certified Lover Boy , which dropped in 2021. “Way 2 Sexy” samples Right Said Fred’s 1992 hit “I’m Too Sexy.” The rappers boast about their good looks in the song and the music video shows off the rapper’s comical side. Future scored his first No. 1 with the record, and it was Young Thug’s third leader. “Way 2 Sexy” was a chart leader for one week.

  • 10. "First Person Shooter" by Drake feat. J. Cole (2023)

    “They act like two legends cannot coexist,” Cole raps on “Middle Child.” Here, they prove they can coexist on “First Person Shooter.” The North Carolina rapper takes over a majority of the rapping on the track, but Drake matches Coles’ energy from the jump. The pair make a great duo and this marks their third collaboration. “First Person Shooter” was the 13th– accounted for — No. 1 hit of the Toronto rapper which matched Michael Jackson. This was also Cole’s first career chart leader. The record stayed atop the chart for one week.

  • 9. "Jimmy Cooks" by Drake feat. 21 Savage (2022)

    Most fans found Honestly, Nevermind as a letdown as they expected the surprise drop to be rap-heavy. The album was more experimental as the Toronto rapper sang and rapped on house music beats. “Jimmy Cooks” was the saving grace for many on the project as it brought back “Drake the rapper.” The record is also the only one on the album that has a feature which Drake graciously gave to 21 Savage. “Jimmy Cooks” stayed No. 1 for one week.

  • 8. "SICKO MODE" Travis Scott ft. Drake** (2019)

    While “SICKO MODE” doesn’t count towards Drake’s career No. 1’s, it still is a phenomenal track. Billboard explained that SICKO MODE didn’t count because Drake was not “properly credited” on the song. The record is found on Scott’s 2021 album Astroworld. It was nominated for “Best Rap Song,” and “Best Rap Performance.” “SICKO MODE” was Scott’s first No. 1 song.

  • 7. "In My Feelings" by Drake (2016)

    In 2016, Drake had everyone in their feelings. You could not go around without someone singing,”Kiki, do you love me?” over the infectious beat created by Cleveland producer TrapMoneyBenny, New Orleans producer BlaqNmilD, and Drizzy’s longtime producer 40. “In My Feelings” stayed at No. 1 on the chart for ten weeks.

  • 6. "Nice for What" by Drake (2018)

    “Nice For What” is found on Drake’s Scorpion and was the album’s second promotional single. Unlike most of the songs on this list, “Nice For What” is sample heavy but still Drake makes it his own. The song samples Lauryn Hill’s song “Ex-Factor” (1998) which itself samples Wu-Tang Clan’s “Can It Be All So Simple” (1993), “Drag Rap” by the Showboys (1986), “Get Your Roll On” by Big Tymers (2000). You can also hear Big Freida on the track. “Nice For What” was nominated for Best Rap Performance at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. It stayed for eight weeks at No. 1 on the chart.

  • 5. "What's My Name?" by Rihanna feat. Drake (2011)

    While the duo didn’t work out romantically, Rihanna and Drake definitely know how to make a hit together. “What’s My Name?” is from Rihanna’s album Forever which was released in 2011. In the song, the two sing/rap about their love interests, and in the music video they are each other’s. The song was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards. It stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week. “What’s My Name?” is also Drake’s first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

  • 4. "Wait for U" by Future feat. Drake & Tems (2022)

    The song uses a sample of Tems’ “Higher” but Future gave the Nigerian songstress a feature credit to highlight her contribution to the song. The song won Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards. It was also nominated for Best Rap Song. “Wait For U” stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week.

  • 3. "God's Plan" by Drake (2018)

    “God’s Plan” is about Drake giving back but also recognizing that not everyone has good intentions. The song plays into Drake’s doubts about people who try to get close to him in order to benefit off of his success. As for the charitable efforts he displays in the music video, the Toronto rapper also replicated the act in real life. According to Genius, the music video’s budget was $996,631.90, and they took that money and donated to schools and several charities. “God’s Plan” won Best Rap Song at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards and was nominated for Song Of The Year and Record Of The Year. The song stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 11 weeks.

  • 2. "Work" by Rihanna feat. Drake (2016)

    Drake and Rihanna owned 2016’s summer with “Work.” In the song, Rihanna sings about wanting a relationship and Drake is only interested in a “friends-with-benefits” package. The two also had a memorable steamy performance at the 2016 BRIT Awards. It was nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Record Of The Year. The song stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 for nine weeks.

  • 1. "One Dance" by Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla (2016)

    As we previously mentioned, 2016 was one of Drake’s most popular years. He was tapped into his afrobeats and dancehall vibe with “One Dance” where he grabbed Wizkid and Kyla for the assist. “One Dance” was Drake’s first No. 1 single on the Billboard charts. The song stayed atop the chart for 10 weeks.

Autumn Hawkins is the National Hip-Hop and R&B writer for Beasley Media, currently residing in New Jersey. Prior to working at Beasley Media, she was in broadcast news as an entertainment producer. When she's not impatiently waiting for Beyoncé to drop new music, she is reading, shopping, or planning a vacation.

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