Last night, global music authority Billboard hosted its annual R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players celebration with an exclusive event at Unveiled in New York City, honoring the genre’s most impactful artists, executives, and rising stars. Attendees included Bktherula, Cardi B, D Smoke, GELO, Joey Bada$$, June Freedom, Leon Thomas, Lexa Gates, Odeal, Omarion, Rayvn Lenae, Silent Addy, Top Dawg, Ty Dolla $ign, Wu-Tang Clan, Zeddy Will, and more. 

The evening featured a special awards presentation recognizing those shaping the future of hip-hop and R&B with honorees including:

• Impact Award: Cardi B
  
  • Presented by Carl Lamarre, Senior Director of R&B/Hip-Hop, Billboard 
• Hip-Hop Hall of Fame Inductee: Wu-Tang Clan’s ​​RZA, Raekwon & Cappadonna 
  
  • Presented by Mike Van, CEO, Billboard 
• Breakthrough Award: Leon Thomas
  
  • Presented by Gail Mitchell, Executive Director of R&B/Hip-Hop, Billboard 
• Rookies of the Year: R&B: Rayvn Lenae;  Hip-Hop: GELO; African: Odeal 
  
  • Presented by Heran Mamo, Senior Writer of R&B/Hip-Hop/Afrobeats, Billboard  and Kyle Denis, Staff Writer, Billboard
• Executive of the Year: Top Dawg
  
  • Presented by Hannah Karp, Editor-in-Chief, Billboard 

The R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players event was sponsored by State Farm®, BET, Live Nation, Hard Rock, Black Promoters Collective. 

As part of Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Week, The Orchard hosted a special conversation “The Future of Hip-Hop is Global” on Wednesday, September 3, at NeueHouse Madison Square. Moderated by Billboard’s senior director of R&B/Hip-Hop, Carl Lamarre, and featuring Naji Grampus, VP of Urban Strategy, The Orchard, Wallo, Million Dollaz Worth of Game Podcast, Norva Denton, Head of Urban Music, Sony AWAL, and Shari Bryant, Founder, The Knip Agency; the panel explored how a democratized power dynamic is reshaping artist discovery and development, shifting the focus toward guiding and partnering with artists and their teams from diverse regions around the world. Panelists discussed the genre’s continued evolution and emphasized the critical role executives will play in breaking new acts on an international scale.

In addition, Billboard debuted its first-ever studio experience of Unfiltered Live on Wednesday, September 3, giving fans an up-close look at the culture through a lively conversation with special guests Cash Cobain and Zeddy Will. Hosted by Billboard’s Delisa Shannon and Kyle Denis, the event welcomed a live audience for the first time, marking an exciting new chapter for the Unfiltered Live franchise and spotlighting the artists and voices driving Hip-Hop and R&B forward.

Billboard will keep the celebration going with R&B/Hip-Hop LIVE, a special concert event taking place tomorrow, September 5, at the iconic Webster Hall in New York City. Sponsored by State Farm and Ralph Lauren this event is the centerpiece of Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Week and will feature an electrifying headlining performance by Leon Thomas alongside the genre’s brightest rising stars: GELO, Odeal, Ravyn Lenae, and Armanii. 

Before the show, Billboard will toast Leon Thomas along with his mentors Ty Dolla $ign and music executive Shawn Barron, co-founders of the label that signed and developed Thomas, at an exclusive cocktail ceremony.

The Future of Music & Money, presented by UBS and powered by Feeture, honors visionary executives and groundbreaking artists who are reshaping the conversation around financial literacy and creating new pathways for fellow creators.

The evening featured a special awards presentation recognizing those shaping the future of music and money with honorees including:

• Collab Impact Award: Ty Dolla $ign
  
  • Presented by Jareiq Josef Kabara, Feeture CEO 
• Executive Impact Award: Shawn Barron
  
  • Presented by Jareiq Josef Kabara, Feeture CEO 
• Creative Visionary Award: Leon Thomas
  
  • Presented by Wale Ogunleye, Head of Sports and Entertainment, UBS 

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About Billboard:

Billboard is the ultimate barometer of success in music. Through its iconic charts, breaking news, multi-platform storytelling and world class events, Billboard tracks the world’s top musicians and the business that powers them. Since its origin in 1894, music leaders and fans across the world look to Billboard as the most trusted source for music information, spanning more than a dozen countries and published in over 10 languages. The Billboard Music Awards and Billboard Latin Music Awards are the only awards ceremonies that recognizes musicians for their undeniable achievements on the Billboard charts, using pure data to determine finalists and winners, rather than relying on opaque committees or anonymous voters. Billboard’s other premium experiences range from the Billboard Power 100 to Billboard Women in Music, Billboard Latin Music Week, and Billboard Live, which connects the most impactful artists and industry leaders with fans from all corners of the globe.

About State Farm: 

For over 100 years, the mission of State Farm has been to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected and realize their dreams. State Farm and its affiliates are the largest providers of auto and home insurance in the United States. It's more than 19,400 agents and 67,000 employees serve over 91 million policies and accounts – including auto, fire, life, health, commercial policies and financial services accounts. Commercial auto insurance, along with coverage for renters, business owners, boats and motorcycles, is also available. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 39 on the 2024 Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit http://www.statefarm.com. 

About Ralph Lauren Fragrances:

In 1978, Ralph Lauren expanded his lifestyle brand to encompass the world of fragrance, launching Lauren for women and Polo for men. For more than 40 years since, Ralph Lauren Fragrances has developed best-selling fragrances that express a distinct personality and luxury lifestyle in line with the Ralph Lauren tradition. Today, the brand’s portfolio spans Ralph Lauren and Polo fragrances, including Ralph Lauren Romance, Ralph’s Club, Polo Earth, Polo Blue, Polo Red, Purple Label and more.

About BET Media Group:

The BET Media Group, a unit of Paramount, a Skydance Corporation (Nasdaq: PSKY), is the world’s largest media company dedicated to entertaining, engaging, and empowering the Black community and championing Black culture. Connecting Black audiences through a portfolio of brands including BET, BET+, BET Gospel, BET HER, BET International, BETJams, BET Soul, BET Studios, and VH1, the BET Media Group is a thriving media ecosystem of leading interconnected platforms across cable TV, streaming, digital, studios, live events, and international. For more information about BET, visit www.bet.com and follow @BET on social platforms. For more BET news announcements, visit betpressroom.com.

About Live Nation Entertainment:

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts and Live Nation Media & Sponsorship. For additional information, visit www.livenationentertainment.com.

About The Orchard:

The Orchard is a full-service music distribution company operating in over 50 cities worldwide. The Orchard's comprehensive artist & label services offering harnesses innovative technology, transparent data analysis, and expertise to reach fans and grow audiences. Offerings include digital and physical sales and marketing, advertising, brand partnerships, rights management, video monetization, collaborator splits and royalty accounting, publishing administration, neighboring rights, and more. Championed by an exceptional community of music lovers and experts, The Orchard empowers creators and entrepreneurs to grow and adapt in the dynamic, global industry. For further information, visit www.theorchard.com.

About UBS: 

UBS is a leading and truly global wealth manager and the leading universal bank in Switzerland. It also provides diversified asset management solutions and focused investment banking capabilities. With the acquisition of Credit Suisse, UBS manages 6.1 trillion dollars of invested assets as per fourth quarter 2024. UBS helps clients achieve their financial goals through personalized advice, solutions and products. Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, the firm is operating in more than 50 markets around the globe. UBS Group shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

About Unveiled: 

Unveiled is the new global nightlife and private event epicenter in Williamsburg, Brooklyn—a high-energy, high-design cultural destination that redefines the art of nightlife and events. More than just a club, Unveiled is an avant-garde sonic lounge where music, art, and exclusivity converge to create an electrifying experience unlike anything the city has ever seen. The space is an interplay of bold textures, muted jewel tones, and moody, reflective surfaces—creating an atmosphere that is both intimate and cinematic. From low-lit alcoves designed for quiet conversations to expansive dance floors primed for unrestrained movement, every detail is curated for unforgettable moments. Follow Unveiled or Visit www.unveilednewyork.com. 

Media Contact: 

Billboard 

Lydia Baskharoon | lbaskharoon@pmc.com