“Every time I tell you, hip-hop gon’ always be right here,” declared Kendrick Lamar at the top of Sunday night’s Grammys telecast (Feb. 1).
Considering he officially surpassed Jay-Z as the most-awarded rapper in Grammy history, it looks like the Compton MC was right on the money. Lamar, who swept the 2025 ceremony with five wins for “Not Like Us,” collected five more Grammys last night, bringing his career total to 27. He swept the rap field, winning best rap album (GNX), best rap performance (“Chains & Whips,” with Clipse & Pharrell), best rap song (“TV Off,” with Lefty Gunplay), and best melodic rap performance (“Luther,” with SZA). “Luther” also took home record of the year, which was presented by a hilariously confused Cher, who presented the Grammy to a butchered version of the song’s namesake artist: “Luther Grandross.”
The hip-hop icon’s extended TDE family also took home some hardware. In addition to the “Luther” wins bringing SZA’s career Grammy total to seven, Doechii also took home her second Grammy in as many years (best music video for “Anxiety”). Over on the R&B side, Kehlani snagged best R&B song and performance for “Folded” (her first two Grammy wins), Billboard cover star Leon Thomas bagged best R&B album (Mutt) and best traditional R&B performance (“Vibes Don’t Lie”) and Durand Bernarr won his first career Grammy for best progressive R&B album (BLOOM).
While R&B was inexplicably absent from the main telecast — outside of a towering, Ms. Lauryn Hill-led tribute honoring the late D’Angelo, Angie Stone and Roberta Flack, as well as Thomas’ appearance in the best new artist medley — hip-hop still commanded the stage. Tyler, The Creator delivered the night’s best performance with a cinematic, Michael Jackson-inspired Chromakopia–Don’t Tap the Glass medley, and Pharrell Williams and Voices of Fire joined Clipse for a moving rendition of “So Far Ahead.” Both Tyler and Clipse were nominated for album of the year, and both won awards in other categories on Sunday night. Clipse won best rap performance, as highlighted above, and Tyler earned the inaugural best album cover Grammy.
With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from a shimmering new Pimmie track to a new duet from Bellah and Destin Conrad. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.
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Freshest Find: Jordan Ward, “Change of Scenery”
Jordan Ward dropped his new Backward album over the weekend, and “Change of Scenery” is an easy standout. Drawing on the physically and emotionally demanding task that is surviving in a metropolis, Ward croons over a lush, neo-soul production fit for a late-night stroll-and-smoke session. “Shake me up and knock me over on a busy street/ Make my way back home on foot/ Hope something strikes, redefines/ I might be just what I need, just,” he coos over Lido and Mulherin’s ethereal, understated arrangement.
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Mýa, “ASAP”
Grammy-winning ’00s R&B icon Mýa is gearing up for her first album in eight years, and she’s ready to get the ball rolling “ASAP.” Produced by Mýa alongside Lamar “MyGuyMars” Edwards, the new single finds the D.C. singer adopting a sultry ’80s-inspired midtemp funk groove, crooning about an undeniable love that she’s willing to fight tooth and nail for. “I swear we gotta talk and we gotta ASAP/ We both messed up, now we’re way off track/ Ain’t got long if I’m cryin’ like that/ I swear we gotta talk, baby, hit me ASAP,” she sings in chorus. — KYLE DENIS
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Babyfxce E, “Trackhawk”
Babyfxce E is next up in a strong lineage of Flint rappers, as he looks to join the front lines of Michigan’s burgeoning hip-hop scene. The Flint native delivered a final message with “Trackhawk” before E’s Da Realest album arrives on Friday (Feb. 6). Babyfxe’s ear deserves the credit here, as the cinematic production perfectly matches the urgency of his raps, as he flaunts his fleet of exotic cars. “Everything I be talking, I either saw it or did it,” he proclaims, and I believe him. — M.S.
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Pimmie, “Bet”
Pimmie delivers a quietly defiant confrontation, channeling self-awareness and restrained anger into a song about being underestimated for far too long. Self-penned with additional songwriting and production contributions from DeAndre Victor Adams and Godwin Ajayi, “Bet” flips suspicion into certainty, using the repeated titular phrase as a challenge instead of insecurity. Keep testing her patience and see what it costs. — C.C.
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Lelo, “Dice Roll”
Detroit’s Lelo had one of the more surprising projects in 2025 with his New Detroit tape, and now he’s picking up where he left off with the BigMill-produced “Dice Roll.” My favorite part of the song is the chorus where Lelo sing-raps, “When I die bury me with all my ice on/ I’m a star bitch, f—k me with the lights on/ F—k that law s—t, all my n—as dice roll/ N—s envious, I think I feel a price on me/ It get serious, I’m ridin’ with that pipe on me/ I’m delirious, been workin’ all night, no sleep/ I ain’t trippin’, I’m just prayin’ that the right don’t leave,” like he should be signed to Motown. — A.D.
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DaBaby, “Clear this S—t”
DaBaby gives his take on a Ye classic. The Charlotte rapper did justice to the glossy neon-lit “Flashing Lights” sample, and between the song’s title and asking Yeezy for clearance, Kanye had to respect it. Let it be known, DaBaby also gave Ye a fantastic verse on “Jail Pt. 2” in 2021, which saw him outrap Jay-Z. Baby returned with his Be More Grateful album, and he’s at his best with his concise punch flows, while narrating his life’s story. “When this s—t dropped, I was in ninth grade/ Mama used to tell us turn them lights off ’till them lights paid/ Bills was too hot, she worked two jobs on a light day,” he reflects. It’s safe to say Baby’s mother doesn’t have to worry about that light bill anymore. — MICHAEL SAPONARA
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Bellah & Destin Conrad, “Typical”
“Typical,” a smooth new duet between Bellah and Destin Conrad, explores that magnetic, can’t-quit-you kind of romance, the one that feels inevitable even when both people know the patterns by heart. Written by the two artists alongside Ari PenSmith and Louie Lastic, the song treats “typical” not as boring, but as familiar in the best way: a connection that keeps pulling you back because it works. — CHRISTOPHER CLAXTON
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Sideshow, “Lifes as Violent as You Make It”
Produced by Blog Era mainstay Alexander Spit, Sideshow drops the lead single from his upcoming quadruple-disc album Tigray Funk, which is set to be released at the end of the month. The West Coast rapper raps with a stream of consciousness that mixes perfectly with the awkward production. You’ll be hard-pressed to find anything that sounds like this right now. — ANGEL DIAZ
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