❤️🩹 What's Love Got to Do with It?
Billboard's newly released Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the 21st Century chart has delivered some eyebrow-raising results that are sure to spark debates across music forums and social media platforms. While some rankings seem inevitable, others are downright shocking – particularly when you consider who made the cut and who didn't.
Drake's dominance at No. 1 hardly comes as a surprise, given his record-breaking 30 No. 1s on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and 135 top 10 hits – each more than double his nearest competitor. But here's where things get interesting: a Canadian artist claiming the throne of American R&B and hip-hop for an entire century? Twenty years ago, that would have seemed impossible. Yet Drake's genre-blending approach and consistent chart performance have redefined what it means to be an R&B/hip-hop artist in the streaming era.
What's perhaps even more surprising is The Weeknd landing at No. 3 on this prestigious list. For those unfamiliar, The Weeknd (born Abel Tesfaye) is another Canadian artist who emerged from Toronto's music scene in the early 2010s. His dark, atmospheric take on R&B revolutionized the genre, blending electronic elements with traditional soul vocals. His track Blinding Lights even claimed the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Top Hot 100 Songs of the 21st Century chart, proving his crossover appeal extends far beyond R&B circles.
But here's the real shocker: Snoop Dogg, a household name who helped define West Coast hip-hop and remains culturally relevant decades after his debut, is nowhere to be found on this list. How does a legend who's been name-dropped in countless songs, referenced in movies, and maintained mainstream visibility for over three decades fail to crack the top rankings? It's a testament to how much the industry has changed and how chart performance now weighs more heavily than cultural impact.
The interesting pattern emerging from this list is how these top artists have moved away from traditional rhythm and blues toward a more jazz-influenced sound palette. Drake frequently incorporates jazz samples and smooth instrumental breaks in his tracks, while The Weeknd's production often features complex jazz chord progressions beneath his ethereal vocals. This jazz infusion has become their secret weapon, creating a sophisticated sound that appeals to both casual listeners and music purists.
What makes this evolution even more fascinating is how these artists have collaborated extensively with each other, creating an interconnected web of influence. Drake and The Weeknd have worked together multiple times, with The Weeknd contributing to several of Drake's biggest hits. This collaborative spirit has helped elevate the entire genre, as artists share techniques, producers, and stylistic approaches that emphasize jazz elements over traditional R&B rhythms.
The emphasis on jazz over rhythm and blues represents a seismic shift in what defines contemporary R&B and hip-hop. Where classic R&B relied heavily on strong backbeats and blues progressions, today's chart-toppers are incorporating sophisticated jazz harmonies, unconventional song structures, and atmospheric production techniques. This evolution has created music that's simultaneously more complex and more accessible, explaining why these artists have achieved such massive commercial success.
While purists might debate whether this represents progress or departure from the genre's roots, the numbers don't lie. The artists dominating Billboard's 21st-century rankings have successfully reinvented R&B and hip-hop for a new generation, even if it means leaving some legends behind in the process.
