By: Alyssa Wilson

  

The 2021 Billboard Music Awards was held on May 23, 2021, with an in-person ceremony and many Black artists won for their chart-topping projects.  

RELATED: Mickey Guyton makes history as first Black woman to host Country Music Awards 

The Weeknd won 10 awards and the late Pop Smoke won five. South Korean boyband BTS and Puerto Rican musician Bad Bunny each took home four awards.  

winning BIG tonight. @theweeknd #BBMAs pic.twitter.com/CuHL2FGiiS

— Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) May 24, 2021

Drake was honored as the artist of the decade. He is the only solo male artist with more than 50 career weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In the last decade, Drake has had nine No.1 albums on the Billboard 200 chart, 33 top 10s on the Billboard Hot 100 and 69 top 10 hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. During his acceptance speech, he dedicated the award to his peers, family, and his son Adonis, who stood by his side.

#DrakeDecade@Drake #BBMAs pic.twitter.com/hL0JtKTAtz

— Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) May 24, 2021

Texas rapper and songwriter Trae Tha Truth received the second annual Billboard Change Maker Award for his philanthropic work and social justice advocacy. The rapper led the Houston march for justice for his friend George Floyd, after he was murdered by former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. He was also arrested for protesting in Louisville, Kentucky, after the state attorney general failed to charge the officers involved in Breonna Taylor’s death.  

Read the full list of winners below:  

Top Artist 

• Drake 
• Juice WRLD 
• Pop Smoke 
• Taylor Swift 
• The Weeknd — WINNER 

 

Top New Artist 

• Gabby Barrett 
• Doja Cat 
• Jack Harlow 
• Pop Smoke — WINNER 
• Rod Wave 

 

Top Male Artist 

• Drake 
• Juice WRLD 
• Lil Baby 
• Pop Smoke 
• The Weeknd — WINNER 

 

Top Female Artist 

• Billie Eilish 
• Ariana Grande 
• Dua Lipa 
• Megan Thee Stallion 
• Taylor Swift — WINNER 

 

Top Duo/Group 

• AC/DC 
• AJR 
• BTS — WINNER 
• Dan + Shay 
• Maroon 5 

 

Top Billboard 200 Artist 

• Drake 
• Juice WRLD 
• Pop Smoke 
• Post Malone 
• Taylor Swift — WINNER 

 

Top Hot 100 Artist 

• DaBaby 
• Drake 
• Dua Lipa 
• Pop Smoke 
• The Weeknd — WINNER 

 

Top Streaming Songs Artist 

• DaBaby 
• Drake — WINNER 
• Lil Baby 
• Pop Smoke 
• The Weeknd 

 

Top Song Sales Artist 

• Justin Bieber 
• BTS — WINNER 
• Megan Thee Stallion 
• Morgan Wallen 
• The Weeknd 

 

Top Radio Songs Artist 

• Justin Bieber 
• Lewis Capaldi 
• Dua Lipa 
• Harry Styles 
• The Weeknd — WINNER 

 

Top Social Artist (Fan Voted) 

• BLACKPINK 
• BTS — WINNER 
• Ariana Grande 
• SB19 
• Seventeen 

 

Top R&B Artist 

• Jhené Aiko 
• Justin Bieber 
• Chris Brown 
• Doja Cat 
• The Weeknd — WINNER 

 

Top R&B Male Artist 

• Justin Bieber 
• Chris Brown 
• The Weeknd — WINNER 

 

Top R&B Female Artist 

• Jhené Aiko 
• Doja Cat — WINNER 
• SZA 

 

Top Rap Artist 

• DaBaby 
• Drake 
• Juice WRLD 
• Lil Baby 
• Pop Smoke — WINNER 

 

Top Rap Male Artist 

• Juice WRLD 
• Lil Baby 
• Pop Smoke — WINNER 

 

Top Rap Female Artist 

• Cardi B 
• Megan Thee Stallion — WINNER 
• Saweetie 

 

Top Country Artist 

• Gabby Barrett 
• Kane Brown 
• Luke Combs 
• Chris Stapleton 
• Morgan Wallen — WINNER 

 

Top Country Male Artist 

• Luke Combs 
• Chris Stapleton 
• Morgan Wallen — WINNER 

 

Top Country Female Artist 

• Gabby Barrett — WINNER 
• Maren Morris 
• Carrie Underwood 

 

Top Country Duo/Group 

• Dan + Shay 
• Florida Georgia Line — WINNER 
• Maddie & Tae 

 

Top Rock Artist 

• AC/DC 
• AJR 
• Five Finger Death Punch 
• Machine Gun Kelly — WINNER 
• twenty one pilots 

 

Top Latin Artist 

• Anuel AA 
• Bad Bunny — WINNER 
• J Balvin 
• Maluma 
• Ozuna 

 

Top Latin Male Artist 

• Bad Bunny — WINNER 
• J Balvin 
• Ozuna 

 

Top Latin Female Artist 

• Becky G 
• Karol G — WINNER 
• Rosalía 

 

Top Latin Duo/Group 

• Banda MS de Sergio Lizárraga 
• Eslabón Armado — WINNER 
• Los Dos Carnales 

 

Top Dance/Electronic Artist 

• The Chainsmokers 
• Kygo 
• Lady Gaga — WINNER 
• Marshmello 
• Surf Mesa 

 

Top Christian Artist 

• Casting Crowns 
• Elevation Worship — WINNER 
• for KING & COUNTRY 
• Carrie Underwood 
• Zach Williams 

 

Top Gospel Artist 

• Kirk Franklin 
• Koryn Hawthorne 
• Tasha Cobbs Leonard 
• Maverick City Music 
• Kanye West — WINNER 

 

Top Billboard 200 Album 

• Juice WRLD, Legends Never Die 
• Lil Baby, My Turn 
• Pop Smoke, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon — WINNER 
• Taylor Swift, folklore 
• The Weeknd, After Hours 

.@POPSMOKE10‘s mom accepts the award for Top Billboard 200 Album #BBMAs ❤️ pic.twitter.com/AwrMLEstkh

— Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) May 24, 2021

 

Top R&B Album 

• Jhené Aiko, Chilombo 
• Chris Brown & Young Thug, Slime & B 
• Doja Cat, Hot Pink 
• Kehlani, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t 
• The Weeknd, After Hours — WINNER 

 

Top Rap Album 

• DaBaby, Blame It On Baby 
• Juice WRLD, Legends Never Die 
• Lil Baby, My Turn 
• Lil Uzi Vert, Eternal Atake 
• Pop Smoke, Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon — WINNER 

 

Top Country Album 

• Gabby Barrett, Goldmine 
• Sam Hunt, Southside 
• Chris Stapleton, Starting Over 
• Carrie Underwood, My Gift 
• Morgan Wallen, Dangerous: The Double Album — WINNER 

 

Top Rock Album 

• AC/DC, Power Up 
• Miley Cyrus, Plastic Hearts 
• Glass Animals, Dreamland 
• Machine Gun Kelly, Tickets to My Downfall — WINNER 
• Bruce Springsteen, Letter to You 

 

Top Latin Album 

• Anuel AA, Emmanuel 
• Bad Bunny, El Último Tour Del Mundo 
• Bad Bunny, Las que no iban a salir 
• Bad Bunny, YHLQMDLG — WINNER 
• J Balvin, Colores 

 

Top Dance/Electronic Album 

• DJ Snake, Carte Blanche 
• Gryffin, Gravity 
• Kygo, Golden Hour 
• Lady Gaga, Chromatica — WINNER 
• Kylie Minogue, Disco 

 

Top Christian Album 

• Bethel Music, Peace 
• Elevation Worship, Grave Into Gardens 
• Carrie Underwood, My Gift — WINNER 
• We The Kingdom, Holy Water 
• Zach Williams, Rescue Story 

 

Top Gospel Album 

• Koryn Hawthorne, I AM 
• Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Royalty: Live at the Ryman 
• Maverick City Music, Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 1 — WINNER 
• Maverick City Music, Maverick City Vol. 3 Part 2 
• Kierra Sheard, Kierra 

 

Top Hot 100 Song Presented by Rockstar 

• 24kGoldn ft. iann dior, “Mood” 
• Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth, “I Hope” 
• Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy” 
• DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “ROCKSTAR” 
• The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights” — WINNER 

 

Top Streaming Song 

• Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP” 
• DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “ROCKSTAR” — WINNER 
• Future ft. Drake, “Life Is Good” 
• Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Wayne, “WHATS POPPIN” 
• The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights” 

 

Top Selling Song 

• Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth, “I Hope” 
• BTS, “Dynamite” — WINNER 
• Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP” 
• Megan Thee Stallion ft. Beyoncé, “Savage” 
• The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights” 

 

Top Radio Song 

• Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth, “I Hope” 
• Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy” 
• Dua Lipa, “Don’t Start Now” 
• Harry Styles, “Adore You” 
• The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights” — WINNER 

 

Top Collaboration (Fan Voted) 

• 24kGoldn ft. iann dior, “Mood” 
• Gabby Barrett ft. Charlie Puth, “I Hope” — WINNER 
• Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy” 
• DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “ROCKSTAR” 
• Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Wayne, “WHATS POPPIN” 

 

Top R&B Song 

• Jhené Aiko ft. H.E.R., “B.S.” 
• Justin Bieber ft. Quavo, “Intentions” 
• Chris Brown & Young Thug, “Go Crazy” 
• Doja Cat, “Say So” 
• The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights” — WINNER 

 

Top Rap Song 

• 24kGoldn ft. iann dior, “Mood” 
• Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP” 
• DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “ROCKSTAR” — WINNER 
• Jack Harlow ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez, & Lil Wayne, “WHATS POPPIN” 
• Megan Thee Stallion ft. Beyoncé, “Savage” 

 

Top Country Song 

• Jason Aldean, “Got What I Got” 
• Gabby Barrett, “I Hope” — WINNER 
• Lee Brice, “One of Them Girls” 
• Morgan Wallen, “Chasin’ You” 
• Morgan Wallen, “More Than My Hometown” 

 

Top Rock Song 

• AJR, “Bang!” — WINNER 
• All Time Low ft. blackbear, “Monsters” 
• Glass Animals, “Heat Waves” 
• Machine Gun Kelly ft. blackbear, “my ex’s best friend” 
• twenty one pilots, “Level of Concern” 

 

Top Latin Song 

• Bad Bunny, “Yo Perreo Sola” 
• Bad Bunny & Jhay Cortez, “Dákiti” — WINNER 
• Black Eyed Peas & J Balvin, “RITMO (Bad Boys For Life)” 
• Maluma & The Weeknd, “Hawái” 
• Ozuna x Karol G x Myke Towers, “Caramelo” 

 

Top Dance/Electronic Song 

• Lady Gaga, “Stupid Love” 
• Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande, “Rain on Me” 
• SAINt JHN, “Roses (Imanbek Remix)” — WINNER 
• Surf Mesa ft. Emilee, “ily (i love you baby)” 
• Topic & A7S, “Breaking Me” 

 

Top Christian Song 

• Elevation Worship ft. Brandon Lake, “Graves Into Gardens” — WINNER 
• for KING & COUNTRY, Kirk Franklin & Tori Kelly, “TOGETHER” 
• Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, & Elevation Worship, “The Blessing (Live)” 
• Tauren Wells ft. Jenn Johnson, “Famous For (I Believe)” 
• Zach Williams & Dolly Parton, “There Was Jesus” 

 

Top Gospel Song 

• Koryn Hawthorne, “Speak To Me” 
• Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music, “Movin’ On” 
• Marvin Sapp, “Thank You For It All” 
• Tye Tribbett, “We Gon’ Be Alright” 
• Kanye West ft. Travis Scott, “Wash Us In The Blood” — WINNER 

 

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