Drake Triumphs at Billboard Music Awards, Dominates Kendrick Lamar in Rap Categories
After a turbulent year, marked by fierce competition from fellow superstars, Drake managed to make a strong comeback at the 2024 Billboard Music Awards. The rapper had faced some tough battles in the rap game, especially with Kendrick Lamar, but Thursday night’s ceremony saw Drizzy taking home multiple prestigious awards, giving him a well-deserved win.
Drake swept the rap categories, securing three major awards: Top Rap Artist, Top Rap Male Artist, and Top Rap Album for his 2023 project For All the Dogs. While Lamar didn’t have a new album during the eligibility period, Drake’s victories were nonetheless significant, considering his fierce competition.
Although Kendrick Lamar was nominated for both Top Rap Artist and Top Rap Male Artist, he came up empty-handed. This made Drake’s triumph even sweeter, as Lamar’s absence from the win column was notably pointed. The competition in the Top Rap Male Artist category was fierce, with Travis Scott also in the running. However, Drake triumphed, solidifying his dominance.
One of the standout moments of the night was the Top Rap Album win for For All the Dogs. While Lamar may not have released a full album in the same period, Future and Metro Boomin’s We Don’t Trust You was also up for the honor, but ultimately lost out to Drake’s project. This loss was particularly notable, given that We Don’t Trust You had been at the heart of the ongoing Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar feud, with Lamar featured on the single “Like That,” which had dominated the charts earlier in the year.
Despite the tension between the two rappers, Billboard also took the opportunity to recognize both Drake and Kendrick Lamar for their contributions to the rap scene. According to Billboard’s data, both artists dominated the year’s diss tracks, with a combined revenue of $15.3 million from their fiery exchanges. Lamar led with tracks like “Not Like Us” and “Like That,” while Drake followed with “Family Matters” and “Push Ups.”
In what has been a year of highs and lows for Drake, the Billboard Music Awards marked a much-needed moment of victory for the rapper. After losing a battle to Lamar, he emerged victorious on a night that highlighted his impact on the rap game in 2024. With the year wrapping up, Drake’s success at the BBMAs not only adds to his list of accolades but also sets the stage for his next move in the music world.
