Another week, another award show. Tonight it was the 2016 Billboard Music Awards in Vegas, and of course, the majority of the nominations went to major artists who have spent a good deal of time in the Hot 100 singles chart and/or the Billboard 200 albums chart over the past year. Though a relatively small group of hip-hop artists were represented at this year's show, there were still a few surprise award-winners. The most unexpected result came in the category of Top Rap Album, as the award was given to Meek Mill's Dreams Worth More Than Money.
Meek's well-received No. 1 album was released last June, soon before he fell out of favor in the eyes of the Internet upon accusing Drake of ghostwriting and proceeding to get hit with a couple of scathing diss tracks. Though he's released some strong music since, Meek's troubles have only continued, as he was busted for parole violation and then sentenced to three months of house arrest in early February. He should be out by now, and the award for Top Rap Album should make for a nice welcome back into the free world. To win the award, he beat out Drake's If You're Reading This It's Too Late, Drake and Future's What a Time to Be Alive, Dr. Dre's Compton, and Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly.
Though Drake might be sour about having two of his albums fall short to Meek's, he was able to take home another big-time Billboard award, winning Top Rap Artist over Fetty Wap, Future, Wiz Khalifa, and Silento. Fetty Wap was awarded Top New Artist and Wiz Khalifa won two awards for his Charlie Puth-featuring smash hit "See You Again," which was named Top Rap Song as well as Top Hot 100 Song.
In the R&B world, The Weeknd was utterly dominant, taking home a total of eight awards: Best R&B Song, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Song Sales Artist, Top Radio Songs, Top Streaming Songs, Top R&B Artist, Top R&B Album, and Top Streaming Song. See the full list of winners below.
Top Artist:
Adele -- WINNER
Justin Bieber
Drake
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Billboard Chart Achievement Award (Fan-Voted):
Rihanna -- WINNER
Adele
Drake
The Weeknd
Little Big Town
Top R&B Song:
Alessia Cara “Here”
Omarion Featuring Chris Brown & Jhene Aiko, “Post To Be”
The Weeknd, “Can’t Feel My Face”
The Weeknd, “Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey)”
The Weeknd, “The Hills” -- WINNER
Top Billboard 200 Album:
Adele, 25 -- WINNER
Justin Bieber, Purpose
Ed Sheeran, x
Taylor Swift, 1989
The Weeknd, Beauty Behind The Madness
Top Male Artist:
Justin Bieber -- WINNER
Drake
Fetty Wap
Ed Sheeran
The Weeknd
Top Country Song:
Sam Hunt, “Break Up In A Small Town”
Sam Hunt, “Take Your Time”
Little Big Town, “Girl Crush”
Thomas Rhett, “Die A Happy Man” -- WINNER
Chris Young, “I’m Comin’ Over”
Top Hot 100 Song:
Adele, “Hello”
Fetty Wap, “Trap Queen”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, “See You Again” -- WINNER
The Weeknd, “Can’t Feel My Face”
The Weeknd, “The Hills”
Top Hot 100 Artist:
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd -- WINNER
Top New Artist:
Fetty Wap -- WINNER
OMI
Charlie Puth
Silentó
Bryson Tiller
Top Female Artist:
Adele -- WINNER
Selena Gomez
Ariana Grande
Rihanna
Taylor Swift
Top Duo/Group:
Maroon 5
One Direction -- WINNER
twenty one pilots
The Rolling Stones
U2
Top Billboard 200 Artist:
Adele -- WINNER
Justin Bieber
Drake
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd
Top Song Sales Artist:
Adele
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
The Weeknd -- WINNER
Top Radio Songs Artist:
Justin Bieber
Ellie Goulding
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift
The Weeknd -- WINNER
Top Streaming Songs Artist:
Justin Bieber
Drake
Fetty Wap
Silentó
The Weeknd -- WINNER
Top Social Media Artist:
Justin Bieber -- WINNER
Selena Gomez
Ariana Grande
Demi Lovato
Taylor Swift
Top Touring Artist:
Madonna
One Direction
The Rolling Stones
Taylor Swift -- WINNER
U2
Top R&B Artist:
Chris Brown
Jeremih
Rihanna
Bryson Tiller
The Weeknd -- WINNER
Top Rap Artist:
Drake -- WINNER
Fetty Wap
Future
Wiz Khalifa
Silentó
Top Country Artist:
Zac Brown Band
Luke Bryan -- WINNER
Sam Hunt
Chris Stapleton
Carrie Underwood
Top Rock Artist:
Fall Out Boy
Elle King
twenty one pilots -- WINNER
Walk the Moon
X Ambassadors
Top Latin Artist:
Banda Sinaloense MS De Sergio Lizárraga
Juan Gabriel
Nicky Jam
Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho
Romeo Santos -- WINNER
Top Dance/Electronic Artist:
The Chainsmokers
DJ Snake
David Guetta -- WINNER
Major Lazer
Zedd
Top Christian Artist:
Casting Crowns
Lauren Daigle
Hillsong United -- WINNER
MercyMe
Chris Tomlin
Top Gospel Artist:
Anthony Brown and group therAPy
Tasha Cobbs
Kirk Franklin -- WINNER
Travis Greene
Marvin Sapp
Top Soundtrack:
Empire: Original Soundtrack from Season 1
Fifty Shades of Grey
Furious 7
Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1
Pitch Perfect 2 -- WINNER
Top R&B Album:
Chris Brown, Royalty
Rihanna, Anti
Bryson Tiller, T R A P S O U L
Tyrese, Black Rose
The Weeknd, Beauty Behind the Madness -- WINNER
Top Rap Album:
Drake, If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
Drake & Future, What A Time To Be Alive
Dr. Dre, Compton
Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp A Butterfly
Meek Mill, Dreams Worth More Than Money -- WINNER
Top Country Album:
Chris Stapleton, Traveller -- WINNER
Luke Bryan, Kill The Lights
Sam Hunt, Montevallo
Zac Brown Band, Jekyll + Hyde
Carrie Underwood, Storyteller
Top Rock Album:
Alabama Shakes, Sound & Color
David Bowie, Blackstar
Coldplay, A Head Full Of Dreams
Mumford & Sons, Wilder Mind
twenty one pilots, Blurryface -- WINNER
Top Latin Album:
Juan Gabriel, Los Dúo -- WINNER
Juan Gabriel, Mis Número 1…40 Aniversario
Mana, Cama Incendiada
Gerardo Ortiz, Hoy Más Fuerte
Romeo Santos, Formula, Vol. 2
Top Dance/Electronic Album:
David Guetta, Listen
Major Lazer, Peace Is The Mission
ODESZA, In Return
Skrillex & Diplo, Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü
Zedd, True Colors -- WINNER
Top Christian Album:
Lauren Daigle, How Can It Be -- WINNER
Hillsong UNITED, Empires
Joey + Rory, Hymns That Are Important To Us
TobyMac, This Is Not A Test
Chris Tomlin, Adore: Christmas Songs of Worship
Top Gospel Album:
Anthony Brown & group therAPy, Everyday Jesus
Tasha Cobbs, One Place Live
Kirk Franklin, Losing My Religion -- WINNER
Jonathan McReynolds, Life Music: Stage Two
Marvin Sapp, You Shall Live
Top Selling Song:
Adele, “Hello” -- WINNER
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, “See You Again”
OMI, “Cheerleader”
Rachel Platten, “Fight Song”
The Weeknd, “The Hills”
Top Radio Song:
Adele “Hello”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, “See You Again”
Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk!”
Walk the Moon, “Shut Up and Dance” -- WINNER
The Weeknd, “Can’t Feel My Face”
Top Streaming Song (Audio):
Justin Bieber, “Sorry”
Justin Bieber, “What Do You Mean”
Fetty Wap, “Trap Queen”
The Weeknd, “The Hills” -- WINNER
Drake, “Hotline Bling”
Top Streaming Song (Video):
Fetty Wap, “Trap Queen”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, “See You Again”
Mark Ronson Featuring Bruno Mars, “Uptown Funk!”
Silentó, “Watch Me” -- WINNER
The Weeknd, “The Hills”
Top Rap Song:
Drake, “Hotline Bling”
Fetty Wap, “Trap Queen”
Fetty Wap, “679” feat. Remy Boyz
Silentó, “Watch Me”
Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth, “See You Again” -- WINNER
Top Rock Song:
Fall Out Boy, “Uma Thurman”
Elle King, “Ex’s & Oh’s”
twenty one pilots, “Stressed Out”
Walk the Moon, “Shut Up And Dance” -- WINNER
X Ambassadors, “Renegades”
Top Latin Song:
J Balvin “Ginza”
Ariel Camacho y Los Plebes del Rancho, “Te Metiste”
Nicky Jam & Enrique Iglesias, “El Perdon” -- WINNER
Maluma, “Borro Cassette”
Romeo Santos, “Propuesta Indecente”
Top Dance/Electronic Song:
The Chainsmokers Featuring ROZES, “Roses”
DJ Snake & AlunaGeorge, “You Know You Like It”
David Guetta feat. Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha & Afrojack, “Hey Mama”
Major Lazer & DJ Snake Featuring MØ, “Lean On” -- WINNER
Skrillex & Diplo, “Where Are Ü Now” with Justin Bieber
Top Christian Song:
Hillsong UNITED, “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” -- WINNER
Hillsong UNITED, “Touch the Sky”
MercyMe, “Flawless”
NEEDTOBREATHE Featuring Gavin DeGraw, “Brother”
Chris Tomlin, “Good Good Father”
Top Gospel Song:
Anthony Brown and group therAPy, “Worth”
Erica Campbell feat. Big Shizz, “I Luh God”
Kirk Franklin, “Wanna Be Happy?” -- WINNER
Travis Greene, “Intentional”
Brian Courtney Wilson, “Worth Fighting For”