XXXTENTACION's "?" Wins Top R&B Album At 2019 Billboard Music Awards

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Fans leave art outside the XXXTentacion Funeral & Fan Memorialat BB&T Center on June 27, 2018 in Sunrise, Florida.
The late rapper's album was up against project's from The Weeknd, Ella Mai, Khalid, and H.E.R.

XXXTENTACION beat out some of the biggest R&B artists at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards last night. The last album he released while he was alive, ?, took home Top R&B Album of the year, beating out albums from Khalid, The Weeknd, Ella Mai, Khalid, and H.E.R. The rapper was nominated for 10 awards including Top Streaming Songs, Top Billboard 200 Artist, Top R&B Male Artist, and Top Male Artist.

His award wasn't included in the nationally televised broadcast of the BBMA's this time. His mother previously accepted his award at the BET Awards, alongside the rapper's manager and lawyer, when he posthumously won Best New Hip Hop Artist. His mother did acknowledge the honor on Instagram, writing, "#17Forever #LLJ." She later accepted his award for Favorite R&B/Soul Album at the American Music Awards.

XXXTENTACION's "?" Wins Top R&B Album At 2019 Billboard Music Awards

Since the rapper's death, his estate has signed off on a few posthumous releases. His album, Skins, arrived in December and included features from Kanye West and Blink 182's Travis Barker. He also released "Arms Around You," a dancehall-pop record with Lil Pump featuring Raw Sremmurd's Swae Lee and Maluma with production from Skrillex.

Earlier this year, a deluxe double-disc version of his award-winning album ? which included the album's instrumentals, new songs with Rico Nasty and Yoko Shimomura, freestyles, voice memos, as well as his holiday-themed, A Ghetto Christmas Carol. Most recently, his mother teased a collaboration with Vybz Kartel and Stefflon Don.


About The Author
Aron A.
Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.
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