Billboard gathered leaders and icons across R&B and hip-hop in New York City on September 9 for its 2026 R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players celebration, crowning top artists and executives across generations, Mix93 reported.
Held at SoHo House, the annual gathering named singer-songwriter Kehlani as the 2026 R&B Artist of the Year. During her acceptance remarks, Kehlani highlighted her long-term collaboration with manager David Ali, CEO of Above Ground Entertainment, who has managed her career for over a decade and was named R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players Executive of the Year.
The ceremony also celebrated historic contributions from veteran Philadelphia acts. The Roots were inducted into Billboard’s Hip-Hop Hall of Fame in recognition of their decades-long legacy of blending live instrumentation with hip-hop. Soul icon Jill Scott received Billboard’s R&B Hall of Fame award for her enduring influence on modern R&B and soul vocals.
In addition to honoring established figures, the event highlighted emerging talent across three genres. Samara Cyn earned the 2026 Hip-Hop Rising Star award, while Destin Conrad took home the R&B Rising Star title. Artist Skippa became the inaugural recipient of Billboard’s Caribbean Rising Star award. The celebration concluded with an R&B/Hip-Hop Live concert on September 10 at Brooklyn Steel, featuring performances by the rising stars alongside artists Lucky Daye, Yung Miami, and kwn.