2020 KTB Hip-Hop and Rap Awards

Welcome to the 2020 KTB Hip-Hop and Rap Awards. This is our 5th year doing this, and in the past we have done this year end as it takes the form of awards, rankings, recap. In fact, our very first one was with Nadeska Alexis host of Everyday Struggle. This year, instead of a ranking of the top 25 albums (our original plan), we have decided to name winners of awards in 7 categories.

This one is particularly special because we were in a pandemic, and it’s the last one I’ll do before I turn 40 in September 2021. I listened to about 50 albums this year and am still as plugged in as I was as a teenager and perhaps even more so due to technology. Many of my friends and loved ones are not, so now I feel like a nexus between the music of the high schoolers I teach and the people my age whom are too busy or distracted to keep up as I have.

2020 KTB Hip-Hop and Rap Awards: The Jim Jones Award – The Best Rapper In The World In 2020

The nominees are:

1. Benny The Butcher
2. Lil Baby
3. Megan Thee Stallion
4. Pop Smoke
5. Youngboy Never Broke Again

The winner is…Lil Baby.

We start off the 2020 KTB Hip-Hop and Rap Awards with the man who said it was his turn. He delivered in 2020 with My Turn which went double platinum as it was filled to the brim with hits upon hits. Whether it was the 42 Dugg-assisted “We Paid” or the anthemic “Heatin Up,” Lil Baby stayed in rotation and made sure his presence was felt. And of course, that’s not even mentioning “The Bigger Picture,” one of the most important songs of the year to come at such a pivotal time. The collabos with the City Girls on “Flewed Out”, Stunna 4 Vegas on “Do Dat”, and Lil Durk and Polo G on “3 Headed Goat” meant 2020 was Lil Baby’s year.

The Pun and Nore Award – You Came Up

The Nominees are:

1. Freddie Gibbs
2. Griselda Records (Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, Benny The Butcher)
3. Lil Baby
4. Megan Thee Stallion
5. Young Boy Never Broke Again

The winner is… Youngboy Never Broke Again.

A relentless work ethic in combination with a handle on the sound of the time, the 22 year old had not one, not two, but three Billboard #1 albums with Top, 38 Baby 2, and Still Flexing, Still Steppin.

The All Eyez On Me Award – Best Album

The nominees are:

1. Eternal Atake – Lil Uzi Vert
2. Legends Never Die – Juicewrld
3. My Turn – Lil Baby
4. Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial – Roddy Rich
5. Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon – Pop Smoke

The winner is…Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon by Pop Smoke.

The album dominated the charts this year as the Billboard Number 1 Rap and Hip Hop album for a year best 13 weeks. “Dior” was a smash hit, but the crown jewel off teh album is “Snitching” featuring Quavo and Future.

The Brooklyn’s Finest Award – Best Collaboration

The nominees are:

1. “3 Headed Goat” – Lil Durk, Polo G, Lil Baby
2. “Laugh Now, Cry Later” – Drake featuring Lil Durk
3. “Lemon” – Conway the Machine featuring Method Man
4. “T.D.” – Lil Yachty feat A$AP Rocky, Tyler the Creator, and Tierra Wack
5. “Wap” – Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion

The winner is “Lemon” by Conway The Machine featuring Method Man.

The modern day Wu-Tang Clan, Griselda was blessed by Shaolin in 2018 as their heir apparents making this collabo a literal passing of the torch. Method Man is up for verse of the year as well.

The Dusted N’ Disgusted Award: Best Verse

1. “Deal or No Deal” – Benny The Butcher
2. “Do Dat” – Stunna 4 Vegas featurig DaBaby and Lil Baby (Lil Baby’s verse)
3. “Laugh Now, Cry Later” – Drake featuring Lil Durk (Lil Durk’s verse)
4. “Lemon” – Conway the Machine featuring Method Man (Method Man’s verse)
5. “$500 Ounces” – Westside Gunn featuring Freddie Gibbs and Roc Marciano (Freddie Gibbs”

The winner is…“Deal or No Deal” by Benny the Butcher. The Butcher comin Nigga! My better half absolutely loves that. She says it every time she hears it.

187 with Griselda wrote in Arabic
Murder, I’m aware of it ’cause I’m who takin’ care of it
Your lil’ bitch said she won’t fuck me ’cause I’m arrogant
My plug used to let me hold them babies like a surrogate
I had them dope boys payin’ deposits to get they hands on product
Violence the only way you answer violence
I might pop up in the random projects
With powder like a can of comet, two or three runners and a Pyrex
We supervillains to the music business
I’m gettin’ too specific with what I
Do in kitchens, my shit too offensive
I make coke rap sound like a new invention
Cut an envelope of money open usin’ scissors
What’s worse than a fed case? Goin’ to trial broke
Against a prosecutor that washed more niggas than Dial soap
A brick of yay and a genie, that’s what it takes just to be me
‘Cause I’m too bougie for broke bitches and too gangster for TV
After the RICO, the cash came fast illegal
Y’all cover y’all battered egos in jewelry and Valentino
As for me though, I live by actual street code
I turn quarters to half a kilos to get my links froze
Yeah, probably got a bitch on every block in your hood
So I can still make a play and never stop in your hood
Bought some new Glocks, so I’m good, pounds stocky as Suge
Smokin’ Gary Payton just like the ’96 Bulls
Hold up, rappers pray to God that them disses get to me
I won’t get with them pussies until they make it interestin’ to meUh huh, you give your man hope when you give that man dope
Feed your family, that’s mandatory when your man broke
We was in them vans low, told my trigger man, “Go”
Now I make kilogram dough off an Instagram post, nigga

The Still Dre Award – Best Beat

The Nominees:

1. “The Box” – Roddy Rich
2. “Guess What” – Russ featuring Rick Ross
3. “Laugh Now, Cry Later” – Drake featuring Lil Durk
4. “Lotto” – Joyner Lucas
5. “Turks” – Nav featuring Gunna

The winner is “Guess What” by Russ featuring Rick Ross.

A collaborative production between super producer Boi-1da and Jahaan Sweet, the production is simply classic.

The Tip Drill Award – Best Music Video

The nominees are:

1. Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion – WAP
2. Drake – Laugh Now, Cry Later
3. Jay Electronica – Ghost of Soulja Slim
4. Jay Electronica – Universal Soldier
5. Westside Gunn – Allah Sent Me

The winner is… “Laugh Now, Cry Later” by Drake featuring Lil Durk

The star-studded visuals feature cameos from a number of star athletes such as Kevin Durant, Marshawn Lynch and Odell Beckham Jr. as well as social media sensations Aggy Abby and Druski2Funny, the video, was directed by Dave Meyers and shot at the Nike World Headquarters in Oregon after hours. Quite simply, it’s a montage of legendary Nike commercials dating back to the 80s and it’s genius.

The Forgot About Dre Award: Best Hook

1. “123” – Moneybagg Yo featuring Blac Youngsta
2. “Laugh Now, Cry Later” – Drake featuring Lil Durk
3. “Lou Will” – Stunna 4 Vegas
4. “Shut Up” – Yung Mal featuring Lil Keed and Lil Got It
5. “Whats Poppin” – Jack Harlow

The winner is…“What’s Poppin” by Jack Harlow. The smoothest white boy in the game, this hook got him a loaded roster on the remix and a regular feature as the music on Sportscenter’s Top Ten list.

What’s poppin’?
Brand new whip just hopped in
I got options
I could pass that bitch like Stockton
Just joshin’
I’ma spend this holiday locked in
My body got rid of them toxins
Sportscenter, top ten

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