Few in music have enjoyed the longevity that Drake has experienced. From his So Far Gone release in 2009 to simultaneously holding the top three spots on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2021, Drake has certainly cemented himself as one of the most influential superstars of the last decade. As a result, Billboard has decided to present the Toronto native with the “Artist of the Decade” award at their upcoming ceremony.
The decision to present Drake with this award coincides with the company’s decade-end lists from December 2019. He beat out superstars like Rihanna, Adele, Post Malone, Bruno Mars and Justin Bieber for this award. It is also important to note that in a decade that was largely defined by the rise of Rap and Hip-Hop culture, Drake was the only rapper listed in the publication’s top ten artists of the 2010s. With that said, Drake is the second consecutive rapper to win the award. Eminem won the award at the end of the last decade. Prior to the Detroit native, Mariah Carey won the award.
Nick Jonas is slated to host the 2021 Billboard Music Awards on May 23 in Los Angeles, California at the Microsoft Theater. Beginning at 5 p.m., the award show will air on NBC.
