Musiq Soulchild was the big winner at the first Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, presented Aug. 30 at the New Yok Hilton Hotel. The Def Soul singer won in four of the major categories, which include: top artist, new artist, male artist, and singles artist. Second to Musiq was Jive’s R. Kelly, picking up three awards for top album (“TP2.com”), albums artist, and songwriter.
Since the awards are based on actual performance on Billboard’s weekly R&B/Hip-Hop and Rap charts since the start of the current chart year and utilizes sales data from SoundScan and radio information compiled by Broadcast Data Systems, it is not always about the music but rather than the actual album sales. In an Ironic set of circumstance these awards seem to have represented the music much more.
Here is the full list of 2001 Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards winners:
Top R&B/hip-hop album: “TP-2.com,” R. Kelly
Top R&B/hip-hop single: “Stutter,” Joe featuring Mystikal
Top R&B/hip-hop artist: Musiq Soulchild
Top R&B/hip-hop artist – male: Musiq Soulchild
Top R&B/hip-hop artist – female: Jill Scott
Top R&B/hip-hop artist – duo or group: Outkast
Top R&B/hip-hop artist – new: Musiq Soulchild
Top R&B/hip-hop singles artist: Musiq Soulchild
Top R&B/hip-hop albums artist: R. Kelly
Top R&B/hip-hop single -sales: “Could It Be,” Jaheim
Top R&B/hip-hop single – airplay: “Promise,” Jagged Edge
Top rap album: “Hotshot, ” Shaggy
Top rap single – sales: “What Would You Do?,” City High
Top songwriter: R. Kelly
Top producers: The Neptunes
Top major label: Island Def Jam Music Group
Top independent label: Loud