This year, the 2021 Billboard Music Awards has a list of heavy-hitters vying for the night's big award for the year's Top Artist.
Here are this year's "finalists": Drake, Juice WRLD, Pop Smoke, Taylor Swift, and The Weeknd. Check out some compelling reasons for each artist below, and then VOTE for who you think should take home the night's Top Artist trophy.
Listen to your favorite music now on Audacy
DRAKE
Getty Images
Although his Certified Lover Boy album has been postponed, Drake decided to hold fans over with a three-song EP featuring collabs with Rick Ross and Lil Baby. While we've been bopping to Scary Hours 2 since the moment it dropped, so have you. He made Billboard history earlier this year by holding down the three top spots on the Hot 100. Let's also not forget that Drizzy will be honored during this year's ceremony as Billboard's Artist of the Decade. All hail the King of Toronto.
JUICE WRLD
Getty Images
Rapper Juice WRLD made history months after his untimely passing at the age of 21 after reportedly suffering a seizure at Midway Airport in Chicago and was pronounced dead a short time later at the hospital. Released after his passing, his album Legends Never Die officially became the most successful posthumous album release of the last two decades in the US. This nomination is bittersweet for fans who had hopes the "Lucid Dreams" crossover rapper would have brought so much more to the table given more time on this Earth.
POP SMOKE
Getty Images
It's been over a year since Pop Smoke was murdered during a Brooklyn home invasion. The rising star was only 20 years old at the time of his tragic death and was well on his way to becoming the next big thing, making his acting debut in March in Eddie Huang’s coming of age film Boogie. Pop Smoke's thumping track "Shake the Room" made it's way into the UFC world in 2020, and his debut album Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon, hit number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart in July, with all 19 tracks landing on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart.
TAYLOR SWIFT
Getty Images
Must we even? Fine, Taylor Swift is re-recording all of her past albums to regain creative and monetary control; she dropped not one but TWO secret albums while under lockdown; she's also opened up her vault of unreleased songs for fans, and she just beat The Beatles' long-standing record for the fastest time of having three albums go number one on the chart. As the only female in the running, we just have to say... Come at her, bro.
THE WEEKND
Getty Images
After dropping the biggest digital track of 2020 with "Blinding Lights", his epic Super Bowl performance, and his After Hours album getting snubbed at the GRAMMYs, it's looking like The Weeknd's time to shine on an awards stage may finally be at hand.
Get your votes in now! Tell us below who you think should take home the Top Artist trophy at this year's BBMAs -- and follow along with our continuing coverage. The 2021 Billboard Music Awards will air live on Sunday, May 23 at 8PM ET/5PM PT on NBC.
WATCH MORE: A look at who's up for a Billboard Music Award
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
