The tour’s first night saw Kendrick break Eminem‘s previous record of highest-grossing rap concert.
According to Touring Data, the opening night in Minneapolis grossed over $9.1 million from more than 47,000 fans at an average price of $192.70.
This means that Kendrick can now boast that he has the single highest grossing Hip Hop concert of all time, surpassing Eminem’s record from when he played in Melbourne, Australia in 2019.
It is also the first rap concert to break the $9 million barrier.
The concert in Minneapolis was also the most attended gig for both Kendrick and SZA outside of festival performances.
The opening night of the Grand National tour was also notable for some remarks Kendrick appeared to aim at his nemesis, Drake.
Making overt reference to Drizzy’s controversial lawsuit against Universal Music Group which accuses the record giant of defamation over the release and promotion of “Not Like Us,” Kendrick mocked the 6 God for taking their beef to the courtroom.
Independent record labels have been the lifeblood of hip-hop over the last five decades, and no other rap label is currently pushing the line like Top Dawg Entertainment.
Established in 2004 by California native Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, the imprint started with humble beginnings but quickly found its footing in the Los Angeles rap scene. Throughout the aughts, TDE signed rising talent like Jay Rock (2005), Kendrick Lamar (2005), Ab-Soul (2007) and ScHoolboy Q (2009). Each of the rappers’ debut albums saw modest success, but in 2012, the label scored its first top 10 Billboard 200 album when Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city debuted at No. 2. Then, in 2013, the label stepped into the R&B realm by scooping up then little-known R&B star SZA.
The label’s eye for talent has turned into a track record for success. In total, TDE has put out seven No .1 albums and a total of 17 top-20 projects. While Kendrick Lamar parted ways with the label in 2022, he turned into an international superstar under the tutelage of TDE and still has a close bond with his former labelmates and the executive team.
More recently, TDE’s successes have been playing out on major stages. K-Dot recently won five Grammy Awards and performed a record-breaking set at the 2025 Super Bowl with SZA in February. And there’s the whole matter of vanquishing hip-hop’s golden child, Drake, in 2024.
This past February, former XXL Freshman Doechii, who signed to TDE in 2022, won Best Rap Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards. Her star continues to rise, as she also earned Outstanding New Artist at the 2025 NAACP Image Awards, recently performed alongside Ms. Lauryn Hill and was honored as the Billboard Woman of the Year for 2025.
SZA has become a force to be reckoned with. Her triple-platinum sophomore album, SOS, debuted at No. 1 in 2022. The album recently tied Michael Jackson’s Thriller as the longest-running top 10 album by a Black artist in the history of the Billboard 200 chart.
She also costars alongside KeKe Palmer in the new film One of Them Days, which opened at No. 1 at the box office this year, raking in over 11 million in its opening week. SZA and Kendrick will also be embarking on the Grand National Tour later this year.
Read More: How TDE Became the Current Most Powerful Label in Hip-Hop | https://www.xxlmag.com/top-dawg-entertainment-most-powerful-label-hip-hop/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
Recorded between 2013 and 2014, the 14-track project, released Friday (January 16), follows 2020’s Circles.
SZA, who features on “DJ’s Chord Organ,” took to social media shortly after Balloonerism dropped to pay tribute to Mac Miller.
“I love my friend I miss my friend,” she wrote. “Grateful he saw something in me before most and treated me w love from day 1 . Wish he could see how right ab everything he truly was . Please go stream Balloonerism RIGHT NOW.”
The album dropped alongside an animated short film directed by Samuel Jerome Mason. The film was screened at selected cinemas before the project’s release and is also available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Mac Miller’s estate announced Balloonerism last November. They note the album is, a “project that was of great importance to Malcolm – to the extent that he commissioned artwork for it and discussions concerning when it should be released were had regularly, though ultimately ‘GO:OD AM’ [2015] and subsequent albums ended up taking precedence.”
They continued: “We believe the project showcases both the breadth of his musical talents and fearlessness as an artist. Given that unofficial versions of the album have circulated online for years and that releasing ‘Balloonerism’ was something that Malcolm frequently expressed being important to him, we felt it most appropriate to present an official version of the project to the world.”
Balloonerism is already receiving rave reviews on social media and began trending No.1 on X (Twitter) shortly after it dropped. Stream the album below and check out some of the reactions at the end of the page.
Drake’s For All the Dogs album has finally arrived.
Source: XXLMag
Drake Drops His New Album For All the Dogs
On Friday morning (Oct. 6), hip-hop fans experienced the moment the whole rap game spent an entire summer anticipating: the release of Drake’s For All the Dogs. The album features 23 songs and guest appearances from 21 Savage, J. Cole, Chief Keef, SZA, Bad Bunny and more. Kevin Durant serves as the A&R on the new project.
Even though Drake masterfully used a majority of this past summer’s It’s All a Blur Tour as the primary vehicle for the album’s rollout, details about the sound and direction of For All the Dogs were few and far between. However, on Sept. 15, The Boy unleashed FATD’s lead single in the form of “Slime You Out” featuring SZA. After Drake faced backlash from Halle Berry for using a photo of her without permission to promote the single, the track was met with negative reviews from media critics like Charlamagne Tha God. Despite all that, “Slime You Out” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart upon its release.
On Thursday (Oct. 5), the Toronto rap superstar released “8AM in Charlotte,” his newest song in his series of timestamp tracks. The accompanying music video features his son Adonis explaining his For All the Dogs album cover drawing does not actually feature a dog.
Drake Initially Teased a New Project With a Poetry Book
Before the album was officially announced, Drake teased the project by releasing his first poetry book called Titles Ruin Everything, A Stream of Consciousness by Kenza Samir and Aubrey Graham back in June. The book is coauthored with Kenza Samir who is a songwriter with writing credits on many of Drizzy’s albums including his 2015 mixtape, If You’re Reading This, It’s too Late, and his 2018 album, Scorpion.
The 168-page book, available at drakerelated.com and publisher Phaidon.com for $19.95, features Drake’s provocative muses on fame, romance and relationships. “I don’t know if I have ever wanted people to buy or support something more in my life,” the rap superstar wrote in an Instagram post touting his latest literary endeavor.
Along with the book, he promoted it by buying full-page ads in the New York Post, The New York Times and other newspapers. However, in the ad was a QR code that revealed he was dropping a new album with the poetry book.
“I made an album to go with the book…They say they miss the old Drake girl don’t tempt me,” he wrote, before concluding with “FOR ALL THE DOGS” in all caps.
Listen to Drake’s New Album For All the Dogs
Drake’s For All the Dogs Album Tracklist
1. “Virginia Beach”
2. “Amen” featuring Teezo Touchdown
3. “Calling for You” featuring 21 Savage
4. “Fear of Heights”
5. “Daylight”
6. “First Person Shooter” featuring J. Cole
7. “IDGAF” featuring Yeat
8. “7969 Santa”
9. “Slime You Out” featuring SZA
10. “Bahamas Promises”
11. “Tried Our Best”
12. “Screw the World (Interlude)”
13. “Members Only” featuring PartyNextDoor
14. “Drew a Picasso”
15. “What Would Pluto Do”
16. “All the Parties” featuring Chief Keef
17. “8am in Charlotte”
18. “BBL Love (Interlude)”
19. “Gently”
20. “Rich Baby Daddy” featuring Sexyy Red and SZA
21. “Another Late Night” featuring Lil Yachty
22. “Away From Home”
23. “Polar Opposites”
The annual awards show went down at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California on Sunday night (June 25), which proved to be another eventful night as cultural icons were celebrated, emerging legends were coronated and, in Quavo and Offset’s case, brotherhood was restored.
Beyoncé and SZA were this year’s biggest winners with three awards each. Queen Bey’s Renaissance was crowned Album of the Year, while her “Break My Soul” music video took home the Viewer’s Choice and BET Her awards.
SZA’s record-breaking SOS also won Album of the Year in a rare tie in the standout category, while her “Kill Bill” mini-movie claimed Video of the Year.
The TDE songstress was also crowned Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, fending off stiff competition from Beyoncé, Lizzo, Ari Lennox, Tems, H.E.R. and Coco Jones — the latter of whom was named Best New Artist.
As for Drake, the 6 God trailed closely behind with two wins: Best Group alongside his Her Loss cohort 21 Savage and Best Collaboration for his appearance on Future’s chart-topping hit “Wait For U,” which also featured Tems.
Elsewhere, Kendrick Lamar won Best Male Hip Hop Artist for a second year running, Chris Brown and Usher were jointly named Best Male R&B/Pop Artist and Latto beat out Nicki Minaj, Cardi B, Ice Spice, GloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion and Coi Leray to the Best Female Hip Hop Artist award.
During her televised acceptance speech, the “Big Energy” hitmaker saluted both her peers and the pioneers who paved the way, while also showing love to the female MCs who missed out on a nomination in the category.
“I’m not gon’ cry this year,” Latto began, referencing her tearful Best New Artist victory at last year’s BET Awards. “Shout out to God. He be doing his big one on me! Shout out to all the other women in the category, all the women who paved the way for this to be even be possible, this category is going crazy this year.
“Oh, shout out to some women who I think should have been in the category: Doechii — I love you, baby — Maiya The Don, Flo Milli, Mello Buckzz, TiaCorine. Shout out to all the women, we killin’ it. This is the year of the female, year of women. Hopefully we gon’ see an all-female tour very soon, you feel me?”
“Momma, I love you. And my man, thank you to my man,” she added with a wry smile and sexually suggestive gesture, referencing the long-running speculation surrounding her love life.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
GloRilla — Anyways, Life’s Great
Chris Brown — Breezy
DJ Khaled — God Did
Drake & 21 Savage — Her Loss
Kendrick Lamar — Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers Beyoncé — Renaissance — WINNER (Tie) SZA — SOS — WINNER (Tie)
BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST
Ari Lennox
Beyoncé
Coco Jones
H.E.R.
Lizzo SZA — WINNER
Tems
BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST
Blxst
Brent Faiyaz
Burna Boy Chris Brown — WINNER (Tie)
Drake
The Weeknd Usher — WINNER (Tie)
BEST GROUP
City Girls Drake & 21 Savage — WINNER
Dvsn
FLO
Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin
Quavo & TakeOff
Wanmor
BEST COLLABORATION
Latto & Mariah Carey f. DJ Khaled — “Big Energy (Remix)”
Pinkpantheress & Ice Spice — “Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2”
Chris Brown f. Wizkid — “Call Me Every Day”
King Combs f. Kodak Black — “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop”
Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage — “Creepin’”
Hitkidd & GloRilla — “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)”
GloRilla & Cardi B — “Tomorrow 2” Future f. Drake & Tems — “Wait For U” — WINNER
BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST
Cardi B
Coi Leray
GloRilla
Ice Spice Latto — WINNER
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST
21 Savage
Drake
Future
J. Cole
Jack Harlow Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
Lil Baby
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Chris Brown — “We (Warm Embrace)”
Peezy, Jeezy & Real Boston Richey f. Rob49 — “2 Million Up”
Lizzo — “About Damn Time”
Steve Lacy — “Bad Habit”
Jack Harlow — “First Class” SZA — “Kill Bill” — WINNER
GloRilla & Cardi B — “Tomorrow 2”
VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
A$AP Rocky for AWGE
Benny Boom
Burna Boy
Cole Bennett
Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
Director X Teyana “Spike Tey” Taylor — WINNER
BEST NEW ARTIST
Ambré Coco Jones — WINNER
Doechii
FLO
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Lola Brooke
DR. BOBBY JONES BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin — “Bless Me” — WINNER
Tamela Mann — “Finished (Live)”
CeCe Winans — “I’ve Got Joy”
Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin f. Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore — “Kingdom”
Tye Tribbett — “New”
Yolanda Adams — “One Moment From Glory”
PJ Morton f. Lisa Knowles-Smith, Le’andria Johnson, Keke Wyatt, Kierra Sheard & Tasha Cobbs Leonard — “The Better Benediction (Pt. 2)”
VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD
Lizzo — “About Damn Time” Beyoncé — “Break My Soul” — WINNER
Jack Harlow — “First Class”
Drake f. 21 Savage — “Jimmy Cooks”
SZA — “Kill Bill”
Burna Boy — “Last Last”
Nicki Minaj — “Super Freaky Girl”
Future f. Drake & Tems — “Wait For U”
BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT
Aya Nakamura (France)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria) Burna Boy (Nigeria) — WINNER
Central Cee (UK)
Ella Mai (UK)
Ko (South Africa)
L7nnon (Brazil)
Stormzy (UK)
Tiakola (France)
Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)
VIEWER’S CHOICE: BEST NEW INTERNATIONAL ACT
Asake (Nigeria)
Camidoh (Ghana)
Flo (UK) Libianca (Cameroon) — WINNER
Maureen (France)
MC Ryan SP (Brazil)
Pabi Cooper (South Africa)
Raye (UK)
Werenoi (France)
BET HER
Lizzo — “About Damn Time”
Pinkpantheress & Ice Spice — “Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2” Beyoncé — “Break My Soul” — WINNER
Megan Thee Stallion — “Her”
Rihanna & Ludwig Göransson — “Lift Me Up”
Coi Leray — “Players”
Lizzo — “Special”
BEST MOVIE Black Panther: Wakanda Forever — WINNER
Creed III
Emancipation
Nope
The Woman King
Till
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody
BEST ACTOR
Amin Joseph
Brian Tyree Henry Damson Idris — WINNER
Daniel Kaluuya
Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr.
Donald Glover
Michael B. Jordan
BEST ACTRESS Angela Bassett — WINNER
Coco Jones
Janelle James
Janelle Monáe
Keke Palmer
Viola Davis
Zendaya
YOUNGSTARS AWARD
Akira Akbar
Alaya High
Demi Singleton
Genesis Denise Marsai Martin — WINNER
Thaddeus J. Mixson
Young Dylan
SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
Alexis Morris
Allyson Felix Angel Reese — WINNER
Candace Parker
Naomi Osaka
Serena Williams
Sha’Carri Richardson
SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
Aaron Judge
Bubba Wallace
Gervonta Davis Jalen Hurts — WINNER
LeBron James
Patrick Mahomes
Steph Curry
On Thursday (June 8), the official nomination list was released to the public. The 6 God’s nods include Best Male Hip Hop artist, Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, Best Group with 21 Savage, and Album of the Year for Her Loss with 21 Savage.
Similarly, Big Glo nominations include Best Female Hip Hop Artist, Best New Artist, and Album of the Year for Anyways, Life’s Great…, Video of the Year for “Tomorrow 2” with Cardi B, and two nominations for best collaboration (“F.N.F. Let’s Go” and “Tomorrow 2”).
Last year, GloRilla took home the award for Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist Of The Year at BET’s Hip Hop Awards.
Check out the complete nomination list below:
Album of the Year
Anyways, Life’s Great – GloRilla
Breezy – Chris Brown
GOD DID – DJ Khaled
Her Loss – Drake & 21 Savage
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers – Kendrick Lamar
Renaissance – Beyoncé
SOS – SZA
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Ari Lennox
Beyoncé
Coco Jones
H.E.R.
Lizzo
SZA
Tems
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Blxst
Brent Faiyaz
Burna Boy
Chris Brown
Drake
The Weeknd
Usher
Best Group
City Girls
Drake & 21 Savage
DVSN
FLO
Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin
Quavo & Takeoff
Wanmor
Best Collaboration
“Big Energy (Remix)” – Latto & Mariah Carey feat. DJ Khaled
“Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2” – Pinkpantheress & Ice Spice
“Call Me Every Day” – Chris Brown feat. Wizkid
“Can’t Stop Won’t Stop” – King Combs feat. Kodak Black
“Creepin’” – Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage
“F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” – Hitkidd & GloRilla
“Tomorrow 2” – GloRilla & Cardi B
“Wait For U” – Future feat. Drake & Tems
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B
Coi Leray
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
21 Savage
Drake
Future
J. Cole
Jack Harlow
Kendrick Lamar
Lil Baby
