2023 NAACP Image Awards: Check Out the NAACP Image Awards-Worthy Hip-Hop/Rap Tracks Nominated at This Year’s Ceremony
The 2023 NAACP Image Awards will be filled with moments you’ll be upset you missed when the biggest celebration in Black Hollywood takes place live on Saturday, February 25, at 8:00 PM ET on BET. Ahead of this year’s show, we’re taking a closer look at our nominees in the running for some of the most prestigious of the night. Before we reveal our winners, check out the NAACP Image Awards-worthy hip-hop and rap tracks nominated at this year’s event.
Armani White — “Billie Eilish”
Enoch Armani Tolbert, better known as rapper Armani White, burst onto the scene thanks to his famous track “Billie Eilish.” The song samples "Nothin'" by veteran emcee turned podcast boss N.O.R.E. and was produced by July Da Producer.
Fivio Foreign — “City of Gods”
Brooklyn-drill rapper Fivio Foreign released “City of Gods” from his highly anticipated debut album B.I.BL.E. The track includes vocals from Grammy Award-winning musician Kanye West and Alicia Keys and features an interpolation of The Chainsmokers’ 2015 single “New York City.”
Quavo, Takeoff — “Hotel Lobby”
In one of their last collaborations, Quavo and the late Takeoff introduced the world to their new group, Unc and Phew —a play on their connection to each other— with their single “Hotel Lobby” off their collaborative album Only Built for Infinity Links.
The visual for the song pays tribute to the 1998 film Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, with Quavo and Takeoff taking the roles of characters Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo, respectively.
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Kendrick Lamar — “The Heart Part 5”
Released as a promotional single for Kendrick Lamar's fifth studio album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, “The Heart Part 5” became a massive success for the West Coast emcee for several reasons. First, the track features a funky interpolation of Marvin Gaye’s 1976 smash single "I Want You,” as Kendrick delivered his signature social commentary on the current conditions of the Black culture’s institutionalized discrimination.
The song also finds the emcee looking into themes of empathy, mental health, and death from different perspectives. He infamously morphed into several disgraced celebrities, including Kanye West, OJ Simpson, and Jussie Smollett, using deepfake technology. Other figures included Will Smith, the late Kobe Bryant, and Nipsey Hussle.
Future Feat. Drake and Tems “Wait for U”
In one of the most played records of 2022, Future taps frequent collaborator Drake for their single titled “Wait for U.” The song was an instant success thanks to a familiar voice—Afrobeat star Tems—who appears during the track’s chorus with lyrics from her project “Higher.”
The song ultimately debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Future's second, Drake's tenth, and Tems' first number-one hit on the Hot 100.
Watch the NAACP Image Awards live on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at 8:00 pm ET/PT on BET.
