,

2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards: SZA, Usher Among Artist of the Year Nominees

Beyoncé, Drake, Doja Cat, Ice Spice and Metro Boomin lead the Hip-Hop and R&B nominees at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards.

Photo: Getty Images Kevin Mazur/WireImage for Parkwood, Mike Coppola, Amy Sussman

Look, we all know Taylor Swift is probably winning everything at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards. However, there are still several high-profile Black artists nominated for Artist of the Year and Song of the Year. Of course, the Hip-Hop and R&B categories feature fan favorites like Drake, 21 Savage, SZA, Usher and Beyoncé. The show recognizes the top songs and artists from the iHeartRadio app and stations, so some of these you may know and some may be new discoveries.

Before the big show airs April 1 at 8 p.m. EST on Fox, check out our recap of the biggest names nominated at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards.

SZA – Artist of the Year

With “SOS” dominating charts and “Kill Bill” captivating fans, it’s no surprise that SZA is one of the Artist of the Year nominees.

Usher – Artist of the Year

Not only was his Las Vegas residency in the headlines all year, Usher reminded everyone that he’s still got it with new R&B bangers.

Drake – Artist of the Year

No matter what you think of Drake, you can’t deny that anytime he puts out a new album or appears on a song, it’s a big event.

“Paint The Town Red” – Doja Cat – Song of the Year

Doja Cat is great, but this is really about celebrating Dionne Warwick. I really hope she appears on the show to perform with the rapper.

“Calm Down” – Rema and Selena Gomez – Song of the Year

I know it’s weird to see Selena Gomez in Afrobeats categories, but if it gets more people to pay attention, I suppose it helps.

“Good Good” – Usher, Summer Walker and 21 Savage – Best Collaboration

In this uncertain world, you can always count on Usher to deliver a sexy R&B track when you need it most.

“Creepin’” – Metro Boomin with The Weeknd and 21 Savage – Best Collaboration

It doesn’t matter what the song is about, The Weeknd makes everything feel haunting and dramatic.

“Rich Flex” – Drake and 21 Savage – Hip-Hop Song of the Year

I’m pretty sure Drake could release a song with Alvin and the Chipmunks and it would be nominated for Best Collaboration. Dammit! Now I want to hear that song.

Ice Spice – Best New Artist (Hip-Hop)

Ice Spice has been sweeping new artist awards this year, but she has tough competition from Doechii, Lola Brooke, Sexyy Red and Young Nudy.

Drake – Hip-Hop Artist of the Year

21 Savage, Future, Gunna and Lil Durk are all popular acts, but we all know Drake is winning this one.

“CUFF IT”- Beyoncé – R&B Song of the Year

With all due respect to the other nominees, Queen Bey’s only real competition here is from Victoria Monét’s “On My Mama.”

Beyoncé – R&B Artist of the Year

We will look back on 2023 as The Year of the Renaissance.

Tyla – Best African Music Artist

Every once in a while, an artist breaks through and we instantly know they’re going to be special. That’s how we feel about Tyla.

Victoria Monét – Best New Artist (R&B)

There may not be another category that is more of a lock than this one. We know Victoria Monét is exactly new, but “On My Mama” was too good and it was everywhere.

In Pieces– Chlöe – Favorite Debut Album

Chlöe’s debut may not have conquered the charts, but her music is interesting and fresh.

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images, YouTube

A Peek Inside Travis Hunter’s New Jacksonville Mansion

Days after his wedding, NFL star Travis Hunter bought a mansion in one of Florida's most exclusive neighborhoods ...
Black Musicians Who Were Targeted By The FBI and Other Law Enforcement

Black Musicians Who Were Targeted By The FBI and Other Law Enforcement

For decades, the FBI has kept a close eye on Black musicians and other artists they saw as a threat to the status quo ...

Paris Jackson Blasts Haters for Criticizing Tour on Michael Jackson's Death Anniversary

Paris Jackson Blasts Haters for Criticizing Tour on Michael Jackson’s Death Anniversary

Paris has never shied away from defending herself when it comes to anything related to her King of Pop father. And it doesn't look like things have changed! ...
In Minnesota Assassination Attempt, Wife's Split-Second Decision is a Testament to a Mother's Love

In Minnesota Assassination Attempt, Wife’s Split-Second Decision is a Testament to a Mother’s Love

Sen. John Hoffman's wife, Yvette, was shot eight times in her home on Saturday. He was wounded nine times ...
Jeezy Reveals This Surprising Update After Messy Divorce From Jeannie Mai

Jeezy Reveals This Surprising Update After Messy Divorce From Jeannie Mai

The ink on the divorce between Jeezy and for 'The Real' cohost Mai dried back in June 2024 after a tumultuous back and forth ...
Handsome Black Doorman Gets Discovered at NYC Restaurant

Handsome Black Doorman Gets Discovered at NYC Restaurant

A video of a random encounter with a woman on the street has propelled this handsome doorman to superstardom ...
Why Ananda Lewis' Death is a Cautionary Tale For Black Women Fighting Breast Cancer

Why Ananda Lewis’ Death is a Cautionary Tale For Black Women Fighting Breast Cancer

The beloved television personality and host of BET's Teen Summit wanted other women to learn from her mistakes ...
Carrie Underwood's Shady Reaction to Jamal Roberts' 'American Idol' Win, Explained

Carrie Underwood’s Shady Reaction to Jamal Roberts’ ‘American Idol’ Win, Explained

Jamal Roberts, the second Black man to win "American Idol" in over 20 years, is finally breaking his silence over his feat and the reaction it garnered from judge Carrie Underwood. And trust us when we say his response was nothing but classy. As we previously told you, throughout the ...
Chicago Black Man's Face is Forever Changed After Being Tased By Police, But That's Not the Worst Part...

Chicago Black Man’s Face is Forever Changed After Being Tased By Police, But That’s Not the Worst Part…

The Chicago man says he suffered permanent eye damage as a result of the incident.  ...
Why Gavin Newsom Might Be the White Dude Who Can Stand Up to Trump

Why Gavin Newsom Might Be the White Dude Who Can Stand Up to Trump

Is Newsom the man we have been waiting (praying) for to come for Trump's crown? ...
Doja Cat attends the 65th GRAMMY Awards on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: Getty Images Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Doja Cat’s Strange Interaction With Fan Leaves the Internet Divided

The "Say So" singer's odd interaction with a fan has the internet talking ...
Judge Mathis Has Some Interesting Words About Diddy Trial

Judge Mathis Has Some Interesting Words About Diddy Trial

Mathis, the famous TV judge, is giving his legal two cents about the Bad Boy mogul and he's not mincing words ...
These Black Democrats Were Allegedly Next on the Minnesota Gunman's Hitlist

These Black Democrats Were Allegedly Next on the Minnesota Gunman’s Hitlist

Vance Boelter allegedly didn’t plan on stopping at Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband ...
Why the Black Internet Believes Grammys Just Threw Shade at Beyoncé

Why the Black Internet Believes Grammys Just Threw Shade at Beyoncé

Just a few months after Beyoncé made history with her country record, the Grammys just made a major change to their country category. Coincidence...? The internet certainly doesn't think so. To be clear, this sudden change is the only new category added by the Recording Academy for the 68th Annual ...
Proof  The 'Absent Black Father' Was a Big Lie

Proof The ‘Absent Black Father’ Was a Big Lie

It's time to celebrate the Black dads who are showing up for their kids ...
Jay-Z's Daughter Rumi Carter Throws Up the Roc Nation Sign On Stage, Sparking Insane Illuminati Theories

Jay-Z’s Daughter Rumi Carter Throws Up the Roc Nation Sign On Stage, Sparking Insane Illuminati Theories

Jay-Z has detailed the origins of his symbol in the past, but that hasn't stopped the internet with conspiracy theories ...
You Know Of The Tuskegee Airmen, But  You Don't Know What 'The Harlem 'Hellfighters' Did to Win The War

You Know Of The Tuskegee Airmen, But You Don’t Know What ‘The Harlem ‘Hellfighters’ Did to Win The War

There are many Black people who served in the U.S. Army with honor. Let's give them their flowers ...
Sole Survivor Explains How He's Alive After Air India Crash

Sole Survivor Explains How He’s Alive After Air India Crash

An Air India flight crash that claimed over 240 lives had one remarkable sole survivor. Viswashkumar Ramesh, 40, was one of the 242 people on board the London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which crashed in the northwestern Indian city of Ahmedabad about half a minute after takeoff on Thursday. While recovering ...