Despite a lukewarm response from critics, Views was a commercial success and solidified Drake's position as one of the biggest acts in hip-hop. In August, Views went triple platinum, making the Toronto rapper the first artist of the year to achieve that benchmark. Then in late September, the album also hit over a billion streams on Apple Music.

Socially conscious Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar picked up the Lyricist of the Year award. In his acceptance speech, he promised fans he’d be keeping things real for as long as his in the business. “I promise you this,” said Kendrick, “as long as you keep music in your heart, keep it in your soul, no matter what type of style, no matter what type of flow, no matter what type of beat, what type of creativity, I guarantee you it’s one of the things that always brings us together in this room. We right here for a reason, you dig what I’m saying? Because of music.”

Other award-winners include Nicki Minaj, who picked up the award for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, and Beyonce, whose song 'Formation' got the Viewer's Choice Award.