Over the course of the year, we in
The DJBooth
have kept you supplied with the latest and greatest in hip-hop and R&B. Now, it’s time for you to weigh in. In anticipation of our sixth annual
Best of the Booth Awards
, we’re inviting our loyal readers to tell us which artists, albums, mixtapes and DJs stood out in 2013. Using your ratings, feedback, plays, downloads and pageviews, we’ve assembled a slate of eight front-runners in each of our 19 categories. At the top of 2014, we’ll reveal your votes for the year’s best, as well the Booth staff’s personal picks.
Unlike in previous years, we’ll be opening the polls gradually, over the course of this week. Starting Friday, December 6, and continuing on the 9th through the 13th, we’ll roll out 2-4 categories daily. Readers will be able to vote on all categories up until noon on Sunday, the 29th, at which point we will tally the final results. Today, we unveil the nominees for
Best R&B/Pop Record (Independent)
,
Best R&B/Pop Record (Mainstream)
,
Best Hip Hop Record (Independent)
and
Best Hip Hop Record (Mainstream)
. The 2012 reader picks in these categories were (respectively)
Tony Williams
‘ “
,”
Frank Ocean
‘s “
,”
Rittz
‘s “
” and
Kendrick Lamar
‘s “
.” Read over the ballot below, then make your selections!
Update
: The results are now in! Find out who our
as the “Best of the Booth.”
Nominees are listed in alphabetical order
.
Best R&B/Pop Record (Independent) of 2013:
Allan Rayman – “
”
Bad Rabbits – “
”
G-Eazy – “
”
Heather Victoria – “
”
Hoodie Allen – “
”
JMSN – “
”
Nylo – “
”
Wanz – “
“
Best R&B/Pop Record (Mainstream) of 2013:
Bruno Mars – “
”
Drake – “
”
Drake – “
ft. Sampha”
John Legend – “
”
Justin Timberlake – “
” ft. Jay Z
Justin Timberlake – “
”
Rihanna – “
”
Robin Thicke – “
” ft. T.I. & Pharrell Williams
Best Hip Hop Record (Independent) of 2013:
Chance the Rapper – “
ft. Childish Gambino”
Earl Sweatshirt – “
ft. Vince Staples”
Joey BadA$$ – “
”
Rapsody – “
ft. Chance The Rapper & Big K.R.I.T”
Rittz – “
”
Run The Jewels – “
“
Tech N9ne – “
ft. ¡MAYDAY! & Kendrick Lamar”
Wax – “
”
Best Hip Hop Record (Mainstream) of 2013:
Big Sean – “
ft. Kendrick Lamar & Jay Electronica”
Drake – “
”
Eminem – “
“
J. Cole – “
”
Jay Z – “
ft. Justin Timberlake”
Kanye West – “
”
Kendrick Lamar – “
B*tch Don’t Kill My Vibe (Remix)
ft. Jay-Z”
T.I. – “
ft. Kendrick Lamar & B.o.B”