R&B/Hip-Hop Fresh Picks of the Week: Lecrae, Ludmilla & Victoria Monét, Flo Milli & More

With the 2026 Grammy eligibility period ending this Saturday (Aug. 30), some of hip-hop’s and R&B’s buzziest acts raced to get their new projects out before the deadline, resulting in one of the most crowded New Music Fridays of the year.

Doja Cat returned with some ’80s flair via “Jealous Type,” Offset and Earl Sweatshirt gave soul-baring life updates on their respective new albums, Kiari and Live Laugh Love, and BigXthaPlug mounted a full-throttle country crossover play with his new I Hope You’re Happy project. BigX, who’s had a banner year between Beyoncé dancing to “The Largest” on her Cowboy Carter Tour and earning his first Hot 100 top 10 hit with the Bailey Zimmerman-assisted “All the Way” (No. 4), was unfortunately arrested in North Texas last Friday (Aug. 22) for marijuana and weapon possession, marking his second booking in six months.

BigX is far from the only rapper currently entangled with the law. Drake, who is still in the middle of his controversial lawsuit against UMG, made headlines over the weekend for taking jabs at music journalist Rob Markman and announcing his second podcast interview with Bobbi Althoff. “Welcome to a much more refined, poised and pleasant podcast,” he joked in a promotional video. “I’m trying to get you brand deals. I was trying to pitch… Welcome to a much more scenic, serene and sexy [podcast].”

Finally, Tyler, the Creator is keeping the train rolling with his latest announcement: a word search revealing the lineup for this year’s Camp Flog Gnaw (Nov. 15-16). Some of the acts fans have identified include Tyler, A$AP Rocky, The Alchemist, Childish Gambino, Larry June, 2 Chainz, Samara Cyn, Tems, Sombr, Foushee, Don Toliver, Malcolm Todd, Thundercat, Bbtrickz, Clairo, Deb Never, Clipse and Teezo Touchdown.

With Fresh Picks, Billboard aims to highlight some of the best and most interesting new sounds across R&B and hip-hop — from Lecrae’s emotional new single to Victoria Monét and Ludmilla’s globe-uniting collaboration. Be sure to check out this week’s Fresh Picks in our Spotify playlist below.