Singer Destin Conrad Receives R&B Rising Star Honor
Destin Conrad accepted the 2026 R&B Rising Star Award at Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players event on Sept. 9. He released three albums in the past year, including a jazz record and a reggae project, and spoke about R&B being his creative foundation. The award recognizes his contributions to the genre.
At the New York ceremony, Conrad received the honor alongside winners in hip-hop and Caribbean music. His recent output spans a jazz record, a reggae-influenced project, and a Grammy-nominated R&B album.
In his remarks, he described R&B as his creative anchor, praising its honesty and freedom. He also thanked Kehlani for connecting him with manager David Ali and his team Above Ground.
This recognition could elevate Conrad's profile, potentially introducing his genre-blending style to wider audiences. It may also encourage other musicians to experiment across jazz and reggae while maintaining an R&B core. For the broader music scene, the award highlights R&B's evolving boundaries, possibly fostering more cross-genre collaborations and diverse sounds in mainstream pop culture.