Drake encourages artists to show love at Billboard Awards

Drake won multiple honors at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards and encouraged the audience of musicians to give their peers their flowers while they’re still alive. “We’ve obviously had like an unfortunate series of losses within our business, and I just want to encourage everybody to let other artists know how you feel about them,” Drake said as he accepted top male artist Wednesday. “Let them know that you love them [and] respect them while we’re all still here.” Drake could have been referring to a number of deaths in the music industry, from Nipsey Hussle to Aretha Franklin. The rap star, who walked into Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena with 17 nominations, also won top Billboard 200 album, beating out Cardi B, Travis Scott, Post Malone and the late XXXTentacion. BTS was also having a major night. At the Billboard Awards and American Music Awards, the K-pop band had only previously won “social” awards based off their fanatic fan base, but on Wednesday BTS picked up top duo/group, besting Grammy-winning groups like Maroon 5, Imagine Dragons and Dan + Shay. “I still can’t believe we’re here on this stage with so many great artists,” RM said as fans screamed loudly. “We’re still the same boys from six years ago, we still have the same dreams … we still have the same thoughts. Let us keep dreaming.” Imagine Dragons did pick up top rock artist, and band leader Dan Reynolds used his speech to highlight the dangers of conversion therapy on LGBTQ youth. He earned rousing applause.