Leon Thomas, GELO, Ravyn Lenae & Odeal Are the Future of Black Music | Billboard News

Billboard awarded GELO, Ravyn Lenae and Odeal as Rookies of the Year and named Leon Thomas the Breakthrough Artist of the Year for Billboard‘s 2025 R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players. We’re breaking down how these artists represent the future of Black music. Billboard staffers share why they believe each singer is transforming their respective genre, how their hits—“Mutt,” “Love Me Not” and “Tweaker”—resonated with fans, and more!

Carl Lamarre:

Billboard is always about chart success, but not only to have a cultural impact and see the buzz and how they’re resonating, not just online, but the streets as well. The kids are talking about you. Most likely we’re gonna cover y’all and see what’s up.

Fan 1:

Tonight, I’m most excited to see Leon Thomas and Odeal. 

Fan 2:

Gag it, Odeal. What? Ravyn Lenae too. 

Fan 3:

I’m most excited to see GELO, for sure. 

Fan 4:

Leon as well. It’s gonna be my third time seeing him, and I’m gonna see him again on my birthday, so.

Interviewer:

Who are you most excited to see? 

Fan 5:

Leon Thomas, plain and simple. You don’t have to finish the question. You don’t have to finish it. 

Heran Mamo:

Leon Thomas had such a breakthrough moment. “Mutt” went No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs and three different radio formats.

Leon Thomas:

I think “Mutt” definitely resonated with the culture so much because it has a lot of essence of P-Funk, Bootsy Collins. I feel like post-pandemic everybody got into their little toxic energy, so it’s like, perfectly toxic.

Fan 6:

I’m definitely excited to see Ravyn, I love her music. It’s a very, like, chill, soulful vibe, and she just always puts me in a good mood. 

Fan 7:

I’m absolutely excited to see Ravyn Lenae. I’ve loved her forever. I got onto her train when she came out with “Candy.”

Gail Mitchell:

She’s just the total package. In terms of her songwriting, the lyrics, very relatable lyrics, like her hot song, “Love Me Not.” Kind of a play on the whole daisy thing — he loves me, he loves me not.

Keep watching for more!