Key Takeaways
- Jermaine Dupri, Babyface, and Bryan-Michael Cox reflected on their R&B legacy during a live conversation at House of Hits.
- Clipse discussed faith, ageism, and staying competitive in Hip Hop ahead of their Grammy win.
- Industry leaders gathered to explore generational shifts and celebrate Black music’s evolution during Grammy Week 2026.
As many of us already know, Grammy Week has a way of bringing together some of the best in the business, and there’s no better place for that than the House of Hits. Presented by Billboard, the two-day event returned over the weekend, with industry names like Jermaine Dupri, Clipse, Babyface, and more taking part in the conversation.
Staying true to past iterations, the cultural discussion centered on legacy, hitmaking, and storytelling. For the 2026 edition, attendees enjoyed curated cocktails courtesy of Crown Royal Marquis and Lalo Tequila, good eats by way of Marathon Burger, and a premium caviar experience from Cavi Morii. Without further ado, check out our recap of House of Hits below.
Day one: Defining legacy with Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, and Babyface
First up on the bill, Jermaine Dupri and Bryan-Michael Cox led an incredibly powerful conversation celebrating the legendary Babyface. With all three having played a role in shaping some of the biggest R&B records of the last few decades, they reflected on career-defining moments and how several of their most influential hits came together.
Billboard Senior Director Carl Lamarre also joined the discussion and later sat down with Virginia pioneer Fam-Lay.
Day two: An open conversation with Clipse
Before taking the stage at the 2026 Grammy Awards — and later winning Best Rap Performance for “Chains & Whips” — Clipse sat down for an open conversation about their career, faith, and state of Hip Hop. “When I look at Hip Hop now, it just seems like the goalposts move all the time, and when it no longer serves a situation [or] the MC, they’ll change it up,” Malice said, before adding, “To me, Pusha has been flat-footed all the way through.”
The sibling duo also spoke about ageism in rap, particularly as artists who’ve been in the game for over two decades. “A lot of people who stay in Hip Hop, a lot of times they just exist in Hip Hop. Like, you have to stay competitive to be in it, for me,” Pusha T explained. “I wouldn’t just do a record that I feel like is just a throwaway and I’m competing with whatever is popular, I’m competing with whatever is supposed to be the trend every single time.”
Among the many special guests in the house (pun intended) were Jo Koy, Stephen Hill, Steve Rifkind, Devon Franklin, and Mayor Phillip Jones. Global Music Touring co-founder Antonio Dowe, whose company produced the event, was also in attendance. Continue scrolling for more photos from 2026’s House of Hits Presented by Billboard!
