Moroccan rapper ElGrande Toto emerged as the biggest winner at the first-ever Billboard Arabia Music Awards, held Wednesday in Riyadh. The groundbreaking event celebrated top artists from across the Arab world, with accolades determined by streaming data and listener feedback.

ElGrande Toto, whose real name is Taha Fahsi, claimed three awards: Best Hip-Hop Artist, Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, and Best Hip-Hop Song for his hits Blue Love and Dalali.

In a heartfelt moment, the rapper dedicated one of his awards to his mother, removing a necklace featuring her black-and-white photo during his acceptance speech.

Other Moroccan talents also shone at the ceremony. Singer Distinct was named Best Artist in the Maghrebi Song category, while Manal Benchlikha won Best Female Artist in Maghrebi Song.

The Billboard Arabia Music Awards represent a milestone in the region’s music industry, with winners determined by audience preferences and data from platforms like Spotify, Anghami, and YouTube. The event showcased the growing influence of Arab artists in the global music scene.