Beyoncé, Michael B. Jordan & More Make 2023 Time100 Most Influential People List

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Honey Dijon wrote about Beyoncé's commanding performance of "Crazy In Love" during the 2003 BET Awards which helped solidify her place in the music industry. The DJ and music producer worked with the powerhouse on her Grammy-award-winning album 'Renaissance' which was released in 2022. Honey Dijon wrote that 'Renaissance' "celebrated all facets of Black music, including the immense contributions of the Black gay and queer community." Beyoncé became the most-decorated Grammy winner ever during the 2023 Grammys.

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Patrick Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to victory yet again as they became the 2023 Super Bowl LVII champs. Mahomes' feature was written by two-time Super Bowl champ Peyton Manning. "All these young players around the country are trying to imitate his sidearm throws and incredible plays," Manning wrote of Mahomes' inspiration to the next generation adding, "But I hope they know he’s also an incredibly hard worker. He appreciates the cerebral part of the game." At the young age of 27, Mahomes already has two Super Bowl MVPs under his belt.

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Angela Bassett has continued to "do the thing" throughout her entire career. The two-time Oscar nominee's feature for Time was written by the legendary Tina Turner who Bassett played in the 1992 Oscar-nominated film 'What’s Love Got to Do With It?' 'She’s perfect,' Turner said of Bassett's portrayal of her in the film in which Bassett was nominated for an Oscar.  "You never mimicked me. Instead, you reached deep into your soul, found your inner Tina, and showed her to the world."

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Brittney Griner is an ESPY winner, 8× WNBA All-Star, and WNBA champion but her name made headlines for an incident off the basketball court. Griner was found guilty of drug smuggling in Russia where she was sentenced to nine years in prison. She was detained in Russia for nearly 10 months but eventually was released and returned to the U.S. on Dec. 9 in a prisoner's swap.  Griner's feature was written by WNBA legend Sue Bird who wrote about how the Phoenix Mercury star's wrongful detainment shed a light on so many disparities women face such as "inequities in pay for women athletes, which sometimes compel us to put ourselves in dangerous situations to maximize our financial worth." Bird added that it also showed how much Griner is respected in the community. "It speaks to the power of the women who rallied around her—Black women, members of the LGBTQ+ community, our WNBA community—and who made certain her name was never forgotten, that she’d return home. These are the women who get s--- done."

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Michael B. Jordan has had one hell of a year and it's only April. Jordan led his 'Creed' franchise to victory as it topped the box office in March. The film grossed over $100m on the opening weekend making him the second Black director to achieve that milestone in their directorial debut. The first was Jordan Peele who pulled $176M domestically for 'Get Out' in 2017. Jordan's feature was written by director Ryan Coogler. The pair have worked together on other projects including 'Fruitvale Station,' 'Black Panther,' and the 'Creed' franchise. Coogler said that Jordan handled his new role in 'Creed III' with "aplomb." The Oscar-nominated producer also credited Jordan's work ethic and noted that he has earned his place in Hollywood.

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You couldn't open any social media platform in 2022 and not hear Steve Lacy's viral "Bad Habit." Not only was it a hit on TikTok and Instagram but his album 'Gemini Rights' which also was released last year earned him a Grammy award for Best Progressive R&B Album in 2023. Lacy's feature was penned by Chlöe Bailey who just launched her solo career last year. One of Bailey's biggest takeaways from Lacy's artistry is his take on music. “I’m gonna make music—and if you like it, that’s cool,” Lacy previously said. Chlöe added, "He has inspired me to be fearless, to trust that whoever my music is meant for will find it."

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Doja Cat has taken the music industry by storm as she consistently produces hit after hit. Last year, The Los Angeles native won her first Grammy award for "Kiss Me More" which features SZA. Doja's feature was written by Baz Luhrmann who directed 'Elvis.' Doja made "Hound Dog" for the film's soundtrack. Luhrmann spoke about how Doja is a "child of the internet" and how it helps connect with her fans. He also gave Doja props for how she differentiates from her peers in the industry. "She can’t be boxed in. She’s a rapper, a singer, a performance artist—she’s the canvas on which she expresses a character or an idea," he penned. "There’s no 'brand' to Doja Cat. You never know what she’s going to do next, and that’s exciting."