This year, hip-hop and rap snatched weaves and took names in the pop charts: one look at this year's Grammy nominations alone leaves no question as to the present importance of black music. 

Much has been made, too, of the importance of Spotify's RapCaviar in breaking new talent. New York Magazine has called the playlist "how a hit happens now" and also "the most influential playlist in music."

Now, Variety reports that the team behind the playlist has cooked up a way to honor a few of the playlist's most popular artists in a novel way: through sculpture.

Metro Boomin, SZA and 21 Savage were scanned, and their likeness were made into Greco-Roman sculptures which will be on display at the Brooklyn Museum. 

“Across time, people have had the desire to immortalize others for their contributions to society. And for hip-hop, that time has come,” said Seth Farbman, Spotify’s chief marketing officer. “Not only has hip-hop dominated music culture, it has influenced American culture and we are honored to have artists who are breaking down barriers and shaping culture, as the first inductees of the inaugural RapCaviar Pantheon program.”

The three artists were not randomly selected. According to Variety, a combination of data and curation were used to help decide who the top three RapCaviar artists were. A similar process helps to decide which songs will be included in the playlist itself.

To chronicle the creative process for the statues, Spotify partnered with Director X who created a short film gives fans a glimpse of how they were made. 

“We live in changing times, and I’m happy to be a part of something that is challenging the normal perception of what an icon is,” said Director X. “Working with Spotify to visualize the impact of these three artists says to the world these young, black artists make hot records, you need to listen.”

Each sculpture draws from history, and also has tiny details that nod to both the artists’ work and to treasured antiquities – viewers will be able to see Metro Boomin’s flute, SZA’s signature Love Galore butterflies and 21 Savage’s eight M’s (in his bank account).

“Pantheon is our way of non-verbally communicating the breakthrough artists of 2017,” said Tuma Basa, Spotify’s global head of hip-hop.

“We’re treating our artists with the importance that Ancient Rome treated its gods. Metro, SZA and 21 all proved this year that they’re here to stay. Their music is forever, so why not immortalize their likeness? Greco-Roman respect style!”