BMI celebrated the songwriters, producers and publishers of the past year’s most-performed R&B/hip-hop songs during the 2019 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards held at the Sandy Springs Arts Center in Atlanta. Multiple-award-winning singer/songwriter and actress Brandy received the BMI President’s Award in recognition of her powerful impact on the entertainment industry and her timeless hits, which have secured her place in R&B history.
Hosted by BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI Vice President, Creative, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton, the evening included stellar performances by some of the hottest artists on the music scene. The ceremony kicked off with a moving tribute video in honor of the late rapper and activist Nipsey Hussle to celebrate his musical legacy and remarkable philanthropic work. Atlanta-based rapper Gunna followed with a medley of his biggest hits, ending with his smash “Drip Too Hard,” featuring Lil Baby, who joined him on stage for the performance. Afterwards, Gunna received a special award in recognition of the song garnering one billion streams. Television personality and comedian, DC Young Fly then presented Memphis rapper NLE Choppa with the 2019 BMI Social Star Award.
The evening also featured a series of special tributes to Brandy, beginning with contemporary R&B singer/songwriter Jade Novah performing a beautiful rendition of “Talk About Our Love.” The tributes continued with Samoht singing a stripped-down version of “Brokenhearted,” followed by gospel singer Kierra Sheard’s sultry performance of two of Brandy’s ballads, “Have You Ever” and “He Is.” Eric Bellinger rounded out the tributes with “Baby” and “Nothing” which had the audience singing along. Brandy’s brother, Ray J, took to the stage and serenaded his sister with “Best Friend” before she was presented with the BMI President’s Award. Brandy accepted the accolade with an impromptu performance, encouraged by the audience, of “I Wanna Be Down,” before singing her iconic hit “Almost Doesn’t Count.”
The event also honored the top producers and songwriters of the previous year’s 35 best-performing R&B/hip-hop songs in the U.S. from BMI’s repertoire of more than 14 million musical works. Wheezy Beatz tied for Producer of the Year with Tay Keith. Keith also received the coveted Songwriter of the Year award, an honor he shared with Post Malone, marking his second tie for the evening. Song of the Year went to “God’s Plan” by Yung Exclusive and Marciano and Sony/ATV was named Publisher of the Year for having 18 of the most performed songs of the year including “Sicko Mode,” “I Like It” and “In My Feelings.”
As the 2019 BMI President’s Award honoree, Brandy joins previous recipients Curtis Mayfield, Ludacris, Toni Braxton and Will.i.am, among others in sharing this distinction.
MAJOR WINNERS: 2019 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards
R&B/HIP-HOP SONG OF THE YEAR
God’s Plan
Daveon “Yung Exclusive” Jackson
Brock “Marciano” Korsan
Annuity Songs
Nasrock Music Publishing
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Yex Publishing
R&B/HIP-HOP SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
BryTavious “Tay Keith” Chambers
Look Alive
Nonstop
Sicko Mode
Post Malone
Better Now
I Fall Apart
Psycho
R&B/HIP-HOP PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Be Careful
Better Now
Boo’d Up
Butterfly Effect
Fefe
Finesse (Remix)
I Fall Apart
I Like It
In My Feelings
Lucid Dreams
MotorSport
No Limit
Nonstop
Pray for Me
Psycho
Sicko Mode
Sky Walker
Taste
R&B/HIP-HOP PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
BryTavious “Tay Keith” Chambers
Wesley “Wheezy Beatz” Glass
PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Brandy
SOCIAL STAR
NLE Choppa
BMI 35 Most Performed R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
All the Stars
Kendrick Lamar
SZA
Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Bartier Cardi
Samuel “30Roc” Gloade
Jaucquez “London Jae” Lowe
Darryl “Cheeze Beatz” McCorkell
Lamont “EZ Elpee” Porter
BMG Platinum Songs US
Have We Got Music For You
Mushie Music
Ten Down Muzik
TJK Forever Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Be Careful
Adam “Frank Dukes” Feeney (SOCAN)
Ghostface Killah
Lamont “U-God” Hawkins
Jason-Scott “Rebel-INS.” Hunter
Method Man
Ol’ Dirty Bastard
RZA
Jorden “Pardison Fontaine” Thorpe
Corey Woods
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
MYNY Music
Sam Fam Beats
Sony/ATV Ballad
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Universal Music-Careers
Wu Tang Publishing, Inc.
Better Now
Adam “Frank Dukes” Feeney (SOCAN)
Post Malone
Austin Rosen
Electric Feel Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
MYNY Music
Posty Publishing
Sam Fam Beats
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Big Bank
DJ Mustard
Nye “NANO” Lee, Jr.
Nicki Minaj
YG
Ce A Million Music
Irving Music
Kjack Publishing
Mustard on the Beat Publishing
Songs of Roc Nation Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Boo’d Up
DJ Mustard
Larrance Dopson
Ella Mai
Blue Nike Publishing
Ella Mai Publishing
Mustard on the Beat Publishing
peermusic lll, Ltd.
Songs of Roc Nation Music
Songs of Volume Ventures
Sony/ATV Ballad
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Butterfly Effect
Felix Leone (SOCAN)
Travis Scott
Sony/ATV Ballad
Travis Scott Music
Crew
Brent Faiyaz
Teddy Walton
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Teddy Walton Publishing
Fefe
Kevin Gomringer
Tim Gomringer
Andrew “Trifedrew” Green
Nicki Minaj
Tekashi 6ix9ine
Create Digital Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Ballad
Finesse (Remix)
Ray Romulus
Jonathan Yip
Music for Milo
Please Enjoy the Music
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
God’s Plan
Daveon “Yung Exclusive” Jackson
Brock “Marciano” Korsan
Annuity Songs
Nasrok Music Publishing
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Yex Publishing
Good Old Days
Ben Haggerty
Andrew Joslyn
Bengal Yucky Publishing
D.B. Joslyn Music
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Him & I
Dakari
Ashley Frangipane
Edgar “Edd Grand” Machuca
17 Black Music
BMG Platinum Songs US
Cider Sounds
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.
I Fall Apart
Carlo “Illangelo” Montagnese (SOCAN)
Post Malone
Posty Publishing
Songs of Hear The Art
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Ballad
I Get the Bag
Southside
Leland “Metro Boomin” Wayne
Irving Music
Pluto Mars Music
Royal Legend Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
I Like It
J Balvin
Edgar “Edd Grand” Machuca
Luian Malave
Marcos Masís “Tainy”
Tony Pabon
Manny Rodriguez
Jorden “Pardison Fontaine” Thorpe
Anthony “J.White Did It” White
BMG Platinum Songs US
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
EMI-Longitude Music Co.
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Songs of LVS Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Ballad
Universal-Música Unica Publishing
In My Feelings
Jim Jonsin
Lil Wayne
Magnolia Shorty
Adam “BlaqNmilD” Pigott
Benny Workman
Rex Zamor
Eighth And Groove Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Jimipub Music
Laumar Music Co.
peermusic lll, Ltd.
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Songs of Volume Ventures
TrapMoneyBenny Songs
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
You A Genius Publishing
Young Money Publishing, Inc.
Lemon
Rihanna
Monica Fenty Music Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Look Alive
Paul “DJ Paul” Beauregard
BlocBoy JB
BryTavious “Tay Keith” Chambers
Jordan “Juicy J” Houston
Patrick “Project Pat” Houston
Bloc Nation
BMG Bumblebee
BMG Platinum Songs US
Lakeith Legacy Publishing
Tefnoise Publishing LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Lucid Dreams
Juice Wrld
Dominic Miller (PRS)
Nick Mira
Taz Taylor
Sting (PRS)
Artist 101 Publishing Group
BMG Platinum Songs US
Electric Feel Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Nick Mira Publishing
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Taz Taylor Beats
MotorSport
Kevin Gomringer
Tim Gomringer
Nicki Minaj
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Nice for What
Jerome “5th/Ward Weebie” Cosey
Ghostface Killah
Lamont “U-God” Hawkins
Jason-Scott “Rebel-INS.” Hunter
Mannie Fresh
Method Man
Ol’ Dirty Bastard
Adam “BlaqNmilD” Pigott
RZA
Bryan “Baby” Williams
Corey Woods
Fresh Is The Word
Money Mack Music
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Universal Music-Careers
Wobblemart Publishing
Wu Tang Publishing, Inc.
You A Genius Publishing
No Brainer
Nick Balding
DJ Khaled
Nolan Lambroza
David Park
BMG Platinum Songs US
Give Thanks Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
No Limit
A$AP Rocky
Jay Anthony
Edgar “Edd Grand” Machuca
Jorden “Pardison Fontaine” Thorpe
A$AP Rocky Publishing LLC
BMG Platinum Songs US
Sony/ATV Ballad
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Nonstop
BryTavious “Tay Keith” Chambers
Sakata Oatis
Kenza Samir (SOCAN)
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Great South Bay Music
Lakeith Legacy Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Plug Walk
Grant “Lab Cook” Dickinson (SOCAN)
JRHITMAKER
Tay Taylor
Annuity Songs
Artist 101 Publishing Group
Electric Feel Music
JR Hitmaker Publishing
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Taz Taylor Beats
Pray for Me
Adam “Frank Dukes” Feeney (SOCAN)
Kendrick Lamar
Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
MYNY Music
Sam Fam Beats
Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Psycho
Tyrone “Ty Dolla $ign” Griffin, Jr.
Post Malone
Austin Rosen
Electric Feel Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Its Drugs Publishing
Posty Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Ric Flair Drip
Leland “Metro Boomin” Wayne
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sicko Mode
Khalif “Swae Lee” Brown
Busta Rhymes
Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell
Rogét Chahayed
BryTavious “Tay Keith” Chambers
Mike Dean
Rick Finch
Kevin Gomringer
Tim Gomringer
John Hawkins
Bryan Higgins
Chauncey “Hit Boy” Hollis
James “Dinco D” Jackson
KC
Travis Scott
Fred Scruggs, Jr.
Tyrone “Sonny Seeza” Taylor
Cydel Young
BMG Platinum Songs US
EMI-Longitude Music Co.
Fat Pat Lives Music
Ill Hill Billy’z Muzik, Inc.
Lakeith Legacy Publishing
Mr. Redan
Music of Ever Hip-Hop
Music of Evergreen
Papa George Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Ballad
Sony/ATV Melody
Travis Scott Music
Tziah Music
U Can’t Teach Bein’ The Shhh, Inc.
Universal Music-Z Songs
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Sky Walker
Rogét Chahayed
Happy Perez
Travis Scott
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Ballad
Travis Scott Music
Stir Fry
Harry Palmer (PRS)
Embassy Music Corporation
Taste
Cameron Forbes
Tyga
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Sound of Money
Tygaman Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Walk It Talk It
Grant “Deko” Decouto
DJ Montay
Harbosky Martiniz Gordon
Frederick D. Hall “Jamezz Bonn”
Donald B. Jenkins
Brian Nash
Korey “Big Oomp” Roberson
Howard “MC Assault” Simmons
Southern Style Techniques, Inc.
Top Quality Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Yes Indeed
Branden Brown aka B-Rackz
Wesley “Wheezy Beatz” Glass
Annuity Songs
Songs of B-Rackz
Ultra Empire Music
