The Black Eyed Peas have sold 18 million albums worldwide, won three Grammy awards and have been nominated for ten. On his own, will.i.am has established himself as one of music’s top producers, collaborating on tracks with Justin Timberlake, John Legend, Kelis, Nas, The Game, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Sergio Mendes, Carlos Santana, The Pussycat Dolls, Busta Rhymes and fellow BEP, Fergie.

R&B singer Chris Brown, neo-soul artist John Legend, "Crazy" duo Gnarls Barkley, Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Ne-Yo and rapper Yung Joc came in with two nominations apiece, with Legend, Brown and Ne-Yo vying for the Best R&B/Soul Single trophy.

Gnarls Barkley, whose release St. Elsewhere is up for Best R&B/Soul Album, Group, Band or Duo, will compete against the Pussycat Dolls for Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo.

Harlem rappers Webstar & Young B hope to collect the Best R&B/Soul or Rap Dance Cut award with their breakout single, "Chicken Noodle Soup," while gospel giant Kirk Franklin's Songs from the Storm, Volume I looks to beat Youth for Christ's The Struggle is Over for Best Gospel Album.

BMI's 2007 Soul Train Music Award nominees:

Best R&B/Soul Single, Male
Avant
"4 Minutes"
Chris Brown
"Yo (Excuse Me Miss)"
John Legend
"Save Room"
Ne-Yo
"Sexy Love"

Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo
Gnarls Barkley
"Crazy"
The Pussycat Dolls featuring Avant
"Stickwitu"

Best R&B/Soul Album, Male
Chris Brown
Chris Brown
Jamie Foxx
Unpredictable
John Legend
Once Again

Best R&B/Soul Album, Group, Band or Duo
Gnarls Barkley
St. Elsewhere

Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist
Lupe Fiasco
"Gotcha"
Ne-Yo
"Sexy Love"
Rick Ross
"Hustlin'"
Yung Joc
"It's Goin' Down"

The Michael Jackson Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video
Busta Rhymes Featuring will.i.am & Kelis
"I Love My Chick"
Jim Jones
"We Fly High"

Best R&B/Soul or Rap Dance Cut
Webstar & Young B featuring The Voice of Harlem
"Chicken Noodle Soup"
Yung Joc
"It's Goin' Down"

Best Gospel Album
Kirk Franklin
Songs from the Storm, Volume I
Youth for Christ
The Struggle is Over

BMI songwriter Denny Randell (center) is congratulated by BMI's Charlie Feldman and Phil Graham. Photo by Dana Rodriguez

All three songs were co-written with two of Randell's then collaborators, BMI writers Sandy Linzer and Bob Crewe, who joined them on "Let's Hang On."

Other hits written by Randell include such diverse tunes as "Native New Yorker," performed by Odyssey and appearing on the soundtracks to Eyes of Laura Mars, 54 and Sex and the City, the Four Season's "Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'Bout Me)," Frankie Valli's solo "Swearin' to God," Smashmouth's "Can't Get Enough of You Baby" and "Pass the Courvoisier" by Busta Rhymes featuring P. Diddy.

Based on an average song length of three minutes, one million spins is the equivalent of 50,000 hours, or 5.7 years of continuous airplay; multiply that by 12 and Randell's songs have been heard on American television and radio for more than 68 years nonstop.]]> 2006-11-14T03:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/335020 Artists, Brown, Chris, Busta Rhymes, Cool & Dre, Fat Joe, Game, The, Ja Rule, Juvenile, Milian, Christina, Musical Styles, Urban, Musicworld, Hitmaker The spotlight that has shined on urban centers ranging from New York to Los Angeles to Atlanta, where some of today’s hottest r&b and rap songs have been produced, is now focused on Miami, where two of today’s hottest producers — Marcello Valenzano and Andre Lyon, better known as Cool & Dre — are creating hits.

Cool & Dre met and became friends in high school in the early ’90s, and soon became part of a four-man singing group called Basic Unity. Although the group faded, their friendship and strong interest in music stayed intact. They began writing and producing hooks and beats — with Cool, the technical enforcer producing the beats, and Dre, co-writing and singing the hooks — that caught the attention of rapper Fat Joe, who soon sought out Cool & Dre to write and produce for both himself and the Terror Squad.

By 2004, the duo began gaining attention with such hits as Terror Squad’s “Take Me Home” and Ja Rule’s “New York.” On the list of BMI’s 2005 Top 10 Urban Producers, Cool & Dre have written and produced tracks for Mary J. Blige, Chris Brown, Juvenile, Christina Milian and Busta Rhymes, among others. They are also the production team behind one of the hottest tracks of 2005, “Hate It or Love It,” by the Game featuring 50 Cent, earning them a Billboard #1 Award at BMI’s 2005 Urban Awards and their first Grammy nomination.

Cool & Dre have finally arrived. They formed their own record label, Epidemic Music, through Jive Records, and are set to release Dre’s solo album, The Trunk, featuring the hit single “Chevy Ridin’ High,” this fall. They are also working with upcoming artists in Miami through their label and hope to continue to create good music and produce more No. 1 hits in the years to come.]]> 2006-10-15T18:00:01-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334981 Busta Rhymes, Carey, Mariah, Foxx, Jamie, Jeezy, Young, West, Kanye, Urban Urban Songwriter of the Year Mariah Carey was the big winner at the 2006 Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, held recently in Atlanta. Carey's five wins included R&B/Hip-Hop Artist in both the overall and female categories, as well as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Artist, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Artist and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album for her multi-platinum set, The Emancipation of Mimi.

Mariah Carey	Kanye West

2006 BMI Urban Producer of the Year Kanye West took home Top Rap Album for Late Registration and also won Hot Rap Track for "Gold Digger" featuring Jamie Foxx. Foxx himself took home Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artist in the male category, while Young Jeezy won the same award as a new artist.

Jamie Foxx	Young Jeezy

Rap pioneers Public Enemy received the 2006 Hip-Hop Founders Award in recognition of their long-standing influence on hip-hop.

The awards ceremony took place during the 7th Annual Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Conference, the premiere event for the industry's who's who to network, share knowledge and discover new talent.

BMI's 2006 Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Award recipients:

Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album
Mariah Carey
The Emancipation of Mimi

Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artist
Mariah Carey

Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artist - Male
Jamie Foxx

Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artist - Female
Mariah Carey

Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artist - New
Young Jeezy

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Artist
Mariah Carey

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Artist
Mariah Carey

Top Rap Album
Kanye West
Late Registration

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Sales
Busta Rhymes -- featured artist
"Don't Cha"

Hot Rap Track
Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx
"Gold Digger"
]]> 2006-09-13T05:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/334928 Artists, Aguilera, Christina, Black Eyed Peas, Brown, Chris, Busta Rhymes, Carey, Mariah, Fall Out Boy, Foxx, Jamie, Rihanna, Shakira, West, Kanye Shakira and funky foursome the Red Hot Chili Peppers lead the list of BMI artists nominated for the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards with seven nominations each for their respective videos "Hip's Don't Lie" and "Dani California." Both are up for Video of the Year and will also compete for Best Art Direction in a Video.

Shakira	Red Hot Chili Peppers	Christina Aguilera

Shakira's other nods span the categories, including Best Female, Dance, Pop, Choreography, and the coveted Viewer's Choice Award. The Peppers will try to nab a Moonman for Best Group Video and Best Rock Video, as well as for Best Direction, Editing and Cinematography in a Video.

James Blunt	Common	Busta Rhymes

Contenders for the Video of the Year trophy also include BMI singer Christina Aguilera, who picked up a total of four nominations for the video to her hot new single "Ain't No Other Man." Her "Man" also goes up against Shakira's "Hips" for Best Female Video, Best Pop Video and Best Choreography in a Video.

Kanye West	Chris Brown	Rihanna

Gnarls Barkley, James Blunt, A.F.I. and Common each scored three VMA mentions, while Busta Rhymes, Kanye West, T.I., Chris Brown, Rihanna and Fall Out Boy are up for two apiece.

The MTV Video Music Awards will air live from New York's Radio City Music Hall on Thursday, Aug. 31.

Mariah Carey	Fall Out Boy

BMI's 2006 MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Christina Aguilera - "Ain't No Other Man"
Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Dani California"
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean - "Hips Don't Lie"

BEST MALE VIDEO
Busta Rhymes - "Touch It (Remix)"
James Blunt - "You're Beautiful"
T.I. - "What You Know"
Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx - "Gold Digger"

BEST FEMALE VIDEO
Christina Aguilera - "Ain't No Other Man"
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean - "Hips Don't Lie"

BEST GROUP VIDEO
Fall Out Boy - "Dance, Dance"
Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Dani California"
Gnarls Barkley - "Crazy"

BEST RAP VIDEO
T.I. - "What You Know"
Busta Rhymes - "Touch It (Remix)"
Yung Joc featuring Nitty - "It's Goin' Down"

BEST R&B VIDEO
Mariah Carey - "Shake It Off"
Chris Brown - "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)"
Jamie Foxx featuring Ludacris - "Unpredictable"

BEST HIP-HOP VIDEO
Black Eyed Peas - "My Humps"
Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx - "Gold Digger"
Common - "Testify"
Three 6 Mafia - "Stay Fly"

BEST DANCE VIDEO
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean - "Hips Don't Lie"

BEST ROCK VIDEO
A.F.I. - "Miss Murder"
Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Dani California"

BEST POP VIDEO
Christina Aguilera - "Ain't No Other Man"
Pink - "Stupid Girls"
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean - "Hips Don't Lie"

BEST NEW ARTIST IN A VIDEO
James Blunt - "You're Beautiful"
Rihanna - "S.O.S."

VIEWER'S CHOICE
Chris Brown featuring Juelz Santana - "Run It"
Rihanna - "S.O.S."
Fall Out Boy - "Dance, Dance"
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean - "Hips Don't Lie"

Professional Categories:

BEST DIRECTON IN A VIDEO
A.F.I. - "Miss Murder"
Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Dani California"
Common - "Testify"
Gnarls Barkley - "Crazy"

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY IN A VIDEO
Christina Aguilera - "Ain't No Other Man"
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean - "Hips Don't Lie"

BEST ART DIRECTION IN A VIDEO
Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Dani California"
Common - "Testify"
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean - "Hips Don't Lie"

BEST EDITING IN A VIDEO
Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Dani California"
Gnarls Barkley - "Crazy"

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY IN A VIDEO
A.F.I. - "Miss Murder"
Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Dani California"
James Blunt - "You're Beautiful"

WE BELONG TOGETHER
Darnell Bristol
Mariah Carey
Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds
Sid "Uncle Jamz" Johnson
Patrick L. Moten
Sandra Sully
Bobby Womack
ABKCO Music, Inc.
Ballads By Design Publishing
Hip Chic Music
Mister Johnson's Jams Music
Rye Songs
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Mariah Carey
Island Records

YOU AND ME
Jude Cole
Jason Wade
Dimensional Songs of the Knoll
G-Chills Music
Jude Cole Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Lifehouse
Geffen Records

The dawn of the new millennium saw Rockwilder venturing out of his musical comfort zone. He lightened his tone considerably by working on Janet Jackson‘s All For You and with the help of Missy Elliott, he turned the remake of LaBelle’s “Lady Marmalade” (by Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mya and L'il Kim) into a saucy hit. That song, from the soundtrack to the film Moulin Rouge , got him in the business of creating top-notch movie soundtracks; he went on to make a veritable cottage industry of producing music for films, including Legally Blond, Scooby-Doo 2,Training Day and Friday After Next .

He has continued to diversify his repertoire since his original rap days. Now, his impressive series of collaborations includes r&b artists like Maxwell, Kelis, Me’Shell NdegeOcello and Destiny’s Child, who tapped him for a smooth, tingly re-mix of their hit “Bootylicious.” He’s even created beats for crossover sensations like JC Chasez and Pink.

Rockwilder, born Dana Stinson, has strayed from the hip-hop artist’s traditional trajectory. Urban enough to produce for Mobb Deep but upbeat enough to make Mya’s pop tunes, Rockwilder is proving to be an adept, versatile and creative musician who keeps breaking the mold.]]> 2005-08-02T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/234440 Artists, Busta Rhymes, Evans, Faith, Lopez, Jennifer, Thompson, Chucky, Musical Styles, Urban, Musicworld, Hitmaker Who would have thought that a toddler beating on pots and pans would become one of the most sought-after music producers in the industry today? Well, welcome to Chucky Thompson’s world.

While in his teens growing up in the Washington, DC area, Chucky Thompson, a self-taught musician who plays drums, guitar, piano, acoustic and electric bass, along with trombone, began his career by writing songs and having local acts perform his works. Word about this hot, young talent caught the attention of Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, who quickly recruited Thompson to work for him as a producer for Bad Boy Entertainment.

Thompson’s streak of producing top-selling hits began around 1994 when he produced “One More Chance” and “Big Poppa” for the late Notorious B.I.G. He also produced the Grammy-nominated album My Life for Mary J. Blige.

Thompson has also produced hits for some of today’s hottest stars, including Faith Evans, Nas, Jennifer Lopez, and Busta Rhymes, among others.

A decade after first making his mark, Thompson is still at the top of his game. Not only is he still producing number one hits for such artists as Mary J. Blige and Faith Evans, he now has his own production company, Lifeprint Productions, and is dedicated to working with up-and-coming talent.

Says Thompson, “My goal is to bridge the gap between music genders and creeds. Music is the vehicle that brings us all together.” As long as we have Chucky Thompson in the driver’s seat, we can look forward to more great music down the road.

The Game . . .

When word began circulating in 2004 that rap legend and Aftermath Entertainment mogul Dr. Dre had inked a recording deal with underground hip-hop sensation The Game, some worried that the move signaled a return to the bi-coastal feudalism that nearly decimated hardcore rap in the '90s. In an attempt to revive the West Coast's hip-hop dominance, would The Game grind salt into sensitive old wounds?

The speculators needn't have worried. The Game's hotly anticipated debut CD, The Documentary , introduces an aware rapper conscious of hip-hop history and deeply affected by the untimely deaths of his heroes, Tupac Shakur, Biggie Smalls and NWA founding member, Eazy-E. So in-between his stark rhymes of urban warfare, The Game gives shout-outs to hip-hop crews on both coasts.

Indeed, The Documentary 's title track features a brilliant chorus that invokes the work of West Coast idols like Dre, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube and Tupac, as well as New York rappers like Biggie Smalls and Nas. With a musical philosophy that observes no turf or boundaries, it's no wonder The Game is the only West Coast member to be welcomed into 50 Cent's New York-based G-Unit crew.

Reaction to The Game's hard-hitting rap sound has been immediate. Fueled by the success of the single "How We Do" (featuring 50 Cent), The Documentary bolted to the top of the pop charts. Adding to the disc's appeal are production contributions by Dre, Eminem, Kanye West, Timbaland and Just Blaze, and performances by Eminem, Faith Evans, Mary J. Blige, Busta Rhymes, Marsha, Nate Dogg and Tony Yayo.

In reviews, The Game was all but knighted by the media. In its critique of The Documentary , Rolling Stone magazine wrote: "Every song has a well-massaged hook and some immediate appeal ... (The Game goes) for emotional impact rather than dazzling wordplay or laughs." New York's Daily News hailed The Game's sound, which "boasts that classic Dre bounce, with tracks that feature the grinding club grooves that fired Snoop Dogg's early hits." Entertainment Weekly was succinct but direct in its praise. To wit: "with the brightest hip-hop stars aligning for him, the Game may have willed himself a popular masterpiece."

Born Jayceon Taylor, The Game changed his hustle to rap after his gang-banging exploits landed him in the hospital. Now a breakout star, he's already revealing a maturity that promises to make him one of hip-hop's all-time greats.

"I gave all I could to this album, it's me," he says. "Enjoy it because it's the last time I'm living it. As humans we grow and the next album will be about how I'm living now — and I'm loving life."