BMI hosted an intimate brunch on June 22 in celebration of Black Music Month during the BET Awards Weekend. Attendees mingled with actress Regina King, rapper Rick Ross, producer/songwriter/Interscope recording artist Sean Garrett, producer/songwriter/rapper Jazzy Pha, rapper Nas and many others. Hosted by BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta Catherine Brewton, the invitation-only reception at Murano Restaurant & Lounge in West Hollywood was sponsored by Moët & Chandon Champagne and Hennessy.

Regina King; Sean Garrett; BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta Catherine Brewton; BMI Vice President & General Manager, Writer/Publisher Relations, Los Angeles, Barbara Cane; and BMI Director, Writer/Publisher Relations New York, Wardell Malloy. (Photo by Mark Sullivan/WireImage)

Jazzy Pha; BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta Catherine Brewton; Nas; and Dom Perignon, Moet & Chandon, Consumer Development Manager, Dalicia Ramey (Photo by Mark Sullivan/WireImage)

President, Czar Management, Jimmy Henchman; BMI Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta Catherine Brewton; and Rick Ross (Photo by Mark Sullivan/WireImage)

One person who’d surely agree would be Jay-Z. Once Ross’s underground anthem “Hustlin” turned into a street smash, Jay-Z began a hunt for the Miami-bred rapper that sparked a bidding frenzy between Def Jam, Bad Boy and Irv Gotti’s label The Inc. Subsequent to Ross’s linking with Def Jam, label president Jay-Z frequently said that he was making Ross his “top priority,” and, clearly, he did.

“Hustlin’” peaked at No. 7 on Billboard’s rap chart and hit No. 54 on the Hot 100. Before his Port of Miami album was released last August, “Hustlin’” had one million ringtone units, all but certifying that Def Jam’s attempt to make Rick Ross “large” paid off big.

Born William Roberts, Ross grew up in Carol City, Fla., a bleak Miami suburb. He began rapping in the mid 1990s and started a group, Carol City Cartel. Ross takes his name from Los Angeles kingpin Ricky Ross, who ran a large drug distribution network in the 1980s and early 1990s. Ross the rapper alludes often to Miami’s position as a hub for international drug smuggling, and his rhymes often reflect the city’s dark underbelly.

Although Ross is no doubt glad to have left the mean streets of Miami, he hasn’t forgotten his roots: In December of 2006, he launched Rick Ross Charities, a group that seeks to provide youth with educational and social enhancement opportunities.