Lil Jon, R. Kelly, Kanye West and EMI Take Top Honors at BMI Urban Awards
BMI saluted the premier r&b, rap and hip-hop songwriters, producers and publishers at its 2005 BMI Urban Awards, staged August 26 in the Grand Ballroom of the Fontainebleau Resort in Miami Beach.
| BMI Urban Awards Event Photos |
| Billboard #1 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs |
Lil Jon and R. Kelly were named Songwriters of the Year, each receiving four "most performed song" awards. "Yeah!," written by Sean Garrett, Lil Jon and Patrick "j.Que" Smith, was named Song of the Year, Kanye West received Producer of the Year honors, and EMI Music Publishing was awarded the BMI Crystal for Urban Publisher of the Year. The first Urban Ringtone Award went to Lil Jon and Craig D. Love for "Freek-A-Leek." A highlight of the gala was a tribute to urban funk legends Charlie Wilson and The GAP Band, who were named BMI Icons for their "enduring influence on generations of music makers."
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| Lil Jon | R. Kelly | The GAP Band |
The ceremony was hosted by BMI President & CEO Del Bryant and Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations Catherine Brewton, who presented awards to the 70 songwriters of the 35 most performed songs of 2004 in the urban music format.
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| Sean Garrett | Patrick "j.Que" Smith | Kanye West |
Lil Jon, who was honored with three major BMI awards - Songwriter of the Year, Song of the Year and Urban Ringtone of the Year - was also named one of BMI's top songwriter/producers of the year. He placed four songs on the most-performed song list, including "Freek-A-Leek," "Goodies," "Salt Shaker" and Song of the Year "Yeah!" Lil Jon was also named Songwriter of the Year at BMI's Pop Awards held in May, marking the first time a songwriter earned both Pop and Urban Songwriter of the Year honors in the same year.
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| Craig D. Love | Cool & Dre | Fat Joe |
R. Kelly received his second BMI Crystal as Urban Songwriter of the Year (he also won in 2002) with four songs on the most-performed list - "Gigolo," "Hotel," "Step in the Name of Love" and "Thoia Thoing" - and was also named one of BMI's top songwriter/producers. His latest CD, TP.3 Reloaded, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200 the week of its release, instantly becoming his fifth #1 album.
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| Jazze Pha | John Legend | Mannie Fresh |
"Yeah!," recorded by Usher featuring Ludacris and Lil Jon, was named Urban Song of the Year for tallying the most U.S. broadcast performances in 2004. The #1 Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop song earned awards for songwriters Sean Garrett, Lil Jon and Patrick "j.Que" Smith, and music publishers Christopher Matthew Music, Hitco Music and White Rhino Music, Inc.
BMI Producer of the Year honors went to Kanye West for logging the most producer credits on charting songs. The BMI Top Urban Producers list also included Cool & Dre, Eminem, Fat Joe, Jazze Pha, R. Kelly, John Legend, Lil Jon, Mannie Fresh and The Neptunes (Pharrell Williams & Chad Hugo).
On the list of BMI's 35 most-performed urban songs, four songwriters contributed three songs each: Eminem, Sean Garrett, Kanye West and Pharrell Williams. Other writers earning multiple awards were Miri Ben-Ari, Chad Hugo, Lil Flip, Harold Spencer Lilly, Jr., Craig D. Love and Sham.
EMI Music Publishing was named BMI Urban Publisher of the Year by accumulating the highest percentage of copyright ownership in award songs. Big Jon Platt, Executive Vice President, Urban Music, U.S., accepted on behalf of the publisher, which boasted 17 songs on the most-performed list (through its companies EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc., EMI-Hastings Catalog, Inc., EMI-Stone Diamond Music Corporation, and Screen Gems-EMI Music, Inc.).
Other publishers with multiple award-winning songs were Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc./Zomba Songs Inc. (8 awards); Universal Music Publishing (Irving Music/Songs of Universal, Inc.) (6); Warner/Chappell Music Group (Foster Frees Music, Inc./Rick's Music, Inc./Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.) (5); R. Kelly Publishing, Inc. and White Rhino Music, Inc. (4 each); Eight Mile Style Music and Waters of Nazareth Publishing (3 each); C'Amore Music, Clover G Music, Embassy Music Corporation, Ensign Music Corporation, Mirimode Music, Please Gimme My Publishing, Inc., Raynchaser Music, Swizole Music and Uncle Bobby Music (2 each).
The evening culminated with Charlie Wilson and The GAP Band being honored as BMI Icons. One of the most influential groups in the history of r&b, Charlie and his brothers Robert and Ronnie Wilson, who got their name from the streets in the black business hub of their native Tulsa, Oklahoma (Greenwood, Archer, Pine), dominated the r&b charts with their hard-driving funk grooves from the late '70s to early '80s. Four of the band's nine albums were certified Platinum plus (The GAP Band II, The GAP Band III, The GAP Band IV and GAP Band V - Jammin') and featured 15 Top Ten and four #1 r&b hits, including "You Dropped a Bomb On Me," "Party Train," "Burn Rubber," "Outstanding," "Oops Upside Your Head," "Early in the Morning," and the smooth love song, "Yearning for Your Love." "Outstanding" alone remains one of the most sampled songs in history and has, astonishingly, been used by over 150 artists.
Prior to being named BMI Icons, Wilson and The GAP Band were saluted with an all-star musical tribute that included performances by 112 and Guy. BMI President and CEO Del Bryant, along with Pharrell Williams, Snoop Dogg and will.i.am (of the Black Eyed Peas), presented the award to the group.
In addition to the BMI performance awards, music trade magazine Billboard recognized the BMI-affiliated writers who had #1 songs on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot Rap Tracks, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay and Hot 100 charts during the past year. Chad Hugo, Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams led with "Drop It Like It's Hot," which topped all four lists.
Below is the complete list of 2005 BMI Urban Awards winners:
CAN'T STOP, WON'T STOP
Darrell "Digga" Branch
Melvin "Melle Mel" Glover
Kidd Creole
Joseph "Ziggy" Modeliste
Eddie "Scorpio" Morris
Art Neville
Leo Nocentelli
George Porter, Jr.
Robert Wiggins
Figga Six Music
Screen Gems-EMI Music, Inc.
Sugar Hill Music Publishing Ltd.
Superappin' Music
Young Guns
Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Records
CHANGE CLOTHES
Pharrell Williams
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Waters of Nazareth Publishing
Jay-Z
Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Records
DROP IT LIKE IT'S HOT
Chad Hugo
Snoop Dogg
Pharrell Williams
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
My Own Chit Publishing
Raynchaser Music
Waters of Nazareth Publishing
Snoop Dogg featuring Pharrell
Star Trak/Geffen/Interscope Records
FREEK-A-LEEK
Lil Jon
Craig D. Love
C'Amore Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Swizole Music
White Rhino Music, Inc.
Petey Pablo
Jive Records
GAME OVER
Lil Flip
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Clover G Music
Lil Flip
Sucka Free/Loud/Columbia Records
GIGOLO
R. Kelly
R. Kelly Publishing, Inc.
Zomba Songs Inc.
Nick Cannon featuring R. Kelly
Nick/Jive Records
GOODIES
Sean Garrett
Lil Jon
Craig D. Love
Zachary Wallace
C'Amore Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Ishmoot Music
Swizole Music
White Rhino Music, Inc.
Ciara featuring Petey Pablo
Sho Nuff Records
HOTEL
Bernard Edwards
R. Kelly
Nile Rodgers
Bernard's Other Music
R. Kelly Publishing, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Zomba Songs Inc.
Cassidy featuring R. Kelly
Full Surface/J Records
I DON'T WANNA KNOW
Enya (PRS)
Nicky Ryan (PRS)
Roma Ryan (PRS)
Mario Winans
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Janice Combs Music
Marsky Music
Mario Winans featuring P. Diddy & Enya
Universal Records
I LIKE THAT
Nate Dogg
Steve "300CE" Prudholme
Sham
Houston Summers
Houston Summers Music Publishing
Irving Music
Nate Dogg Music
Three Hundred CE Music
Houston Featuring Chingy & Nate Dogg
Capitol Records
I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU
Cleveland Browne (PRS)
Alton Neamiah Ellis (PRS)
Embassy Music Corporation
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Sean Paul featuring Sasha
Vp/Atlantic Records
JESUS WALKS
Miri Ben-Ari
Curtis Lundy
Kanye West
Curwan Music, Inc.
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Mirimode Music
Please Gimme My Publishing, Inc.
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Kanye West
Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Records
JUST LOSE IT
Mark Batson
Eminem
Che Pope
Bat Future Music
Eight Mile Style Music
Jenelle Rene Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Eminem
Shady/Aftermath Records
LEAN BACK
Fat Joe
Joey and Ryan Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Terror Squad
SRC/Universal Records
LOSE MY BREATH
Sean Garrett
Fred Jerkins
Rodney Jerkins
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Ensign Music Corporation
Fred Jerkins Publishing
Rodney Jerkins Productions, Inc.
Destiny's Child
Columbia Records
MAGIC STICK
Lil' Kim
Phillip Mitchell
Muscle Shoals Sound Publishing
Notorious Kim Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Lil' Kim featuring 50 Cent
Queen Bee/Atlantic Records
MILKSHAKE
Chad Hugo
Pharrell Williams
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Raynchaser Music
Waters of Nazareth Publishing
Kelis
Star Trak/Arista Records
MY BAND
Eminem
DeShaun "Proof" Holton
Steven L. King
Eight Mile Style Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
D12 featuring Eminem
Shady Records
MY PLACE
Randy Edelman
Kenneth Gamble
Leon Huff
Dorian "Doe" Moore
EMI-Hastings Catalog, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Nelly featuring Jaheim
Derrty/Fo Reel/Universal Records
NAUGHTY GIRL
Peter Bellotte (GEMA)
Giorgio Moroder (GEMA)
Rick's Music, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Beyoncé
Columbia Records
ON FIRE
Eminem
Kwamé
Harry Palmer (PRS)
Eight Mile Style Music
Embassy Music Corporation
Lloyd Banks
G-Unit/Interscope Records
ONE CALL AWAY
Sham
Irving Music
Chingy featuring Jason Weaver
Disturbing Tha Peace/Capitol Records
OVERNIGHT CELEBRITY
Miri Ben-Ari
Michael Bennett
Kanye West
Lenny Williams
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
EMI-Stone Diamond Music Corporation
Len-Lon Music Publishing
Mirimode Music
Please Gimme My Publishing, Inc.
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Twista
Atlantic Records
RAIN ON ME
Irv Gotti
D J Irv Publishing
Ensign Music Corporation
Ashanti
Murder Inc./Def Jam Records
READ YOUR MIND
Avant
Steve "Stone" Huff
Grindtime Publishing
Tuff Huff Music
Zomba Songs Inc.
Avant
Geffen Records
SALT SHAKER
D-Roc (Ying Yang Twins)
Kaine (Ying Yang Twins)
Lil Jon
Collipark Music
Da Crippler Publishing
E W C Publishing Co.
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
White Rhino Music, Inc.
Ying Yang Twins featuring Lil Jon
Collipark/TVT Records
SLOW MOTION
Juvenile
Breka Music
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Money Mack Music
Juvenile featuring Soulja Slim
Cash Money Records
SORRY 2004
Eric Dawkins
E.D. Duz-It Music
Irving Music
Ruben Studdard
J Records
STEP IN THE NAME OF LOVE
R. Kelly
R. Kelly Publishing, Inc.
Zomba Songs Inc.
R. Kelly
Jive Records
SUNSHINE
Carlos Hassan of The Synphony
Sandy Lal of The Synphony
Lil Flip
Careers-BMG Music Publishing, Inc.
Carlos Hassan Publishing
Clover G Music
Reach Global Songs
Sandy Lal Music Publishing
Lil Flip featuring Léa
Sucka Free/Loud/Columbia Records
THOIA THOING
R. Kelly
R. Kelly Publishing, Inc.
Zomba Songs Inc.
R. Kelly
Jive Records
THROUGH THE WIRE
David Foster
Tom Keane
Cynthia Weil
Dyad Music Ltd.
Foster Frees Music, Inc.
Neropub Music
Tomjon Music Publishing Company
Kanye West
Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Records
U SHOULD'VE KNOWN BETTER
Harold Spencer Lilly, Jr.
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Uncle Bobby Music
Monica
J Records
YEAH!
Sean Garrett
Lil Jon
Patrick "j.Que" Smith
Christopher Matthew Music
Hitco Music
White Rhino Music, Inc.
Usher featuring Ludacris & Lil Jon
Arista Records
YOU DON'T KNOW MY NAME
Ralph Bailey
Melvin Kent
Harold Spencer Lilly, Jr.
Kanye West
Ken Williams
A-Dish-A-Tunes LLC
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Uncle Bobby Music
Alicia Keys
J Records
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