Drake to Receive Hal David Starlight Award

Posted in News on March 25, 2011

Drake just received prestigious acknowledgement of his promising career trajectory: The Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) has announced that the hip-hop poet will receive the 2011 Hal David Starlight Award, presented during the organization’s annual ceremony on Thursday, June 16 in New York City.

Drake didn’t just live up to the hype surrounding his 2009 full-length debut Thank Me Later—he flew right past it. The platinum release introduced the world to a confident performer and uniquely gifted songwriter, whose sleek, genre-jumping rhymes are enriched by the fact that their author truly has something to say. Six Grammy nominations later, Drake has officially picked up hip-hop’s proud torch.

Named in honor of former SHOF Hal David and established to honor original young voices, the Hal David Starlight Award celebrates the substantial accomplishments its recipients have already achieved while simultaneously acknowledging the immense promise of the artist’s contributions yet to come. As the 2011 honoree, Drake joins an elite list of past recipients that includes Rob Thomas, Alicia Keys, John Mayer, John Legend, John Rzeznik, Jason Mraz and last year’s honoree Taylor Swift.

Drake is a member of Canadian performing right organization SOCAN, while BMI collects royalties for him in the United States. His overwhelming stateside success also points to the international depth of BMI’s songwriting family, which includes global trendsetters in addition to its American originals.

For more information on the Hal David Starlight Award and the 2011 Songwriters Hall of Fame awards ceremony, visit songhall.org.

SOURCENews TAGS R&B / Hip-Hop Singer-Songwriter Atlanta Los Angeles New York Songwriters Hall of Fame Hal David John Legend Taylor Swift