Los Angeles, CA – The Fairmont Century Plaza buzzed with the energy of music’s elite as Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) hosted its highly anticipated 2025 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards on Thursday, August 28th. The prestigious, invitation-only ceremony paid tribute to the unparalleled contributions of artists who continue to shape the soundscape of modern music, with legendary artist T-Pain and breakout sensation GloRilla taking center stage as the night’s top honorees.
T-Pain Honored with the BMI President’s Award: A Legacy of Innovation
GRAMMY Award-winning artist, producer, songwriter, and entrepreneur T-Pain was bestowed with the esteemed BMI President’s Award, recognizing his remarkable career and profound global impact. This pinnacle of achievement celebrates an artist whose formidable catalog of hit songs has resonated across generations, demonstrating a visionary approach and an unwavering commitment to pushing musical boundaries. T-Pain’s career, spanning over two decades, has been marked by revolutionary use of Auto-Tune, transforming vocal production and influencing countless artists in R&B and hip-hop. Since joining BMI in 2005, he has amassed an impressive 28 BMI Awards, earned the BMI Songwriter of the Year title three times, and was previously named BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Producer of the Year. His commercial success is staggering, with over 50 million singles sold, billions of streams, and 10 #1 placements on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Accepting the award, T-Pain shared words of wisdom: “Enjoy these moments but don’t let these define you. Make sure you find your own happiness; make sure you find what you have already inside you. Every journey has a beginning, a middle and an end. Don’t let anybody dictate your time and how fast you get to the finish line. Let yourself be your own time measurement.”
GloRilla Garners BMI Impact Award and Songwriter of the Year Title
Emerging as a true force in contemporary hip-hop, GRAMMY-nominated artist GloRilla was presented with the BMI Impact Award for her groundbreaking artistry, creative vision, and undeniable influence on the future of music. Celebrated as a transformative force in hip-hop, her bold voice and fearless creativity are actively shaping and inspiring new directions within the genre. GloRilla’s meteoric rise began with her viral 2022 hit “F.N.F. (Let’s Go),” which sparked a global phenomenon and paved the way for her signing with Yo Gotti’s Collective Music Group (CMG). Her debut album, Glorious, released in October 2024, achieved critical and commercial success, debuting at number five on the Billboard 200 and setting new records for a female rapper with its opening week. In addition to the Impact Award, GloRilla shared the prestigious title of BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter of the Year in a three-way tie with fellow hitmakers Tay Keith and Mike Dean. Her contributions to the year’s most-performed songs included her chart-topping tracks “TGIF,” “Wanna Be” (featuring Megan Thee Stallion), and “Yeah Glo!”. Her prolific year also saw her recognized with the Powerhouse Award at Billboard Women in Music, underscoring her rapid ascent and commanding presence in the music industry.
Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” Claims Song of the Year
The night also celebrated the most impactful songs of the year, with Kendrick Lamar’s colossal hit “Not Like Us” being named BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year. Co-written by Lamar, Sounwave, Ray Charles, and Sean Momberger, the track achieved unprecedented success, debuting at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 2024 and maintaining a record-breaking 53 consecutive weeks on the chart, solidifying its place as the longest-charting rap song in history. Producer Sounwave was also recognized for his prolific work, earning the title of BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Producer of the Year for his contributions to Lamar’s acclaimed projects, as well as his collaborations with other major artists like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift.
BMI Recognizes Industry Excellence and Emerging Talent
The 2025 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards also highlighted the vital role of music publishers, with Sony Music Publishing taking home the Publisher of the Year award for representing 23 of the year’s most-performed songs, including “Not Like Us,” “MILLION DOLLAR BABY,” and “On My Mama.” The ceremony honored 71 first-time BMI R&B/Hip-Hop award winners, further cementing BMI’s commitment to recognizing talent across all stages of their careers. The event also featured vibrant performances from artists like BigXthaPlug and BossMan Dlow, alongside a “Know Them Now” segment spotlighting rising stars such as Eli Derby, TA Thomas, and Lekan, showcasing the continued evolution and depth of R&B and hip-hop music.
The 2025 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards served as a powerful testament to the enduring influence and creative vitality of these genres. By celebrating icons like T-Pain and recognizing the new wave of talent exemplified by GloRilla, BMI continues to honor the artists, songwriters, and producers who are the driving force behind music’s most captivating stories.
