The 2025 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, held on Thursday, August 28th, at the prestigious Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles, celebrated the titans of contemporary R&B and hip-hop music, recognizing the profound contributions and indelible impact of artists like T-Pain and GloRilla. This year’s ceremony highlighted the creative architects behind the year’s most resonant songs, underscoring the craft and artistry that drives the industry forward. The event also recognized the songwriters, producers, and publishers behind the year’s most-performed tracks, cementing BMI’s role in championing music creators.
T-Pain Receives Prestigious BMI President’s Award
The legendary T-Pain was bestowed with the highly coveted BMI President’s Award, an honor reserved for artists whose careers have demonstrated exceptional influence and have significantly shifted the sound of music. T-Pain, a Grammy Award-winning artist, producer, and songwriter, has built a formidable catalog of hit songs that have resonated across generations. Since the mid-2000s, his innovative use of Auto-Tune revolutionized vocal production, transforming it from a debated effect into a widely embraced artistic tool. His hit-making career includes chart-toppers like “Buy U a Drank,” “I’m Sprung,” and “I’m N Luv (Wit a Stripper),” and his global impact is evidenced by sales exceeding 50 million singles and numerous Billboard Hot 100 #1 hits. T-Pain has previously earned 28 BMI Awards, including three BMI Songwriter of the Year titles and the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Producer of the Year award. Accepting the President’s Award, T-Pain encouraged fellow artists to define their own timelines and find happiness within themselves, stating, “Don’t let anyone dictate your time … Let yourself be your own time measurement.”. He joins an elite group of past President’s Award recipients, including Taylor Swift, Ludacris, and Pitbull..
GloRilla Honored with BMI Impact Award and Songwriter of the Year Title
The dynamic GloRilla was recognized with the BMI Impact Award, celebrating her groundbreaking artistry, creative vision, and her significant influence on the future of hip-hop music. Her meteoric rise since her 2022 breakout hit, “FNF (Let’s Go),” has cemented her status as a powerful voice in contemporary music. GloRilla has consistently delivered chart-topping tracks, including “Yeah Glo!,” “Wanna Be” (with Megan Thee Stallion), and “TGIF.” Her debut album, “Glorious,” released in October 2024, achieved the highest opening week sales for a female rapper that year, marking a significant milestone in hip-hop stories.. The award specifically acknowledges her “groundbreaking artistry, creative vision, and influence on the future of music,” according to BMI’s Vice President of Creative, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton. In a remarkable feat, GloRilla also tied for BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter of the Year, sharing the title with Tay Keith and Mike Dean. Each of these accomplished writers contributed three of BMI’s 35 Most-Performed R&B/Hip-Hop Songs of the year. GloRilla’s impactful acceptance speech urged aspiring artists to persevere, saying, “Keep y’all’s foot on the gas. Don’t let nobody tell y’all what y’all can’t do.”. She joins an impressive roster of previous BMI Impact Award recipients, such as Ice Spice, Tems, and RAYE.
“Not Like Us” Takes Song of the Year, Sounwave Named Producer of the Year
Kendrick Lamar’s viral sensation “Not Like Us” was crowned BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year, a testament to its massive cultural and commercial impact. The track, credited to Kendrick Lamar along with co-writers Ray Charles, Sean Momberger, and Sounwave, has been lauded for its impressive chart performance. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 2024 and became the longest-charting rap song in the survey’s history, spending 53 consecutive weeks on the chart. Sounwave also received the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Producer of the Year award for his extensive work, including his contributions to Lamar’s tracks and projects for artists like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. Other top producers recognized included Carter Lang, Metro Boomin, Sean Momberger, and MTech.
Sony Music Publishing Dominates as Publisher of the Year
Sony Music Publishing was celebrated as BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Publisher of the Year for representing 23 of the past year’s most-performed songs, including hits like “Agora Hills,” “Not Like Us,” and “MILLION DOLLAR BABY.”. This recognition highlights the significant role music publishers play in the success and reach of top music. The event also acknowledged 71 first-time BMI R&B/Hip-Hop award winners, showcasing the continued evolution and new talent emerging within the genre.
A Night of Celebration and Recognition
The 2025 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards ceremony served as a vital platform to recognize the creative architects behind the year’s most resonant songs. The event underscored the collaborative nature of the music industry, bringing together a community of creators, innovators, and industry leaders to acknowledge the artistry that defines contemporary R&B and hip-hop music. The awards ceremony annually celebrates the top songwriters, producers, and music publishers, reinforcing BMI’s commitment to advocating for the value of music and its creators. The ongoing success and innovation within hip-hop music ensure that these awards will continue to be a significant event for years to come.
