The 2025 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards descended upon Los Angeles on August 28th, transforming the Fairmont Century Plaza into a vibrant hub celebrating the immense talent and groundbreaking achievements within the R&B and hip-hop music landscapes. The evening, hosted by BMI’s leadership including President & CEO Mike O’Neill, EVP Chief Creative & Revenue Officer Mike Steinberg, and VP Creative, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton, shone a spotlight on artists who have not only dominated the charts but have also profoundly influenced the culture. This year’s ceremony prominently honored two titans of the genre: T-Pain, who received the prestigious BMI President’s Award, and GloRilla, presented with the BMI Impact Award.
T-Pain Receives Highest Honor: The BMI President’s Award
The BMI President’s Award, the evening’s most distinguished accolade, was bestowed upon the GRAMMY-winning artist, producer, and entrepreneur T-Pain. This award recognizes his remarkable career, characterized by a formidable catalog of hit songs that have resonated across generations and established him as a global cultural icon. T-Pain’s innovative use of Auto-Tune in the mid-2000s revolutionized vocal production, transforming it into a widely embraced artistic tool and shaping a new sonic era for music. With a career spanning two decades, T-Pain has achieved sales exceeding 50 million singles, garnered billions of streams, and scored ten number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100. His extensive list of prior accolades includes 28 BMI Awards, three BMI Songwriter of the Year titles, and a BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Producer of the Year award. Accepting the award, T-Pain encouraged artists to define their own timelines and find internal validation, stating, “Don’t let anyone dictate your time… Let yourself be your own time measurement.” His journey, marked by continuous innovation and chart-topping success, solidifies his place as a true trailblazer in the music industry.
GloRilla Honored with BMI Impact Award and Songwriter of the Year Title
Dynamic GRAMMY-nominated artist GloRilla was celebrated with the BMI Impact Award, acknowledging her groundbreaking artistry, creative vision, and significant influence on the future of hip-hop. Since her breakout success in 2022 with the viral hit “FNF (Let’s Go),” GloRilla has rapidly ascended, becoming a transformative force in the genre. Her chart domination has included four Hot 100 top 30 hits, and her debut album, Glorious, achieved the highest opening week for a female rapper in 2024. GloRilla’s impact is further underscored by her achievement of being named BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter of the Year, sharing the title in a three-way tie 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, showcasing their prolific songwriting talents. GloRilla’s inspiring acceptance speech urged emerging artists to persevere, proclaiming, “Keep y’all’s foot on the gas. Don’t let nobody tell y’all what y’all can’t do.” She joins an esteemed list of previous BMI Impact Award recipients, including Ice Spice, Tems, and RAYE.
“Not Like Us” Dominates as BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year
Kendrick Lamar’s ubiquitous hit “Not Like Us” was crowned BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year. Co-written by Kendrick Lamar, along with Ray Charles, Sean Momberger, and Sounwave, the track achieved unprecedented success. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 2024 and set a new record by spending 53 consecutive weeks on the chart, becoming the longest-charting rap song in its history. The song’s immense popularity and cultural resonance made it a standout achievement for the year.
Sounwave Named Producer of the Year Amidst Stellar Achievements
Multiple GRAMMY-winning hitmaker Sounwave was recognized as BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Producer of the Year for his extensive and impactful work. His production credits include significant contributions to Kendrick Lamar’s acclaimed tracks such as “Euphoria,” “6:16 in LA,” and the Song of the Year winner “Not Like Us.” Sounwave’s versatility and talent were also evident in his production work for other major artists, including Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, further cementing his status as a leading producer in the music industry.
Top Honors for Songwriters, Producers, and Publishers
The 2025 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards also celebrated the architects behind the year’s most successful songs, recognizing top talent across various categories. Sony Music Publishing was honored as Publisher of the Year, representing 23 of the most-performed tracks, including “Agora Hills,” “Not Like Us,” and “MILLION DOLLAR BABY.” Among the top producers acknowledged were Carter Lang, Metro Boomin, Sean Momberger, and MTech, with MTech receiving his first BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Producer Award. GloRilla, Tay Keith, and Mike Dean were celebrated for their songwriting prowess, each contributing three of the year’s most performed songs. Tay Keith, a previous BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter of the Year (2018) and multiple-time Producer of the Year recipient, and Mike Dean, a co-writer of the 2011 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year “Super Bass,” further highlighted the depth of talent acknowledged.
Performances Showcase Emerging and Established Talent
The star-studded evening was enhanced by electrifying performances from prominent artists and emerging talents. BigXthaPlug kicked off the night with his hits “The Largest” and his BMI Award-winning track “Mmhmm.” BossMan Dlow followed, energizing the audience with “Mr Pot Scraper” and his BMI Award-winning song “Get In With Me.” The ceremony also featured a “Know Them Now” segment, dedicated to uplifting and highlighting new songwriters and artists in the R&B/Hip-Hop sphere. Emerging artists Eli Derby, TA Thomas, and Lekan delivered memorable performances of their tracks “Cadillac Dream,” “Preach,” and “Always,” respectively, offering a glimpse into the future of the genres.
The 2025 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards served as a powerful testament to the dynamic evolution and enduring influence of R&B and hip-hop music, celebrating the artists, songwriters, and producers who continue to shape the industry’s stories and sounds.
