The Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles was abuzz with energy on August 28, 2025, as BMI celebrated the architects of contemporary music at the 2025 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards. The prestigious event honored two titans of the genre: T-Pain, who received the BMI President’s Award, and GloRilla, presented with the BMI Impact Award. The ceremony also shined a spotlight on the songwriters, producers, and publishers behind the 35 most-performed R&B/Hip-Hop songs of the past year, alongside the coveted Songwriter, Song, Producer, and Publisher of the Year accolades.
T-Pain Honored with the BMI President’s Award
GRAMMY Award-winning artist, producer, and songwriter T-Pain was recognized with the BMI President’s Award, the evening’s highest honor. This award celebrates his tremendous career, marked by a formidable catalog of hit songs that have resonated across generations and connected with audiences worldwide. T-Pain’s innovative use of Auto-Tune in the mid-2000s revolutionized vocal production, transforming it from a debated effect into a widely embraced artistic tool. His boundary-pushing approach has not only shaped his own chart-topping hits like “Buy U a Drank,” “I’m Sprung,” and “I’m N Luv (Wit a Stripper),” but has also influenced a generation of artists. Throughout his career, T-Pain has earned 28 BMI Awards, been named BMI Songwriter of the Year three times, and received BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Producer of the Year honors. He has also amassed numerous awards and nominations from other prestigious bodies, including the GRAMMY Awards and BET Awards.
GloRilla Earns the BMI Impact Award
Rising powerhouse GloRilla was honored with the BMI Impact Award, a recognition of her groundbreaking artistry, creative vision, and influence on the future of music. Since her breakout in 2022 with the viral hit “FNF (Let’s Go),” GloRilla has quickly established herself as one of the most dynamic voices in hip-hop. She has since released her debut album “Glorious,” which surged to No. 5 on the Billboard 200, and has delivered a string of Hot 100 entries. BMI lauded her bold voice and fearless creativity for shaping and inspiring the future of hip-hop. GloRilla joins a distinguished list of previous Impact Award recipients, including Ice Spice, Tems, and Arlo Parks.
Songwriter of the Year and Top Honors
The 2025 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards also celebrated the year’s most prolific creators. GloRilla shared the title of BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter of the Year in a three-way tie with Tay Keith and Mike Dean, with each co-writing three of the 35 most-performed songs of the year. GloRilla’s contributions included “TGIF,” “Wanna Be,” and “Yeah Glo!;” Dean’s credits featured “One Of The Girls,” “Popular,” and “Type Shit;” and Keith was recognized for “First Person Shooter,” “Get It Sexyy,” and “MELTDOWN.” This marks a significant achievement for GloRilla, who has earned multiple BMI Awards and GRAMMY nominations since joining BMI in 2019.
“Not Like Us” Reigns Supreme as Song of the Year
Kendrick Lamar’s massive hit “Not Like Us” was crowned BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Song of the Year. The track, credited to Lamar, the late Ray Charles, Sean Momberger, and Sounwave, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May 2024 and became the longest-charting rap song in the chart’s history.
Producer and Publisher of the Year Awards
Sounwave earned the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Producer of the Year award for his extensive work, including his collaborations with Kendrick Lamar on hits such as “Euphoria,” “6:16 in LA,” and “Not Like Us.” His impressive production credits also extend to artists like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. Sony Music Publishing was named BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Publisher of the Year, representing 23 of the year’s most-performed songs, including “Agora Hills,” “Not Like Us,” and “MILLION DOLLAR BABY”.
A Night of Performances and Industry Recognition
The ceremony, hosted by BMI’s EVP and Chief Revenue & Creative Officer Mike Steinberg and Vice President, Creative, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton, featured high-energy performances from artists like BigXthaPlug and BossMan Dlow. An emerging artist showcase, the “Know Them Now” segment, also highlighted rising talent such as Eli Derby, TA Thomas, and Lekan. The event underscored BMI’s ongoing commitment to celebrating and supporting the diverse talent that drives the R&B and hip-hop music industries, recognizing both established legends and the next generation of hitmakers who continue to shape the sound of popular music. The 2025 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards served as a testament to the enduring power and evolution of hip hop and R&B music, reinforcing Los Angeles’s status as a global hub for creative innovation.
