ClubΒ LIV, located at theΒ Fontainebleau HotelΒ in Miami Beach, FL was the place to be last week for the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards. The spectacular and extremely exclusive event was hosted byΒ Mike OβNeill, BMI president and CEO, and Catherine Brewton, BMI vice president, creative.Β


The evening started with the artist, producers, family members, and other VIP guests walking the red carpet and showcasing their outfits, as well as being interviewed, and photographed before they get into the awards show. We got the pleasure to speak with a variety of artists such as;Β Christopher βYCβ Pearson, India Shawn, Lil Scrappy, Adiz βBambiβ Benson, Travis Porter, Morray, 808 Mafia, ATL Jacob, DJ Khaled, and the 2022 BMI Icon,Β Busta Rhymes. The interviews can be found on ourΒ Instagram.Β Β
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After the Red Carpet guest made their way inside the event where they could listen to jams played byΒ DJ NastyΒ and guests were welcomed byΒ DJ Khaled.Β Guests also were invited to indulge in an open bar and hors dβoeuvres. On the menu were; chicken and waffles, many types of empanadas, and a variety of flatbreads. My personal favorite was the carne asada empanadas they were filled with some much flavor and the meat was cooked to perfection.Β
The crowd got to enjoy performances from singer-songwriterΒ PheelzΒ andΒ Morray. Towards the end of the night Busta Rhymes preformedΒ βBreak Ya Neck,β βScenarioβ and βPut Your Hands Where My Eyes Could SeeβΒ withΒ Spliff StarΒ andΒ DJ Scratchator.Β Closing the eveningΒ Busta RhymesΒ andΒ Pharrell WilliamsΒ preformed βPass the Courvoisier.β
βAs one of the pioneers of hip-hop, we are excited to honor Busta Rhymes as a BMI Icon,β saidΒ Brewton. βThrough his award-winning solo work, countless collaborations and acting, Busta is a true innovator in every sense of the word and has made a dynamic impact on legions of fans and music creators worldwide.Β
RhymesΒ launched his musical career in the early 90s with the hip-hop crew Leaders of the New School. He moved on to become an in-demand collaborator, appearing on numerous tracks for other artists before he officially went solo in 1996 with his massive hit, βWoo-Hah!! Got You All in Check.β The single was quickly certified platinum, earning him his first GRAMMY nomination. Throughout the β90s and 2000s, he was a creative force, topping the charts, including debuting at number one in 2006 with his seventh studio album,Β The Big Bang. Several of his hit songs, such as βPut Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See,β βBreak Ya Neck,β βDangerous,β βGimme Some Moreβ and βWhatβs Itβs Gonna Be?,β featuring Janet Jackson, became hip-hop anthems, solidifying his place as one of the most in-demand rappers in the industry. In 2020, he independently released the critically acclaimedΒ ELE 2: The Wrath of God, withΒ NMEΒ saying it was βarguably one of the best-produced hip-hop albums of the last five years.β
Beyond his work in music, Rhymes has appeared in several films and television series, including inΒ Shaft, Finding Forrester, Master of None, The Rugrats MovieΒ and he competed inΒ The Masked SingerΒ on FOX.
As the 2022 BMI Icon, Busta Rhymes joins an elite group of music creators who have received BMIβs highest honor. Past BMI Icons include:Β Β Janet Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Nile Rodgers, Snoop Dogg, The Jacksons, LA Reid, Babyface, Al Green, Isaac Hayes, James BrownΒ and more.
Song of the year:Β Justin Bieber hit “Peaches,” featuring GIVEΜON and Daniel Caesar.
Songwriter of the year:Β Megan Thee StallionΒ andΒ Christopher βYCβ PearsonΒ tied. YC and Megan Thee Stallion co-wrote three of the most performed R&B/Hip-Hop songs.Β
Megan Thee Stallion:Β βBody,β βCry Babyβ and βThot Shit.β
Christopher βYCβ Pearson:Β βTime Todayβ and βWockeshaβ and Pooh Shiestyβs βBack in BloodβΒ
R&B/Hip-Hop publisher of the year: Sony Music PublishingΒ
Producer of the year:Β DβMile. His work included: Silk Sonicβs βSmokin Out the Window,β βSkateβ and βLeave the Door Open,β and βFair Tradeβ by Drake and Travis Scott.
Top producer citations: Isaac βZacβ De Boni, ATL Jacob, Michael βFinatikβ MulΓ©, Kanye West, Charlie Handsome, and RogΓ©t Chahayed.
Lastly, but definitely not least, Busta Rhymes was named a BMI Icon at the 2022 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards.Β
To learn more about the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, visitΒ hereΒ and use the hashtagΒ #BMIRnBHHAwardsΒ on social media.




