Club LIV, located at the Fontainebleau Hotel 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 by Mike O’Neill, BMI president and CEO, and Catherine Brewton, BMI vice president, creative.
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; Christopher ‘YC’ Pearson, India Shawn, Lil Scrappy, Adiz “Bambi” Benson, Travis Porter, Morray, 808 Mafia, ATL Jacob, DJ Khaled, and the 2022 BMI Icon, Busta Rhymes. The interviews can be found on our Instagram.
After the Red Carpet guest made their way inside the event where they could listen to jams played by DJ Nasty and guests were welcomed by DJ Khaled. Guests also were invited to indulge in an open bar and hors d’oeuvres. 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.
The crowd got to enjoy performances from singer-songwriter Pheelz and Morray. Towards the end of the night Busta Rhymes preformed “Break Ya Neck,” “Scenario” and “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” with Spliff Star and DJ Scratchator. Closing the evening Busta Rhymes and Pharrell Williams preformed “Pass the Courvoisier.”
“As one of the pioneers of hip-hop, we are excited to honor Busta Rhymes as a BMI Icon,” said Brewton. “Through 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.
Rhymes 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, “Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check.” The single was quickly certified platinum, earning him his first GRAMMY nomination. Throughout the ’90s and 2000s, he was a creative force, topping the charts, including debuting at number one in 2006 with his seventh studio album, The Big Bang. Several of his hit songs, such as “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See,” “Break Ya Neck,” “Dangerous,” “Gimme Some More” and “What’s It’s Gonna Be?,” 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 acclaimed ELE 2: The Wrath of God, with NME saying it was “arguably one of the best-produced hip-hop albums of the last five years.”
Beyond his work in music, Rhymes has appeared in several films and television series, including in Shaft, Finding Forrester, Master of None, The Rugrats Movie and he competed in The Masked Singer on FOX.
As the 2022 BMI Icon, Busta Rhymes joins an elite group of music creators who have received BMI’s highest honor. Past BMI Icons include: Janet Jackson, Patti LaBelle, Nile Rodgers, Snoop Dogg, The Jacksons, LA Reid, Babyface, Al Green, Isaac Hayes, James Brown and more.
Song of the year: Justin Bieber hit “Peaches,” featuring GIVĒON and Daniel Caesar.
Songwriter of the year: Megan Thee Stallion and Christopher “YC” Pearson tied. YC and Megan Thee Stallion co-wrote three of the most performed R&B/Hip-Hop songs.
Megan Thee Stallion: “Body,” “Cry Baby” and “Thot Shit.”
Christopher “YC” Pearson: “Time Today” and “Wockesha” and Pooh Shiesty’s “Back in Blood”
R&B/Hip-Hop publisher of the year: Sony Music Publishing
Producer of the year: D’Mile. His work included: Silk Sonic’s “Smokin Out the Window,” “Skate” and “Leave the Door Open,” and “Fair Trade” by Drake and Travis Scott.
Top producer citations: Isaac “Zac” De Boni, ATL Jacob, Michael “Finatik” Mulé, Kanye West, Charlie Handsome, and Rogét Chahayed.
Lastly, but definitely not least, Busta Rhymes was named a BMI Icon at the 2022 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards.
To learn more about the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, visit here and use the hashtag #BMIRnBHHAwards on social media.