So it comes as no surprise that Pink's new album, I'm Not Dead, laments the toll western culture is taking on her and the world. On the single "Stupid Girls," the singer weighs in on the current state of young womanhood, serving up caustic lyrics about girls who, "travel in packs of two or three/with their itsy-bitsy doggies and their teeny-weeny tees . . .

"What happened to the dreams of a girl president?," Pink croons righteously, "she's dancing in the video next to 50 Cent . . .where, oh where, have the smart people gone?"

With its timely lyrics, "Stupid Girls" seems certain to click with fans who relate to Pink's struggle to remain genuine in an increasingly narcissistic world. "In my opinion, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being sexy, feeling sexy, or dressing sexy," the singer writes on her website (www.pinkspage.com). "My point is only this — that 'SMART' and 'SEXY' are not oil and water. You don't need to dumb yourself down in order to be cute. You also don't have to have the latest $10,000 handbag to be cool."

"Stupid Girls" is one of the many highlights featured on I'm Not Dead, an album Blender magazine enthusiastically described as "supercharged." Like its predecessors Can't Take Me Home (2000), Missundaztood (2001) and Try This (2003), the new disc offers a revealing glimpse inside the psyche of a true pop iconoclast, as evidenced by songs like "I Got Money Now," "Conversations With My 13 Year-Old Self," and the scathingly political "Dear Mr. President."

I'm Not Dead takes its esteemed place alongside Pink's previous albums, all certified platinum, yielding the hit singles "There You Go," "Most Girls" and "Don't Let Me Get Me," among others. In spring 2001, Pink joined forces with dance-pop wunderkind Christina Aguilera, rapper Lil' Kim and r&b singer Mya for a remake of the 1975 LaBelle hit, "Lady Marmalade." Co-produced by Missy Elliott and Rockwilder, the song rocketed to the top of Billboard's Hot 100 chart, captured a Grammy and resulted in a tremendously popular video.

Pink made headlines recently when she married motocross/reality TV star Carey Hart. Fans can see her in Catacombs, the 2006 horror flick from the makers of the box-office smash, Saw.

With a blossoming professional career and a fairy-tale personal life, Pink seems to have it all. But the endearingly self-deprecating singer says appearances can be deceiving.

"To a certain extent I am proud of myself for keeping hold of my integrity and taking risks and not completely conforming," she writes on her website. "On the other hand, I am my own worst enemy, my own worst critic, and I am extremely hard on myself."]]> 2006-06-12T18:00:01-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/musicworld/entry/234513 Artists, Aguilera, Christina, Busta Rhymes, Jackson, Janet, Muddy Waters, Mya, Pink, Rockwilder, Musical Styles, Pop, Urban, Musicworld, Hitmaker Producer Rockwilder earned his initial entrée into the music industry in the late 1990s by working with pal Redman. On discs like Muddy Waters and Busta Rhymes‘s When Disaster Strikes , Rockwilder showed a penchant for creating terrifically dark, slightly rock-influenced beats that perfectly complemented hardcore hip-hop’s somber themes.

The dawn of the new millennium saw Rockwilder venturing out of his musical comfort zone. He lightened his tone considerably by working on Janet Jackson‘s All For You and with the help of Missy Elliott, he turned the remake of LaBelle’s “Lady Marmalade” (by Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mya and L'il Kim) into a saucy hit. That song, from the soundtrack to the film Moulin Rouge , got him in the business of creating top-notch movie soundtracks; he went on to make a veritable cottage industry of producing music for films, including Legally Blond, Scooby-Doo 2,Training Day and Friday After Next .

He has continued to diversify his repertoire since his original rap days. Now, his impressive series of collaborations includes r&b artists like Maxwell, Kelis, Me’Shell NdegeOcello and Destiny’s Child, who tapped him for a smooth, tingly re-mix of their hit “Bootylicious.” He’s even created beats for crossover sensations like JC Chasez and Pink.

Rockwilder, born Dana Stinson, has strayed from the hip-hop artist’s traditional trajectory. Urban enough to produce for Mobb Deep but upbeat enough to make Mya’s pop tunes, Rockwilder is proving to be an adept, versatile and creative musician who keeps breaking the mold.]]> 2005-08-02T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234510 Artists, Bingham, Yummy, Rockwilder, Musical Styles, R&B, Urban Yummy Bingham stopped by the BMI New York office for a visit recently to meet up with executives in the Writer/Publisher Relations department. The 19-year-old singer/songwriter, daughter of noted music producer Osborne "Dinky" Bingham and godchild of Chaka Khan and "New Jack Swing King" Aaron Hall, is set to turn the music world on its ear with her debut First Seed in stores July 27.

Gathered in the BMI New York office are BMI's Charlie Feldman, Yummy's manager Randy Parker, BMI songwriter/artist Yummy Bingham and BMI's Wardell Malloy. photo by Eric Miller

The album's first single, "Come Get It" (featuring Jadakiss), already on the air waves in New York, Boston and San Francisco, showcases Yummy's distinctive vocals backed by an infectious and pulsating rhythm. Hip-hop super producer Rockwilder lends his beats to First Seed, resulting in a kaleidoscope of sounds influenced by everything from classic r&b to rock 'n roll.

Multiple BMI award-winning songwriters Cory Rooney and Rodney Jerkins will be attending the Urban Awards as well, with Jerkins joining Dallas Austin and Neptunes’ Pharrell Williams in producing the musical tribute to BMI ICON Award recipient, James “The Godfather of Soul” Brown. The BMI ICON Award will be presented to Brown in recognition of his contributions to music and the music business. The first ICON Awards were presented in May to fellow pioneers Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Little Richard.

The BMI Urban Awards will recognize the songwriters and publishers of the most-played urban songs on U.S. radio and television. An Urban Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Publisher of the Year will be named that night. In addition to the song awards, BMI will also honor the Top Producers of 2001-2002 and the BMI writers whose songs hit #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Charts.

The black-tie, invitation-only event will be held to coincide with Billboard’s R&B/Hip Hop Conference & Awards, also in Miami Beach.

The August 6 ceremony will be the first one for the BMI Urban Awards. The 2001 Urban Awards presentation, scheduled for October 3 last year, was cancelled due to the events of 9/11, although the actual awards were later distributed to the winners. BMI also honored its Latin music songwriters and publishers May 8 with the 9th Annual Latin Awards in Hollywood, Florida.

Christopher Lewis

Abby Dobson

Jonz

MaJoR KEyZ

With a performance by special guests and Universal recording artists Big Tymers. Superproducer Manny Fresh and Cash Money co-CEO Bryan “Baby” Williams mix their free-wheeling lyrical improvisation, larger-than-life personas and Freshís superb production, incorporating live instrumentation inspired by 70ís old school R&B, a touch of New Orleans bounce and classic hip hop. Come see why their single “ Still Fly “is moving up the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles & Tracks.

The showcase winner will be determined by a distinguished panel of industry standouts, including:

Rodney Jerkins, two-time Grammy-award winning producer (Michael Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, N’Sync & Brandy)

Shakir Stewart, Senior VP & GM Hitco Music (BeyoncÈ Knowles of Destiny’s Child)

Shante Paige, VP of A&R Motown Records (Profyle, Rasheeda, the Temptations)

Tse Williams, VP of A&R Universal Records (3LW, Joe)

Toi Green, Director of A&R Jive Records (Mystikal, The Wood Soundtrack)

J-Que, Winner BMI New Music Urban Showcase 2001 and Hitco Music songwriter

Frank Ski, Program Director at V103/Atlanta

Kamala Gordon, Director of Publishing Warner Chapell (Rockwilder, Faith Evans)

Leotis Clyburn, Director of Creative Development Ground Control Music (Tyrice Jones, Jerel Allen and Terry Harris of 7 Productions)

Teddy Bishop, CEO of Grove Factor Production, songwriter, composer, and producer (Toni Braxton, Montell Jordan, Jagged Edge)

Brian Jackson, Senior Vice President, Creative A&R EMI Music Publishing (Rodney Jerkins, The Neptunes, Jerry Duplessis, Pink)

Rico Wade, three-time Grammy-nominated producer (TLC, Outkast, Goodie Mob & The Dungeon Family

Directions to Celebrity Rock Café, 56 East Andrews

From Airport/Downtown/Midtown

Take I-75/I-85 north. When the interstate splits remain on I-75 North. Take the W Paces Ferry Rd exit. Turn right onto W Paces Ferry Rd. Remain on W Paces Ferry Rd for approximately 3 miles. Turn left on E Andrews Dr. Celebrity Rock CafÈ will be on the right side of the road.

From Lenox Mall/Buckhead

Take Peachtree Rd south (towards downtown). Make a right onto W Paces Ferry Rd. At the second stop light, E Andrews Dr., turn right. Celebrity Rock Café will be on the right side of the road.

Click here for the complete winners list
Click here for the Billboard #1 R&B/Hip Hop Songs

In addition to the song awards, BMI also named the 2000-2001 Top Producers Awards and Billboard, the music trade magazine, announced the names of the top BMI-affiliated writers on the R&B/Hip Hop charts.

“Maria Maria,” co-written by Jerry “Wonder” Duplessis and Carlos Santana, and recorded by Santana featuring the Product G&B, was named Song of the Year. The hit song was included on Santana’s multiple-platinum, multiple-Grammy award winning CD, Supernatural, and is published by EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc., Stellabella Music and Te Bass Music, Inc.

Producer/songwriter Pharrell Williams was named Songwriter of the Year with three songs on the most performed list including “Got Your Money” (co-written by Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and recorded by ODB with Kelis), “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)” (co-written by Deric Angelettie, Jay-Z, Todd “Too Short” Shaw and Kit Walker, and recorded by Jay-Z), and “Shake Ya Ass” (recorded by Mystikal).

Other multiple award-winning songwriters included Duplessis, Jay-Z, Fred Jerkins and Rodney Jerkins with two awards each.

EMI Music Publishing was named Urban Publisher of the Year with the largest percentage of ownership in award-winning songs. EMI was also named Publisher of the Year at the 2001 BMI Pop Awards, bringing to eight the total number of top Publisher honors awarded to EMI since 1989.

Pharrell Williams was also named one of the Top BMI-affiliated Producers along with Duplessis, Eminem, Mannie Fresh, Irv Gotti, Hi-Tek, R. Kelly, Poke, Rockwilder and Mario Winans.

Billboard chose the occasion of the Urban Awards to honor the BMI writers of the songs that topped the R&B/Hip-Hop charts during the past year. R. Kelly was a multiple winner with “Fiesta” (recorded by Kelly featuring Jay-Z) and “I Wish” (written and recorded by Kelly), as was Williams with “I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)” and “Danger (Been So Long)” (recorded by Mystikal featuring Nivea).

BMI annually honors the songwriters and music publishers of the most performed songs on American radio in the pop, country, Latin and urban music genres.