Cash Money’s Bryan ‘Birdman’ Williams and Ronald ‘Slim’ Williams and Top Songwriters Honored at the 2013 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards
Celebrities, media and music industry tastemakers converged at the Manhattan Center’s Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on August 22 to watch Broadcast Music, Inc. present the BMI Icon Award to Cash Money Records' Bryan “Birdman” Williams and Ronald “Slim” Williams at the 2013 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards. The star-studded event, formerly known as the BMI Urban Awards, celebrated the songwriters, producers and publishers of the most-performed R&B/hip-hop songs of the previous year. BMI President and CEO, Del Bryant, and Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton, shared the evening’s hosting duties with recording artist Ray J. “Birdman” and “Slim” were named BMI Icons because of their “unique and indelible influence on generations of music makers.” The brothers, who co-founded Cash Money Records in 1991, were treated to an all-star tribute, which included performances by Kevin Rudolf, DJ Khaled, Mystikal, Future, Curren$y, Ace Hood, Busta Rhymes, Turk, Mannie Fresh and Juvenile. Each artist delivered a dynamic interpretation of a Cash Money classic, such as “Slow Motion,” performed by Curren$y, and “Ha,” performed by Mystikal.
“I dedicate my soul and my life and I wouldn't be standing right here if it wasn't for Dwayne Carter [Wayne]. One thing you see with us is loyalty. It's not an individual achievement. We did what we did on creativity, but I got a lot of staff members who make a lot happen, so shout out to the whole Universal staff; we've been at this for 17 years. It's a business. Money moves the world. I respect ya'll," “Birdman” said upon accepting the Icon award on behalf of Cash Money, which was presented by BMI's Del Bryant and Catherine Brewton.
As an encore, “Birdman” invited to the stage the Cash Money crew, including Slim, Lil Wayne, Mannie Fresh, Busta Ryhmes, DJ Khaled and Juvenile, among others, who performed "Still Fly" by Big Timers and Hot Boys’ "I Need a Hot Girl.” “Birdman” added a special thank you to BMI’s Brewton, “Catherine, you did a great job. We just want to tell ya'll we love ya'll."
Nicki Minaj and Benny Blanco shared the Songwriter of the Year crown by each writing four songs that rank among the year’s most-performed. Minaj’s top contributions include “Dance (A$$),” “Girl On Fire,” “Make Me Proud,” and “Starships.” Blanco was recognized for “Diamonds,” “Heart Attack,” “Payphone,” and “Work Hard Play Hard.” Minaj’s ubiquitous “Starships” earned Song of the Year honors for its writers Minaj, Wayne Hector, RedOne, Rami Yacoub and Carl Falk as well as publishers 2101 Songs, Harajuku Barbie Music, Money Mack Music, Songs of Kobalt Music Publishing, Songs of RedOne, Songs of Universal, Inc., Sony/ATV Songs, LLC and Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Hit-Boy earned the coveted Producer of the Year crystal. The young songwriter/producer has helmed boards for hits by Kanye West, Jay Z, Kendrick Lamar and A$AP Rocky, among many others. In addition to Hit-Boy, BMI also recognized top producers Jerry “Wonda” Duplessis, Warren “Oak” Felder, Jim Jonsin, Ryan Lewis, Marquel “MaRz” Middlebrooks, Troy Taylor, Andrew “Pop” Wansel and Tyler “T-Minus” Williams.
With 16 songs among the most-performed, Universal Music Publishing Group clinched the prestigious Publisher of the Year crown.
Machine Gun Kelly won the BMI Social Star Award, which was presented by Brewton, Ray J and BMI’s Ian Holder. Selected by fans voting via Twitter, the award salutes the BMI R&B/hip-hop songwriter who has best demonstrated the power of social media to showcase their songwriting talents. During a riveting performance, Machine Gun Kelly said, “I just want to thank BMI for giving a couple of kids from Cleveland a chance."
BMI also recognized the songwriters of Billboard No. 1 singles on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs charts over the past year.
Here's the full list of 2013 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards winners:
ICON
Cash Money Records
Bryan “Birdman” Williams & Ronald “Slim” Williams
SONG OF THE YEAR
“Starships”
Wayne Hector (PRS)
Nicki Minaj
RedOne
Rami Yacoub*
Carl Falk*
Harajuku Barbie Music
Money Mack Music
Songs of RedOne
Songs of Universal,Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs, LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
SONGWRITERS OF THE YEAR
Benjamin "Benny Blanco" Levin
“Diamonds”
“Heart Attack”
“Payphone”
“Work Hard Play Hard”
Nicki Minaj
“Dance (A$$)”
“Girl On Fire”
“Make Me Proud”
“Starships”
PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR
Universal Music Publishing Group
“2 Reasons”
“Birthday Cake”
“Can’t Get Enough”
“Dance (A$$)”
“Girl On Fire”
“Lotus Flower Bomb”
“Make Me Proud”
“Marvin & Chardonnay”
“Mercy”
“Nobody's Perfect”
“Payphone”
“Starships”
“Strip”
“The Motto”
“Wild Ones”
“Young, Wild & Free”
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Chauncey "Hit Boy" Hollis
TOP PRODUCERS
Jerry “Wonder” Duplessis
Warren “Oak” Felder
Jim Jonsin
Ryan Lewis
Marquel “MaRz” Middlebrooks
Troy Taylor
Andrew “Pop” Wansel
Tyler “T-Minus” Williams
MOST-PERFORMED SONGS
"2 Reasons"
Najja McDowell
Kyle "K2" Stewart II
Troy Taylor
Menardini "BridgeTown" Timothee
Trey Songz
T.I.*
April's Boy Music LLC
Bar Raising Tracks
Chit Chat Music
Downtown DMP Songs
JoGloe Music Publishing
Najja Left Field Music
No Quincydence Music Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
"Birthday Cake"
Chris Brown
Kevin McCall
Makeba Riddick
Rihanna
Tuo Clark*
Marcos "Kosine On Da Beat" Palacios*
The-Dream*
Annarhi Music LLC
Culture Beyond Ur Experience Publishing
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Janice Combs Music
Kmacnificent
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Yoga Flames Publishing
"Can't Get Enough"
J Cole
Brian Kidd
Trey Songz
Ibrahima Kandia Kouyate (BGDA)*
Emile "Beny" Soumah (BGDA)*
April's Boy Music LLC
Dollanaire Publishing
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
"Cashin' Out"
Ca$h Out
Gary "DJ Spinz" Hill*
Bizzy Boy South Publishing
"Climax"
Sean "Elijah Blake" Fenton
Juan Manuel Nájera*
Thomas "Diplo" Pentz*
Ariel Rechtshaid*
Usher*
Rkeytek Music LLC
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
"Dance (A$$)"
Big Sean
MC Hammer
Alonzo Miller
Nicki Minaj
Tuo Clark*
Rick James*
Marcos "Kosine On Da Beat" Palacios*
Bust It Publishing
EMI-Stone Diamond Music Corp.
FF to Def Publishing LLC
Harajuku Barbie Music
Money Mack Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
"Diamonds"
Benjamin "Benny Blanco" Levin
Mikkel Eriksen (PRS)*
Tor Hermansen (PRS)*
Sia (APRA)*
Matza Ballzack Music
Where Da Kasz At?
"Drank in my Cup"
Raul Gonzalez (DJ Ryu)
Brandon Tillman (Pyro)
Kirko Bangz*
Reach Music Songs
"Girl on Fire"
Jeff Bhasker
Nicki Minaj
Salaam Remi
Alicia Keys*
Billy Squier*
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Harajuku Barbie Music
Linden Springfield
Money Mack Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Way Above Music
"Heart Attack"
Benjamin "Benny Blanco" Levin
Trey Songz
Rico Love*
April's Boy Music LLC
Matza Ball Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Where Da Kasz At?
"I Cry"
Jeffrey B. Hull
Brenda Russell
Mike Caren*
Scott Cutler*
Flo Rida*
Raphael David "Soso Fly" Judrin*
Joe Khajadourian*
Pierre Melki*
Alex Schwartz*
Dwarf Village Music
Screen Gems-EMI Music, Inc.
"Leave You Alone"
Lonnie Liston Smith
Young Jeezy
Ne-Yo*
Warren G*
Cosmic Echoes Publishing Co.
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Young Jeezy Music
"Lemme See"
Eric Bellinger
Jim Jonsin
Danny Morris
Rick Ross
Lundon Knighten*
Niko Marzouca*
Usher*
4 Blunts Lit At Once Publishing
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
First and Gold Publishing
Hypnotic Beats, Inc.
Jimipub Music
Rebel Made Music
"Lotus Flower Bomb"
Jerrin Howard
Sam Dew*
Walker Johnson III*
Miguel*
Wale*
Irving Music
"Make Me Proud"
Drake (SOCAN)
Nicki Minaj
Tyler "T-Minus" Williams (SOCAN)
Anthony Palman (SOCAN)*
Nikhil Seetharam*
Noah "40" Shebib*
Brother Bagz Publishing
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Harajuku Barbie Music
Live Write LLC
Money Mack Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
"Marvin & Chardonnay"
Big Sean
Mike Dean
Torrey "YT" Hood
Andrew "Pop" Wansel
Kanye West
Darhyl Camper, Jr.*
Roscoe Dash*
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
FF to Def Publishing LLC
PaPa George Music
Please Gimme My Publishing, Inc.
Songs of Universal, Inc.
YT Enterprises LLC
"Mercy"
Big Sean
Mike Dean
Willie A. Hansbro
Anthony "The Twilite Tone" Khan
Pusha T
James Michael Thomas
Kanye West
2 Chainz*
Denzie Beagle (PRS)*
Winston "Ronnie Evan" Riley (PRS)*
Stephan "Lifted" Taft*
Herbert L. Turner*
Reggie Williams (JACAP)*
Malik Yusef*
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
FF to Def Publishing LLC
Neighborhood Pusha Publishing
PaPa George Music
Please Gimme My Publishing, Inc.
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Suitelivingworldwide Publishing
Twilite Tone Music
"No Lie"
Drake (SOCAN)
Marquel "MaRz" Middlebrooks
2 Chainz*
Mike-Will*
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Live Write LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp
"Nobody's Perfect"
J Cole
Curtis Mayfield
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Todd Mayfield Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
"Party"
Jeff Bhasker
Doug E. Fresh
Dexter "Consequence" Mills
Slick Rick
Kanye West
André 3000*
Beyoncé*
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Entertaining Music
Get Ya Frog On Publishing
Please Gimme My Publishing, Inc.
Slick Rick Music Corp.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Way Above Music
"Payphone"
Benjamin "Benny Blanco" Levin
Adam Levine
Ammar Malik
Wiz Khalifa
Daniel "RoboPop" Omelio*
Shellback (STIM)*
Maru Cha Cha
Matza Ball Music
Sudgee Music
Universal Music-Careers
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Where Da Kasz At?
Wiz Khalifa Publishing
"Rack City"
DJMustard
Tyga
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Tygaman Music
"Starships"
Wayne Hector (PRS)
Nicki Minaj
RedOne
Carl Falk (STIM)*
Rami Yacoub (STIM)*
Harajuku Barbie Music
Money Mack Music
Songs of RedOne
Songs of Universal, Inc.
Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
"Strip"
Chris Brown
Justin "Henny" Henderson
Kevin McCall
Joseph Bereal*
Amber Streeter*
Chris Whitacre*
Culture Beyond Ur Experience Publishing
Henderworks Publishing Company
Kmacnificent
Nappypub Music
Songs of Universal, Inc.
"Take Care"
Brook Benton
Drake (SOCAN)
John Gluck*
Wally Gold*
Seymour Gottlieb*
Croft Madley (PRS)*
Anthony Palman (SOCAN)*
Noah "40" Shebib*
Jamie Smith (PRS)*
Herb Wiener*
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Live Write LLC
The Clyde Otis Music Group, Inc.
"The Motto"
Drake (SOCAN)
Lil Wayne
Sir Mix-A-Lot
Tyler “T-Minus” Williams (SOCAN)
Noah “40” Shebib*
Brother Bagz Publishing
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Live Write LLC
Mix-A-Lot Publishing
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Young Money Publishing, Inc.
"Whistle"
Breyan Isaac
Antonio "Jovii Hendrix" Mobley
Flo Rida*
Justin Franks*
David Glass*
Marcus Thompson (PRS)*
Artist 101 Publishing Group
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
"Wild Ones"
Axwell (STIM)
Marcus "Pleasure P" Cooper
Ben Maddahi
Sia (APRA)
Flo Rida*
Raphael Judrin*
Jacob Luttrell *
Pierre-Antoine Melki*
Artist 101 Publishing Group
EMI-Blackwood Music, Inc.
Nanat
Universal-Songs of PolyGram International, Inc.
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
"Work Hard Play Hard"
Benjamin "Benny Blanco" Levin
Wiz Khalifa
Mikkel Eriksen (PRS)*
Tor Hermansen (PRS)*
Matza Ball Music
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Where Da Kasz At?
Wiz Khalifa Publishing
"Young, Wild & Free"
Ted Bluechel
Larry Carlton
Tyrone William "Ty$" Griffin, Jr.
Nye "Nano" Lee, Jr.
Marquise "TeeCee" Newman
Joe Sample
Tom Scott
Snoop Dogg aka Snoop Lion
Wiz Khalifa
YG
Marlon Barrow*
Max Bennett*
Brody Brown*
Bruno Mars*
John Guerin*
Philip Lawrence*
Ari Levine*
BMG Platinum Songs
EMI-Beechwood Music Corporation
Hollenbeck Music
Irving Music
Jack Sample Prose
My Own Chit Publishing
Rebellion Corps Publishing
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
Wiz Khalifa Publishing
YG 400 Publishing
BILLBOARD NO. 1s HOT R&B/HIP-HOP AIRPLAY
"Bad"
Tiara Thomas
"F**kin' Problems"
A$AP Rocky
Drake (SOCAN)
"Mercy"
Big Sean
Mike Dean
Willie A. Hansbro
Anthony “The Twilite Tone” Khan
Pusha T
James Michael Thomas
Kanye West
"No Lie"
Drake (SOCAN)
Marquel “MaRz” Middlebrooks
"Pour it Up"
Justin “J-Bo” Garner
Rihanna
"Power Trip"
Hubert Laws, Jr.
J Cole
"Started From the Bottom"
Michael Coleman aka Mike Zombie
Drake (SOCAN)
BILLBOARD NO. 1s HOT R&B/HIP-HOP SONGS
"Can't Hold Us"
Ryan Lewis
Macklemore
"Diamonds"
Benjamin "Benny Blanco" Levin
"Mercy"
Big Sean
Mike Dean
Willie A. Hansbro
Anthony “The Twilite Tone” Khan
Pusha T
James Michael Thomas
Kanye West
"No Lie"
Drake (SOCAN)
Marquel “MaRz” Middlebrooks
"Thrift Shop"
Ryan Lewis
Macklemore
BILLBOARD NO. 1s HOT RAP SONGS
"Can't Hold Us"
Ryan Lewis
Macklemore
"I Cry"
Jeffrey B. Hull
Brenda Russell
"Mercy"
Big Sean
Mike Dean
Willie A. Hansbro
Anthony “The Twilite Tone” Khan
Pusha T
James Michael Thomas
Kanye West
"No Lie"
Drake (SOCAN)
Marquel “MaRz” Middlebrooks
"Thrift Shop"
Ryan Lewis
Macklemore
BILLBOARD NO. 1s HOT 100
"Can't Hold Us"
Ryan Lewis
Macklemore
"Diamonds"
Benjamin "Benny Blanco" Levin
"Thrift Shop"
Ryan Lewis
Macklemore
"Whistle"
Breyan Isaac
Antonio “Jovii Hendrix” Mobley
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