Social Star, BMI's annual R&B/Hip-Hop Awards show contest, returns for its eighth year! The Social Star award will be presented at the August 29th ceremony to the nominated affiliate who truly engages their social media following during a ten day voting period on Instagram and Twitter.
16-year-old Memphis native, NLE Choppa, is redefining what it means to be a young artist in the game. After sparking attention with his first single, “No Chorus pt. 3,” he introduced the world to his star potential and distinct Memphis flow. Choppa’s follow-up single, “Shotta Flow,” made him an overnight star and caught the eyes and ears of industry heavyweights like Birdman, Yo Gotti, and Lil Durk, along with publications like The Fader and XXL. With additional singles like “Shotta Flow 2,” “CAPO,” and “Blocc is Hot” having already dropped, he teamed up with Blueface in June to release the “Shotta Flow” remix song and video. “Shotta Flow” was recently certified platinum by the RIAA, and Choppa continues to work on new music under his Warner Records imprint, No Love Entertainment.
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Derez De’Shon scored his first Billboard Hot 100 chart entry in February 2018 with “Hardaway,” which was later remixed with guest verses by Yo Gotti and 2 Chainz. He is signed to Commission/BMG Music, and his most recent project, Pain 2, was released last year. A follow-up project is currently in production.
BMI’s 2017 Social Star Award winner, Arkeisha “Kash Doll” Wright, launched her rap career in 2014 and released her first major viral hit, “Run Me My Money,” one year later. Kash continues to record new music as she maintains a strong presence on social media. She has released a string of solo singles and collaborations this year with artists like 2 Chainz, Lil Wayne and Iggy Azalea.
Joey Bada$$ received the 2016 Social Star Award, and his career is still soaring. His album, All-Amerikkkan Bada$$, was released in 2017, and his most recent LP, Escape from New York, dropped earlier this year. He is the CEO of Pro Era Records and is an in-demand collaborator, having worked with Chloe x Halle, MAX, ScHoolboy Q, and J. Cole, among others.
SoMo’s devoted social media following helped him secure the Social Star Award in 2015. In the time since, he has embarked on headlining tours and released several new projects including The Answers, My Life III, and A Beautiful November. His latest single, “Visualize,” was released in July.
Since winning the Social Star Award in 2014, Zendaya has remained a prominent talent in the industry. In addition to releasing her own music, she starred in two Spider-Man movies as well as The Greatest Showman, the latter of which featured her vocals on its hit soundtrack. She currently stars in the HBO hit series, Euphoria and has made her mark in the worlds of fashion and activism.
The 2013 winner of the Social Star Award, Machine Gun Kelly, has been known for his genre-breaking musical style since signing to Bad Boy and Interscope Records in 2011. His most recent album, Hotel Diablo, scored a top 5 debut on the Billboard 200, and he portrayed Tommy Lee in the 2019 Motley Crue biopic, The Dirt.
Pittsburgh rapper, Mac Miller, got his start in music at the age of 15. After releasing a series of successful independent mixtapes, his first studio album, Blue Side Park, went to #1 on the Billboard 200. He continued releasing music until August 2018, when his final album, Swimming, debuted to critical acclaim. Miller passed away on September 7, 2018, though his music will live on forever.
