Busta Rhymes Honored, Sony Wins Publisher of the Year at BMI R&B/ Hip-Hop Awards

variety.com:

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Busta Rhymes received the Icon award, Megan Thee Stallion and Christopher “YC” Pearson were named songwriters of the year and Justin Beiber’s “Peaches” was song of the year at the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, held at Miami’s LIV nightclub on Wednesday night.

Other top honors went to Sony Music Publishing as publisher of the year and Silk Sonic/ Drake/ H.E.R. collaborator Dernst “D’Mile” Emile was named producer of the year.

The event, which recognizes the top producers and songwriters of the previous year’s 35 best-performing R&B/hip-hop songs in the U.S., was hosted by BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill and Vice President of Creative (Atlanta) Catherine Brewton. (Pictured above, L-R: O’Neill, Busta Rhymes, DJ Khaled, Brewton and Khaled’s wife, Nicole Tuck.) O’Neill presented Rhymes with the BMI Icon award for his “defining impact on hip-hop and for mentoring the next generation of talent.” Pharrell Williams was also called to the stage to recount memories of his and Rhymes’ longstanding relationship, noting that he felt “honored to be in the presence of someone who had the courage to be so different… and still does today.”  On receiving the honor, Rhymes shared, “We’re all blessed with this gift.

It’s one thing to identify with the gift, it’s another thing to believe in it once you identify with it.” He went on to say, “The most beautiful part about it is I earned this… I’ve never been celebrated as an icon before, but I never had to question whether I was one.” Rhymes then performed a medley of some of his biggest hits such as “Break Ya Neck,” “Scenario,” and “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See,” with longtime friend and collaborator Spliff Star and DJ Scratchator.