SZA Wins Multiple Honors at BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards: ‘Songwriting Awards Mean the Most to Me’

SZA had a big night at the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, which were held at Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles on Thursday (Sept. 5). In addition to receiving the previously announced BMI Champion Award, she was named BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter of the Year and received Song of the Year for “Kill Bill” alongside her co-writers Rob Bisel and Carter Lang. The smash hit reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has over one billion streams on Spotify.

Upon receiving the BMI Champion Award, SZA said, “I have to say songwriting awards mean the most to me because when I started and I needed people to come and write for me; I didn’t have anybody. … I’m grateful to be honored today because there’s so many songwriters in here that literally made me.” 

This marked the first time the BMI Champion Award has been presented in the R&B/Hip-Hop ceremony’s 24-year history. Mike Steinberg, BMI’s EVP, chief revenue & creative officer, praised SZA “for using her voice as a champion … and raising the bar in songwriting creativity and breaking boundaries at every turn.” He added, “Her once-in-a-lifetime sound has mesmerized audiences around the globe.”

In a tribute to SZA, Bren Joy performed “Broken Clocks,” and MaKenzie performed “Nobody Gets Me.”

The private event was hosted by BMI president & CEO Mike O’Neill and BMI vice president, creative, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton.

As previously announced, Babyface was named a BMI Icon at the ceremony. In accepting the award, Babyface said, “I only know that I got here because I love music, and it was the one pure thing that I knew that I could do, and I did it with all my heart. If you do it from the heart, that’s the main thing that keeps you going.”

He then surprised the audience with a performance of his 1990 smash “Whip Appeal.” Babyface and Perri McKissack co-wrote the song, which reached the top 10 on both the Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

Babyface has collected 64 BMI Awards. He received BMI’s Song of the Year three times, BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year seven times and, together with his LaFace Records co-founder L.A. Reid, was named a BMI Icon in 2006.

Several artists paid tribute to Babyface by performing his songs. Mac Royals opened with “My My My,” followed by Tamar Braxton with “Superwoman” and Mario with “I’ll Make Love to You” and “Can We Talk.” Lil Wayne paid tribute to his mentor and friend before O’Neill and Brewton presented the Icon Award. O’Neill praised Babyface’s talent and impact on generations of music makers, and for being with the BMI family for nearly five decades.

Hitmaker Tay Keith received Producer of the Year for his work on hits such as “First Person Shooter” performed by Drake featuring J. Cole, “Meltdown” by Travis Scott featuring Drake, “SkeeYee” by Sexyy Red and “Circo Loco” by Drake and 21 Savage. This marks the third time Keith has been named Producer of the Year. (He was also named BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter of the Year in 2018.)

Coleman, Dougie F, Metro Boomin, RIOTUSA and Jahaan Sweet were also named top producers during the ceremony.

Universal Music Publishing was named BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Publisher of the Year for representing 21 of the previous year’s most-performed songs, including “Kill Bill,” “Barbie World,” “Paint the Town Red,” “Players,” “Superhero (Heroes & Villains)” and “Snooze.”

Over the course of the ceremony, BMI recognized the top producers and songwriters of the previous year’s 35 Most-Performed R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in the U.S., naming 56 first-time winners.

To see a complete list of winners, visit BMI’s site.