The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2024 - Issue 36

bitemusicevent The tribute to Babyface featured a carefully curated selection of performances showcasing his musical influence’s breadth. Rising star Mac Royals opened the tribute segment with a fresh take on ‘My My My’, followed by Tamar Braxton’s powerhouse interpreta- tion of ‘Superwoman’. Mario rounded out the musical tributes with a medley that included ‘I’ll Make Love to You’ and ‘Can We Talk’, demonstrating the timeless appeal of Babyface’s songwriting. In an unexpected and moving moment, hip-hop titan Lil Wayne took the stage to pay homage to his mentor and friend, bridg- ing generations of musical excellence. The evening was emotional when Babyface ad- dressed the audience, sharing his creative philoso- phy. “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,” he reflected before surprising attendees with an impromptu performance of ‘Whip Appeal’ that brought the entire room to its feet. His addition to the roster of BMI Icons places him alongside industry titans such as Janet Jackson, Snoop Dogg, and James Brown. The ceremony marked a significant milestone for SZA, who made history as the first recipient of the BMI Champion Award in the R&B/Hip-Hop cere- mony’s history. The honour recognises the singer’s commercial success and role in elevating the craft of songwriting and inspiring the next generation of artists. Her impact was celebrated through passion- ate performances by emerging artists, with Bren Joy delivering an electrifying rendition of ‘Broken Clocks’ and newcomer MaKenzie offering a soul-stirring inter- pretation of ‘Nobody Gets Me’. SZA’s dominance continued as she claimed BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter of the Year, acknowledged for her work on multiple hits, including ‘Nobody Gets Me’, ‘Shirt’, and ‘Snooze’. The crown jewel of her achievements came with ‘Kill Bill’, which earned the Song of the Year award alongside co-writers Rob Bisel and Carter Lang. The track’s success marked a career milestone, becoming her first Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper and amassing over a billion Spotify streams, cementing her position as one of music’s most compelling voices. Tay Keith secured his third Producer of the Year title in production, recognised for his distinctive contribu- tions to several chart-dominating collaborations. His work on Drake’s ‘First Person Shooter’ featuring J. Cole, Travis Scott’s ‘Meltdown’ featuring Drake, Sexyy Red’s ‘SkeeYee’ alongside Drake and 21 Savage’s ‘Circo Loco’ demonstrated his versatility and influence in shaping contemporary hip-hop sound. The cere- mony also highlighted other production powerhouses, with Coleman, Dougie F, Metro Boomin, RiotUSA, and Jahaan Sweet receiving recognition as top pro- ducers. Universal Music Publishing’s designation as BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Publisher of the Year underscored the company’s crucial role in bringing groundbreaking music to audiences. Their representation of 21 of the year’s most-performed songs, including cultural phenomena like ‘Barbie World’, ‘Paint the Town Red’, and ‘Players’, reflected the publisher’s keen eye for identifying and nurturing transformative talent. The awards ceremony, hosted by BMI President &