'I Did it With All My Heart': Babyface's Emotional Journey to BMI Icon Status

Photo by Lester Cohen/Getty Images for BMI

BMI celebrated the top talents in R&B and hip-hop during its 2024 R&B/Hip-Hop Awards on Thursday (Sept. 5) at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. The star-studded event honored the producers and songwriters behind the year's 35 most-performed R&B and hip-hop songs, with 56 first-time winners taking home awards.

Babyface received the evening's top honor, the BMI Icon Award. A 13-time Grammy winner and prolific producer, Babyface has left his mark on multiple genres over five decades, amassing a total of 64 BMI Awards. He joins an elite list of past recipients, including Janet Jackson, Lil Wayne and Patti LaBelle.

His illustrious career was on full display as R&B and rap royalty paid tribute with performances of some of his most iconic songs. Mac Royals opened with "My My My," followed by Tamar Braxton's soulful rendition of "Superwoman." Mario closed the tribute with "I'll Make Love to You" and "Can We Talk" and rapper Lil Wayne honored Babyface as both a mentor and friend.

Congrats again to our #BMIIcon, @babyface! #BMIRNBHHAwards pic.twitter.com/2SUEHDvD40

— Broadcast Music Inc. (@bmi) September 6, 2024

In his acceptance speech, Babyface reflected, “I got here because I love music, and it was the one pure thing that I knew I could do, and I did it with all my heart.” He then surprised the crowd with a performance of his signature hit "Whip Appeal," drawing the audience to its feet.

With a career spanning five decades, Babyface has produced and written for artists like Toni Braxton, TLC, Usher, and Whitney Houston. His catalog, which includes classics such as "End of the Road" by Boyz II Men and "Take a Bow" by Madonna, has contributed to over 800 million records sold.

Thank you so much @bmi for honoring me last night 🥹🫶🏾💕 and thank you to all the amazing writers that have ever inspired me pic.twitter.com/z4joBQMWmf

— SZA (@sza) September 6, 2024

SZA, a four-time Grammy winner, made history as the first recipient of the BMI Champion Award, recognizing her boundary-pushing artistry and impact on songwriting. BMI’s Executive Vice President of Creative, Mike Steinberg, praised her “once-in-a-lifetime sound.”

SZA also won BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter of the Year and Song of the Year for "Kill Bill," her first Billboard Hot 100 number one, which has over a billion streams on Spotify.

In her speech, SZA said, “Songwriting awards mean the most to me because when I started, I didn’t have anybody to write for me. I’m grateful to be honored today because so many songwriters here literally made me.”

Tay Keith was named Producer of the Year for the third time, recognized for hits like "First Person Shooter" by Drake featuring J. Cole. Other top producers honored included Metro Boomin, RIOTUSA, and Jahaan Sweet.

Universal Music Publishing won Publisher of the Year for representing 21 of the most-performed songs, including "Kill Bill," "Barbie World" and "Paint the Town Red."

The complete list of winners is pictured below.

Kendrick Lamar to Headline Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show

Courtesy Photo

Kendrick Lamar is set to bring his lyrical fire to the world’s biggest stage. The NFL announced Sunday that the multi-platinum, Grammy- and Pulitzer Prize-winning artist will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show on Feb. 9, 2025, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

“Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date,” Lamar declared in the official announcement. “And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one.”

Lamar’s announcement wasn’t just about music—it carried a subtle jab at longtime rival Drake. In a promo video released on social media, Lamar is seen running a football practice, tossing passes to an unseen receiver. After a few successful throws, Lamar turns to the camera with a message: “My name’s Kendrick Lamar, and I’ll be performing at Super Bowl LIX. Will you be pulling up? I hope so! You know it’s only one opportunity to win a championship; no round twos. I wouldn’t want you to miss it.”

The line about “no round twos” appears to be a dig at Drake, who recently posted a clip of NBA star Rasheed Wallace guaranteeing a win after a Game 1 loss in the 2004 Eastern Conference Finals—a nod to Lamar’s suggestion that he’s already secured the championship spot in their ongoing rivalry.

KENDRICK LAMAR

SUPER BOWL LIX HALFTIME SHOW

🚨FEBURARY 9TH, 2025🚨 pic.twitter.com/NqmoKPnOcu

— NFR Podcast (@nfr_podcast) September 8, 2024

This Super Bowl Halftime Show isn’t Lamar’s first major performance, but it’s certainly his biggest yet. Since bursting onto the scene with his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012, Lamar has become one of the most influential artists in hip-hop, amassing 17 Grammy Awards and making history as the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize for his 2017 album “DAMN.” His most recent track, “Not Like Us,” is already the biggest rap song of 2024, expected to sweep the upcoming Grammy Awards.

Roc Nation, Apple Music and the NFL are teaming up to produce the Halftime Show, with executive producer duties shared by the Emmy-winning Jesse Collins. Creative direction for Lamar’s performance will be handled by his own imprint, pgLang.

“Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer,” said Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter, whose Roc Nation has produced the Super Bowl Halftime Show since 2020. “His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision. He has an unparalleled ability to define and influence culture globally. Kendrick’s work transcends music, and his impact will be felt for years to come.”

This isn’t the first time the Super Bowl Halftime Show has featured a hip-hop heavyweight. Lamar himself shared the stage with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige during the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show, which won three Creative Arts Emmys. Last year, Usher’s Halftime Show became the most-watched performance in the event’s history, proving that hip-hop’s dominance at the Super Bowl is here to stay.

Atlanta Rapper Rich Homie Quan Dead at 34

The hip-hop community is reeling from the sudden death of rapper Rich Homie Quan, who was found deceased in his Atlanta home on Thursday. Multiple sources have confirmed the tragic news, with online speculation suggesting a possible drug overdose as the cause. However, official confirmation of the cause of death is still pending.

Fellow rapper Boosie BadAzz was one of the first to break the news on social media, expressing his shock and sadness over Quan's passing. "JUST TALKED TO YOU BRA 😓 #tipQUAN Never go forget yo smile n the way talked n of course yo music 💯," BadAzz wrote in a heartfelt tribute on X (formerly Twitter). In another post, he alluded to a potential overdose, stating, "JUST GOT WORD @RichHomieQuan JUST OD ‼️"

JUST GOT WORD @RichHomieQuan JUST OD ‼️JUST TALK TO WUAN THE OTHER DAY #gomissunigga

— Boosie BadAzz (@BOOSIEOFFICIAL) September 5, 2024

Quan, whose real name was Dequantes Devontay Lamar, was just a month shy of his 35th birthday. He was scheduled to perform in his hometown as part of Nick Cannon's Wild 'N Out tour, sharing the stage with other notable artists such as Wacka Flocka and Nardo Wick. His family, understandably devastated by the sudden loss, told TMZ they are "shattered and heartbroken."

YSL Woody pays his respects to Rich Homie Quan following the news of his passing. pic.twitter.com/50PqmkHMIc

— No Jumper (@nojumper) September 5, 2024

The Atlanta native rose to prominence in the rap scene in 2011, with his breakthrough single "Type of Way" climbing to the 50th spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2013. He continued to make waves with subsequent hits like "Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)" and "Ride Out." Quan also gained recognition as a member of the group Rich Gang, alongside Young Thug, through a Cash Money Records project. His collaborations extended to other big names in the industry, including 2 Chainz and Jacquees.

Even in recent years, Quan remained active in music, releasing his latest single "Ah'Chi" featuring 2 Chainz. He was also slated to testify in the ongoing trial of Young Thug, his former bandmate who is facing charges related to street gang activities.

Playboi Carti paying tribute to Rich Homie Quan via IG 🖤 pic.twitter.com/kSyVoQ89A5

— Kurrco (@Kurrco) September 5, 2024

Quan's journey to music stardom was not without its challenges. An aspiring baseball player in high school, he briefly attended Fort Valley State University before financial constraints led him to pursue music full-time. His personal life was also touched by tragedy in 2014 when his father, Corey Lamar, was shot in a barbershop. The incident was connected to Kenneth "Lil Woody" Copeland, a key witness in the Young Thug trial.

In 2017, Quan faced legal trouble himself when he was arrested in Louisville, Georgia, on felony drug possession charges. However, the case was later dismissed.