The Newest BMI "Icon"
U.S. performing rights organization BMI saluted the world’s premier R&B, rap and hip-hop songwriters, producers and publishers at its Urban Awards, held at the ZUMANITY THEATRE at NEW YORK-NEW YORK HOTEL AND CASINO in LAS VEGAS.
T.I., NE-YO and MR. COLLIPARK each earned Songwriter of the Year titles. "Check On It" secured Song of the Year honors for co-writers SLIM THUG and SEAN GARRETT, and a special presentation officially recognized legendary MC JOSEPH "REV RUN" SIMMONS of RUN DMC as the newest BMI Icon.
The night’s other big winners included PHARRELL WILLIAMS, who earned the Producer of the Year title; EMI Music Publishing, named Urban Publisher of the Year; and T-PAIN’s "I’m N Luv (Wit A Stripper)," which nabbed the BMI Urban Ringtone Award.
As one third of RUN-DMC, REV RUN helped change the sound of rap by simultaneously being more street and rock ‘n’ roll than his contemporaries. From the boom-box classic single "Sucker MCs" (1983) to their standard-setting discs RUN-DMC, King of Rock, Raising Hell and Tougher Than Leather, RUN-DMC defined a new level of cool for the world. Dressed in their trademark black hats and outfits to match, RUN-DMC stayed at the top of the pop charts for most of the ’80s and knocked open the doors to commercial freedom for the rap generation.
