Hip Hop legend Lil Wayne will be honored as the BMI Icon at the 2023 BMI R&B/Hip Hop Awards, reports Billboard. The event will also commemorate the 50th anniversary of hip hop.
Hosted by the music brand's president and CEO Mike O’Neill and vice president, Catherine Brewton, the invite-only event will be held at LIV Nightclub in Miami Beach on September 6, 2023.
In a statement, Brewton lauded the New Orleans rapper for his longevity and enormous impact on the culture.
“As a legend and superstar of hip-hop, Lil Wayne is synonymous with the genre,” Brewton said. “He’s been part of the BMI family since 2002, and we’re proud to name him a BMI Icon in keeping with his reputation as one of the most influential artists of all time. We’re also excited to pay tribute to the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with a celebration that reflects the genre’s legacy, which has infiltrated entertainment, fashion, sports, and much more.”
In addition to paying tribute to the "Carter III" rapper, the awards celebration will honor “the songwriters, producers, and music publishers of the past year’s 35 most-performed R&B/hip-hop songs in the U.S. from BMI’s repertoire.” Also, the BMI R&B/hip-hop song, songwriter, producer, and publisher of the year will be named.
Hailed as one of the greatest rappers of all time, Lil Wayne came to prominence as a member of the Hot Boys with Cash Money Records. He has released several highly-regarded albums such as Tha Block Is Hot (1999), Tha Carter (2004) Tha Carter II (2005), and several mixtapes. On his sixth album, Tha Carter III (2008), the lyricist sold over one million copies in its first week and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. In total, the New Orleans native has sold over 100 million records worldwide, and racked up five Grammy Awards.
As the owner of Young Money Entertainment, Lil Wayne is responsible for helping to propel the careers of music megastars Drake and Nicki Minaj.
