Ahead of the 2025 BET Awards, the unsung heroes of Hip-Hop and R&B — a.k.a. songwriters and producers— were honored at this year’s ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards. Held at the Beverly Hills Four Seasons on Sunday (June 8), the hitmakers gathered to celebrate various achievements.
The Voice of the Culture Award is presented to Cardi B, set aside for those who’ve had a massive influence on music and culture. Past recipients of the award include Timbaland, Swizz Beatz, D-Nice and T.I. When the Bronx-bred emcee took the stage, she was overjoyed and gracious.
“My voice has always been a reflection of what I live and what I’m living, which I feel is a true reflection of the people, the culture, my friends, my family, and the environment that I grew up in,” gushed the Grammy-winning rapper. “I like to put that in my music— my joys, my pains, my drama, everything.”
She continued, “I hate the idea that if you don’t write every line on your own, it makes what you have to say not real. Music is a collaboration, it has always been. The biggest hits [and] the greatest records come from teamwork. They come from sharing experiences, energy, pain and joy. It’s not about ego, it’s about impact. I write, I co-write, I rewrite. I speak to what’s true to me. My pen, my mind and my feelings are in every verse and in every hook. I respect every writer who brings their magic to the table. This award is not just for me, it’s for the culture.”
Cardi’s hit, “Enough (Miami)” also snagged an ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Award. The rapper made history back in 2020 as the first woman to receive the esteemed ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Songwriter of the Year Award for two consecutive years. Kendrick Lamar and Mustard‘s “Not Like Us” was named ASCAP R&B/Hip-Hop and Rap Song of the Year while songwriter OZ was given the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Songwriter of the Year honor, for contributing to hits like Drake and J. Cole’s “First Person Shooter,” Jack Harlow’s “Lovin On Me,” and Travis Scott’s “I Know?”
Cece Winans’ “That’s My King,” was named ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Gospel Song of the Year, and Sony Music Publishing took home the coveted honor of ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Publisher of the Year.
See full list of winners below.
VOICE OF THE CULTURE AWARD: Cardi B
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR: Ozan “OZ” Yildirim
R&B, HIP-HOP AND RAP SONG OF THE YEAR: “Not Like Us”
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- Writer: Dijon “Mustard” McFarlane
- Publishers: Pay DJ Mustard, Sony Music Publishing
GOSPEL SONG OF THE YEAR: “That’s My King”
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- Writers: Taylor Agan, Kellie Besch
- Publisher: Essential Music Publishing LLC, Bridge Worship, CURB|Word Music Publishing, Kellie Besch Music, Taylor Agan Publishing
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PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR: Sony Music Publishing
MOST PERFORMED R&B/HIP-HOP AND RAP SONGS:
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
- Writers: Shaboozey, Sean Cook, J-Kwon, Joe Capo Kent, Mark “Tarboy” Williams
- Publishers: Sony Music Publishing, Essancy Music, LLC, Seeker Music, Hood Hop Music, Kreshendo, Range Music Partners, Tarpo Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music
“Agora Hills”
- Writer: Jean-Baptiste Kouame
- Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing, Lord Pharaoh JB Music
“BAND4BAND”
- Writers: Central Cee, geenaro, Dominique “Lil Baby” Jones, Ghana Beats
- Publishers: Quality Control QC Pro, Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Wolf Pack Global Music Publishing
“CARNIVAL”
- Writers: Playboi Carti, Dimitri “Rich The Kid” Roger
- Publishers: Cash Carti Music, Concord Music Publishing, RichTheKid Publishing, Sony Music Publishing, These Are Songs Of Pulse
“Enough (Miami)”
- Writers: Cardi B, Javaan “Spades Saratoga” Anderson, Joshua “OG” Parker, James “DJ Swanqo” Steed, Terence “Romano” Williams
- Publishers: Concord Music Publishing, Eeeooowww Music, Feels Like Summer Ent, Galixee Management LLC, Giant Tac Publishing, Mogul Mentality Publishing, OG Parker Productions, Sony Music Publishing, Tee Romano Music, These Are Songs Of Pulse, Warner Chappell Music
“Everybody”
- Writers: Jesper Mortensen, Lil Uzi Vert
- Publishers: Perfect Luv Publishings, Sony Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music
“Fe!N”
- Writer: Playboi Carti
- Publishers: Cash Carti Music, Sony Music PublishingFirst Person Shooter Writers:Anderson “Vinylz” Hernandez, Matthew “Boi-1Da” Samuels, Ozan “OZ” YildirimPublishers:1Damentional Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing, Sony Music Publishing, Virgoat, Warner Chappell Music
“Ftcu”
- Writer: Waka
- Publisher: Warner Chappell Music
“Get In With Me”
- Writer: Donte “DXNTEMADEIT” Ononiewu
- Publisher: Sony Music Publishing
“Get It Sexyy”
- Writers: Jamaal “SVPA” Parker, Sexyy Red
- Publishers: BigSexyyPublishing, Sony Music Publishing, Gulf Shore Worldwide Publishing, Sony Music Publishing, Payday Publishing, Warner Chappell Music
“I Know ?”
- Writers: Buddy Ross, Ozan “OZ” Yildirim
- Publishers: Heavy Duty Music, Kobalt Music Publishing
“IDGAF”
- Writers: Benjamin “BNYX®” Saint Fort, John Taylor, Norma Winstone
- Publisher: Sony Music Publishing
“IDGAF”
- Writers: Darrel “Chopsquad DJ” Jackson, Terry “Tee Grizzley” Wallace
Publishers: Bangerz Music Group LLC, Presciption Songs, It’s Only About Music LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing, Prescription Songs
“Kehlani”
- Writers: Ali “Prodbyli” Abouzeid, Roark Bailey, Boobie, Summer Walker
- Publishers: Artist Publishing Group, Eucalipto Music, Foundation Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing, LVRN Publishing, Sundaemorning, Warner Chappell Music
“Like That”
- Writer: Joshua “Ammo” Coleman
- Publishers: Each Note Counts, Kobalt Music Publishing, Prescription Songs
“Lovin On Me”
- Writers: Nik D, Nickie Jon Pabón, Ozan “OZ” Yildirim
- Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing, Roc Nation Music, Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group
“Made For Me”
- Writers: Muni Long, Jermaine Dupri
- Publishers: 2316Music, Sony Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music
“Million Dollar Baby”
- Writers: Mannyvelli, Terrance “Sparkheem” Davis, Gidi, Tommy Richman, Jonah Roy
- Publishers: EVERYTHINGISPUNK, Iso Global, Kobalt Music Publishing, Mannyvelli, Sony Music Publishing
“Mmhmm”
- Writers: Charles Forsberg, William B Shelby, Stephen Shockley, Leon F. Sylvers III
- Publishers: Artist Publishing Group, BMG, Kobalt Music Publishing, Mammyth Audio LLC, Reservoir
“Never Lose Me”
- Writers: 42 Dugg, Hitoshi Kirigaya
- Publishers: Sony Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music
“prove it”
- Writers: 21 Savage, Tauren “KNGS” Stovall, Keith Thomas, Summer Walker
- Publishers: LVRN Publishing, SMCK Media Group, Slaughter Gang, Small Piece Publishing, Warner Chappell Music
“Redrum”
- Writer: 21 Savage
- Publishers: Slaughter Gang, Warner Chappell Music
“Residuals”
- Writers: Jeremiah “Jerry” Green, Darius Logan, Dominique Logan, Dewain Whitmore, Jr.
- Publishers: 8Sixteen Music, Emiyah Janay Music Publishing, Jeremiah Green Music, Kobalt Music Publishing, Seven Peaks Music, Sky Walker, Songtrust
“Saturn”
- Writers: Cian Ducrot, Jared Solomon, Scott Zhang
- Publishers: Solomon Gouda, Sony Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music
“Sensational”
- Writer: Olalekan “Lojay” Osifeso
- Publisher: Sony Music Publishing
“Shake Dat Ass (Twerk Song)”
- Writers: HardKnock
- Publishers: Lassila Publishing, Lush Music
“Soak City (Do It)”
- Writers: Donovan “Donez” Edwards, 310babii, Raymond “Kreepteam” Oviedo
- Publishers: 310Babii Publishing, BeatStars Publishing, EMPIRE SF, Sony Music Publishing
“Surround Sound”
- Writer: 21 Savage
Publishers: Slaughter Gang, Warner Chappell Music
“Texas Hold ‘Em”
- Writers: Brian “Killah B” Bates, Lowell, Megan Bülow, Nathan Ferraro, Beyoncé, Raphael Saadiq
- Publishers: Artist Publishing Group, Arts & Crafts Music, Kobalt Music Publishing, Oakland 13 Music, Sony Music Publishing, THEILLESTMUSICGROUP, Ugmoe Music, Universal Music Publishing Group
“TGIF”
- Writers: Lucas Alegria, Dillon Brophy, Jess Jackson, Ronnie “Lil Ronnie” Jackson, Mario “Yo Gotti” Mims, Jorge “Ace” Taveras
- Publishers: Dillon Brophy Publishing, Einnor Music Publishing, Gotti World Publishing, Jess Jackson Publishing, JKSN PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music
“Timeless”
- Writers: Playboi Carti, Lawson, Tariq “BL$$D” Sharrieff
- Publishers: Blessed By BL$$D Publishing, Honua Music Group, Kobalt Music Publishing, Lawst Music
“Type Shit”
- Writer: Playboi Carti
- Publishers: Cash Carti Music, Sony Music Publishing
“Wanna Be”
- Writers: Ace Charisma, Ronnie “Lil Ronnie” Jackson, Lil Wil, Mario “Yo Gotti” Mims, Chadron Moore, Elimu Tabasuri, Jorge “Ace” Taveras
- Publishers: Einnor Music Publishing, Sony Music Publishing, It’s A Big E Beat, It’s Only About Music LLC, Regina’s Son Music, Turn That Heat Up, Payday Publishing, VI Rudebwoy Publishing
“Whatever She Wants”
- Writer: Wyman Boyd
- Publisher: In Roberto’s Name Music
“Worth It”
- Writers: Javaan “Spades Saratoga” Anderson, U-Roy, Kiari “Offset” Cephus, Everett “Heavy Mellow” Romano, Cory Rose
- Publishers: Doorway Studios, Feels Like Summer Ent, JPL QC Music, Reservoir, Warner Chappell Music, YRN Piped Up Ent
“Yeah Glo!”
- Writers: Ronnie “Lil Ronnie” Jackson, Morris “Moe” Jones, Timothy “B100” McKibbins, Stephen “Steve-T” Towns
- Publishers: B100Publishing, Butter In The Field Music, Einnor Music Publishing, Musiq Committee, Sony Music Publishing
“You Broke My Heart”
- Writers: Anderson “Vinylz” Hernandez, Alexander Morand
- Publishers: Virgoat, Warner Chappell Music
MOST PERFORMED GOSPEL SONGS:
“Able”
- Writer: Marvin L Winans
- Publisher: Marvin L Winans Music
“God Be Praised”
- Writer: Warryn “Baby Dubb” Campbell
- Publisher: Sony Music Publishing
“God Is”
- Writer: Warryn “Baby Dubb” Campbell
- Publishers: Anthem Music Publishing II, Sony Music Publishing
“I See Good”
- Writer: Anthony Brown
Publishers: Key Of A Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music
“I Will Wait”
- Writers: Kayton Bassier, David “Ali” Parrilla
- Publishers: DRUMMERSINCE1978, KAYTONIC
“In The Room”
- Writer: Tasha Cobbs Leonard
- Publishers: Capitol CMG Genesis, Meadowgreen Music Company, Tasha Cobbs Music Group
“Look At God”
- Writers: Isaiah “Pyro” Campbell, Christopher “Xavier Wright” Gales, Munson W. Steed
- Publishers: Missing Link Music, O Wow Entertainment, Skye Unlimited, Xavier Write’s Publishing
“Only One Night Tho”
- Writer: Tye Tribbett
- Publishers: Greater Anointing Stuff Music, Kobalt Music Publishing
“Speak Your Name”
- Writer: Anthony Brown
- Publishers: Key Of A Music Publishing, Tyscot Music, Warner Chappell Music
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