BMI Urban Awards 2008

For the record, before I started this post the day after the awards, but a lot has been going on recently, so I wasn't able to put as much into it as I would've liked, but. ... Today is 9/14. Life happens.

Last night I went to the BMI Urban Awards. It was cool. I've been to several BMI Awards for other genres but never Urban. Usually the awards are more like banquets, a nice hotel, an open bar, amazing food, me sitting next to people I've never met, the usual. Then hey run down 50 or so songs that were performed a bunch of times throughout the past year.

This was more like. ... An award show. There was not hotel, but a theatre, The Wilshire Theater to be exact. There was a long line for viewers to get in when I got there. I was both media and a guest. Normally, red carpet is not my favorite thing to shoot, but. ... I got bills. I usually prefer to shoot during the show. That stuff is usually more interesting to me, and it's how I've shot every ther BMI award show I've been to.

So I get there right before the red carpet opens and I get a spot by the house photographer for the Wilshire Theatre, a music trade publication and MSNBC. I take some pictures or a about 90 minutes and head in. For most of the night I hang with a new friend, publicist, Jasmine Vega.

I go inside, and since I have a ticket that means I don't have to leave or hang in the press room. When I get in there are metal detectors at the front, and I'm told I can't bring my camera, so I have to check it or take it to my car. As I'm getting ready to check it I notice producer, Danjahandz, behind me in line, so I ask him for a flick. Then I check my camera, and see a girl who works at BMI that I'm cool with. I compliment her on her perfume (she always smells amazing), chop it up for a couple minutes then go in.

I go in with Jasmine, and there's a bunch of people: artists, publishers, writers, groupies (male and female), publicists, the whole gamut. ... And food. Hennessey, Patron and Smart Water were sponsors. I didn't get a single drink. I was starving, and by the time I was ready to sip the bar closed, but I was full off crab cakes, chicken skewers, chocolate mousse and some other stuff that I couldn't identify, but tasted good regardless. I end up seeing my old boss (a major player in music and just an all around, good dude) and a former coworker (a really cool cat and a lover of "real" Hip Hop) and chop it up with them for a minute. I also run into DJ Khalil (super cool, humble, done some shows together). The preshow was hosted by Fonzworth Bentley and Yung Berg, Ray-J and Soulja Boy perform. I was still outside at this time. Then Jasmine and I go into the show.

We end up in the sixth row, directly behind my former coworkers and execs from my old job. A Rick Ross performance kicks off the show. Then, BMI President/CEO, Del Bryant talks about soe of the great things BMI has accomplished in the past year like over $900 million in earning and over $780 million inpayouts to songwriters. BMI's Vice President, Writer/Publisher Relations (Atlanta), Catherine Brewton is cohost alongside Bryant, and she looks amazing (as usual). Polow Da Don gets the night's first award for Ciara's "Promise."

At these shows they usually just run down the award-winning songs; the award-winning writers/producers/publishers come up on stage, take a picture, and the process is repeated througout the night.

In a nutshell:

- BMI President and CEO, Del Bryant is funny, and he doesn't even try

- BMI VP, Writer/Publisher Relations, Atlanta, Catherine Brewton is gorgeous

- T-Pain wins songwriter and producer of the year (Surprised? He shared producer of the 

   year credit)

- Universal Music Publishing wins Publisher of the year (Again, surprised?)

- The Jacksons were awarded the BMI Icon Award

- Janet Jackson showed up

- Michael didn't

- Keri Hilson, Mario, Ray J, JoJo, Bobby Valentino, Lloyd and O.N.E. performed Jackson

   tribute songs 

- Those Jabbawokeez can really dance

I'll put some pictures up on my Myspace. I can't just throw pictures up all willy nilly like that. Every picture I post has to be edited, even if only just a tiny bit.

Why?

Because I'm an artist, and I'm sensitive about my sh-t.

Anyway, I'd get deeper into the details of all the festivities, but I have to jump on plane. See you in a week. I'll tell you about some of the TV stuff I've been working on.

Be good, and my prayers go out to everyone affected by that bastard, Ike.