2020 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards
July 15, 2020
ASCAP closed out our first-ever virtual awards season with a bang as the 2020 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards celebrated the creators and publishers behind the biggest R&B, hip-hop and gospel music hits of last year. For the first time, we welcomed fans and friends to the party, sharing our winners’ exclusive photos, acceptance speeches and unboxing videos on @ASCAPUrban and @ASCAP channels from July 15-17.
Cardi B took a victory lap, capturing Songwriter of the Year for the second straight year on the strength of songs like “Money,” “Press,” “Please Me” and “Ring.” Meek Mill’s “Going Bad” won Top Rap Song, while “Suge,” DaBaby’s first top 10 song, was named Top R&B/Hip-Hop Song. On the gospel side, the epic “Deliver Me (This Is My Exodus)” took top honors. Universal Music Publishing Group earned Publisher of the Year for songs including “Before I Let Go” (Beyoncé), “Hot Girl Summer” (Megan Thee Stallion) and “My Type” (Saweetie).
The many highlights on socials included Rhythm & Soul Awards veteran Anthony Brown, giving a rousing performance of his winning gospel hit “Blessings on Blessings.” Singer-songwriter Nicole Bus had a full-circle moment, performing her winning song “You,” a year after she opened the 2019 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards with it.
As part of the Awards, we saluted the ASCAP family we lost over the past year, including LaShawn "Big Shiz" Daniels (who won an award posthumously for A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie’s “Look Back at It”), Fred the Godson, Andre Harrell, Bill Withers, Betty Wright and Kobe Bryant. And sending us off in style was ASCAP Founders Award-winning DJ maestro Jermaine Dupri, who hosted an Instagram live “after party” on @jermainedupri on Friday, July 17, beginning at 4PM ET.
We hope we can celebrate in person again next year. But in the meantime, we were grateful for this chance to toast our members with all of you watching.
Winning Gospel Songs
TOP GOSPEL SONG
“Deliver Me (This Is My Exodus)”
Writers:
Desmond (BlackDrumHippie) Davis
Marshon Lewis
Rob "Code Lei" Woolridge
Publishers:
Desmond Davis
Robbass Enc
Shonmacmusic Productions
“Blessings on Blessings”
Writer: Anthony Brown
Publishers:
Essential Music Publishing
Key of A Music Publishing
Tyscot Music
“Can't Turn Back
Writer: Rodney Jones Jr (Lil Rod)
Publishers:
Harrodlyrjon 3
Kobalt Music
“Everything Will Be Alright”
Writer: Smokie Norful
Publishers:
4 My Life Music Publishing
Kobalt Music
“I Am”
Writer: James Fortune
Publisher: Fiyaworld
“It's Yours”
Writer: Allundria Carr
Publisher: Aljelun
“Make Room”
Publisher: Jonathan McReynolds
“Miracle Worker”
Writers:
JJ Hairston
Rich Tolbert, Jr.
Publishers:
Kobalt Music
Veracity Entertainment
Yellow Boy Music
“My God (ft. Mr. Talkbox)”
Writer: Dwan Hill
Publishers:
Big Buddy Music
Capitol CMG Genesis
Fun Attic Music
Integrity Worship Music
Nashville Life Music
Universal Music Publishing Group
“Open the Floodgates”
Writer: Demetrius West
Publishers:
Black Smoke Music Worldwide, LLC
Deni Music Group 1
“Unstoppable”
Writer: Anthony "Kid Class" Wyley
Publisher: Kid Class Music
“You Don't Know”
Writers:
James Fortune
Marcus Calyen
Publishers:
Creative Classic Sounds
Fiyaworld
Mamie and Marcus Productions
“You Know My Name (Live)”
Writers:
Brenton Brown
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Publishers:
Capitol CMG Genesis
Tasha Cobbs Music Group
Universal Music Publishing Group
Winning R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
“24/7”
Writers:
Austin "AP" Schindler
Beyoncé
Meek Mill
Ozan "Oz" Yildirim
Robert "EST" Waller I
Scott Storch
Publishers:
Beyoncé Publishing
Black Owned Musik
Forever Rich
Kobalt Music
Music and Dreams Publishing
Notting Dale Songs, Inc.
Reservoir
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
These Are Songs of Pulse
Warner Chappell Music
“Act Up”
Writer: JT
Publishers:
Quality Control QC Pro
Universal Music Publishing Group
“Baby Sitter”
Writers:
DaBaby
Kiari "Offset" Cephus
Publishers:
Baby Jesus Publishing
JPL QC Music
Reservoir
South Coast Music Group LLC
Universal Music Publishing Group
YRN Piped Up Ent
“Bacc At It Again”
Writers:
Chris Rosser A/K/A Quayglobal
Gucci Mane
Quavious "Quavo" Marshall
Publishers:
Huncho YRN Music
Quality Control QC Pro
Radric Davis Publishing
Universal Music Publishing Group
“Backin' It Up”
Writers:
Cardi B
Joshua "J-Louis" Huizar
Klenord "Shaft" Raphael
Rashawnna "Shawnna" Guy
Stuart "Epikh Pro" Lowery
Stuart Shorty B Jordan
Xcelence
Publishers:
J-Louis Productions LLC
Rashawnna Guy Music
Shaftizm
Shorty Bell Pub
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Strictly Platinum Publishing
Universal Music Publishing Group
Warner Chappell Music
Washpoppin Inc
“Before I Let Go”
Writer: Larry Blackmon
Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
“Big Ole Freak”
Writer: Marquis Dair
Publishers:
Ma'phil Publishing
Universal Music Publishing Group
“Boo'd Up”
Writers:
Dijon "Mustard" McFarlane
Joelle James
Publishers:
Rocnation Music Publishing
Universal Music Publishing Group
Vanillachinchilla
“Cash Shit”
Writer: DaBaby
Publishers:
Baby Jesus Publishing
South Coast Music Group LLC
Universal Music Publishing Group
“Clout”
Writers:
Cardi B
Kiari "Offset" Cephus
Publishers:
JPL QC Music
Reservoir
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Washpoppin Inc
YRN Piped Up Ent
“Envy Me”
Writers:
Calvin "Calboy" Woods
Jordan "JTK" Knight
Publishers:
CD Baby Publishing
Songtrust Ave
Warner Chappell Music
“Fall”
Writer: Errol Bellot (Kojo Funds)
“Girls Need Love (Remix)”
Writer: Summer Walker
Publishers:
LVRN Publishing
Warner Chappell Music
“Hot Girl Summer”
Writers:
Bone Collector
JT
Michael "Crazy Mike" Foster
Publishers:
Quality Control QC Pro
Universal Music Publishing Group
“Karma”
Writer: Queen Naija
“Leave Me Alone”
Writers:
Christopher “Flipp Dinero” St. Victor
Mathias "Young Forever" Rosenholm
Per "Cast" Landås
Publishers:
Kobalt Music
Lettuce Cook Publishing
Warner Chappell Music
“My Type”
Writers:
Aubrey "Boobie" Robinson
Corey C.O. Evans
Diamonté Saweetie Quiava Valentin Harper
Lamarquis 'Lokey' Jefferson
Petey Pablo
Quavious "Quavo" Marshall
Roark Bailey
Publishers:
Artist Publishing Group
BMG
Eucalipto Music
Huncho YRN Music
Icy Grl Music Publishing
Kobalt Music
Kumbaya
Me and Marq Music
Missing Link Music
Quality Control QC Pro
Sundaemorningllc
Universal Music Publishing Group
Warner Chappell Music
Watch My Music
“No Guidance”
Writers:
Anderson "Vinylz" Hernandez
Che Ecru
Joshua "J-Louis" Huizar
Matthew "Boi-1da" Samuels
Noah "40" Shebib
Publishers:
1damentional Publishing
J-Louis Productions LLC
Kobalt Music
Roncesvalles Music Publishing
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Vinylz Music Group LLC
Warner Chappell Music
“On Chill”
Writers:
Jeremih
Norva VA Denton
Olubowale "Wale" Akintimehin
Raphael Saadiq
Timothy Christian Riley
Publishers:
Dead Stock Music
Ohaji Publishing
Primary Wave Music Publishing
Tony Toni Toné Music Publishing
Universal Music Publishing Group
Warner Chappell Music
“Pop Out”
Writer: Taurus "Polo G" Bartlett
Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing
“Press”
Writers:
Cardi B
Klenord "Shaft" Raphael
Publishers:
Shaftizm
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Warner Chappell Music
Washpoppin Inc
“Pure Water”
Writers:
Dijon "Mustard" McFarlane
Kiari "Offset" Cephus
Kirsnick "Takeoff" Ball
Quavious "Quavo" Marshall
Shahrukh “Gylttryp” Zaman Khan
Publishers:
10 Summers Songs
Huncho YRN Music
JPL QC Music
Khan Boys Music
Kobalt Music
MKN QC Music
Quality Control QC Pro
Reservoir
Silent Assassin YRN
Universal Music Publishing Group
YRN Piped Up Ent
“Ring”
Writers:
Cardi B
Kehlani Parrish
Khari "Needlz" Cain
Klenord "Shaft" Raphael
Publishers:
Dry Rain Entertainment
Shaftizm
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Universal Music Publishing Group
Warner Chappell Music
Washpoppin Inc
“Shot Clock”
Writers:
Benjamin Bush
Dijon "Mustard" McFarlane
Jahron "PARTYNEXTDOOR" Brathwaite
Stephen “Static Major” Garrett
Tim Mosley
Publishers:
Black Fountain Music
Herbilicious Music
Kobalt Music
Warner Chappell Music
“Smile (Living My Best Life)”
Writers:
Derrick "Mellow Fellow" Ordogne
Dion "Devious" Norman
Kinta "Ball Greezy" Cox
Publishers:
Cruz Control Music
Dirty Clean Publishing
Primary Wave Music Publishing
Scarred Life
Universal Music Publishing Group
“Thotiana (Remix)”
Writers:
Blueface
Cardi B
Publishers:
Bluefacebleedem Publishing
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Washpoppin Inc
“Trip”
Writers:
Dijon "Mustard" McFarlane
Varren Wade
Publishers:
Concord Music Publishing
“Twerk”
Writers:
Cardi B
Derrick "Mellow Fellow" Ordogne
Dion “Devious” Norman
JT
Kirk DJ JMK Edwards
Yung Miami
Publishers:
Chrome Beats Music
Dirty Clean Publishing
Quality Control QC Pro
Scarred Life
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Universal Music Publishing Group
Washpoppin Inc
“Undecided”
Writers:
Avedon
Jarvis J La Rue Baker
Narada Michael Walden
Scott Storch
Shanice
Sylvester Jackson
Publishers:
Concord Music Publishing
Gratitude Sky Music Inc
Shanice 4 U Music
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Warner Chappell Music
“Yes Indeed”
Writer: Dominique "Lil Baby" Jones
Publishers:
Quality Control QC Pro
Universal Music Publishing Group
Wolf Pack Global Music Publishing
“You”
Writers:
Khari "Needlz" Cain
LeVar "TL Cross" Wilson
Nicole Alexandra Bus
Publishers:
Dry Rain Entertainment
LeVar's Cribb Pub
Missing Link Music
Universal Music Publishing Group
Winning Rap and R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
TOP R&B/HIP-HOP SONG
“Suge”
Writers:
DaBaby
Tahj “jetsonmade” Morgan
Publishers:
Baby Jesus Publishing
jetsonmade Anotha1 Publishing
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
South Coast Music Group LLC
Universal Music Publishing Group
TOP RAP SONG
“Going Bad”
Writers:
Meek Mill
Westen Weiss
Publishers:
Forever Rich
Music and Dreams Publishing
Universal Music Publishing Group
Warner Chappell Music
“A Lot”
Writer: Shayaa Bin-Abraham Joseph 21 Savage
Publishers:
BMG
Slaughter Gang
“Close Friends”
Writer: Dominique "Lil Baby" Jones
Publishers:
Quality Control QC Pro
Universal Music Publishing Group
Wolf Pack Global Music Publishing
“Dangerous”
Writers:
Christian "Hitmaka" Ward
Jeremih
Meek Mill
PnB Rock
Publishers:
Artist Publishing Group
Forever Rich
Music and Dreams Publishing
My Lord Prophet Music
Ohaji Publishing
PnB Rock
Universal Music Publishing Group
Warner Chappell Music
“Drip Too Hard”
Writer: Dominique "Lil Baby" Jones
Publishers:
Quality Control QC Pro
Universal Music Publishing Group
Wolf Pack Global Music Publishing
“Look Back At It”
Writers:
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie
Christian "Hitmaka" Ward
LaShawn "Big Shiz" Daniels
Matthew "Boi-1da" Samuels
Publishers:
HBTL Publishing
My Lord Prophet Music
Reservoir
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Warner Chappell Music
“Money”
Writers:
Cardi B
Klenord "Shaft" Raphael
Publishers:
Shaftizm
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Warner Chappell Music
Washpoppin Inc
“Money in the Grave”
Writers:
Anton 'Asoteric' Kühl
Delorean Black
Publishers:
Anton Kühl Publishing
Warner Chappell Music
“Old Town Road”
Writer: Trent Reznor
Publishers:
Form And Texture Inc.
Kobalt Music
“Please Me”
Writers:
Cardi B
James Fauntleroy
Jeremy "Jermbeats" Reeves
Ray "Charm" McCullough II
Publishers:
Beach Wave Publishing
Charm N Hammer Music
eOne Music Publishing
Ownership Is an Illusion
Reservoir
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
Sumphu
Warner Chappell Music
Washpoppin Inc
“Sicko Mode”
Writers:
Ali Shaheed Muhammad
DJ Premier
Easy Mo Bee
Keith "Guru" Elam
Malik "Phife Dawg" Taylor
The Notorious B.I.G.
Ozan "Oz" Yildirim
Q-Tip
Sticky Fingaz
Publishers:
111 Posse Music Inc
B.I.G. Poppa Music
Gifted Pearl Music Inc
Janice Combs Publishing
Jazz Merchant Music
Sony/ATV Music Publishing
These Are Songs of Pulse
Universal Music Publishing Group
“Wake Up in the Sky”
Writer: Gucci Mane
Publishers:
Radric Davis Publishing
Universal Music Publishing Group
“ZEZE”
Writers:
Christina Brittany Doman
d.a. got that dope
Kiari "Offset" Cephus
Marcus Prince
Publishers:
The Art of Tina
David's Art
JPL QC Music
Kobalt Music
Reservoir
Warner Chappell Music
YRN Piped Up Ent
