I Learned From The Best...
(Aug. 20, 2001) Atlanta, GA -- The American
Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) changed its annual awards show venue
from New York to Atlanta and no one was more pleased than Atlanta native Jermaine Dupri
who hosted the Gala music event and also shared first-rate honors with his fellow music
hotshot, Timbaland.
The top two producers were crowned Songwriters of the Year at the 14th Annual ASCAP Rhythm
& Soul Music Awards on Thursday, June 7, 2001, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Atlanta.
Dupri and Timbaland each had three award-winning songs. Timbaland's winning songs were
"Bib Pimpin'," "Hot Boyz" and "Try Again"; while Dupri won
for "Bounce With Me," "Get Married" and "What Chu Like."
ASCAP's CEO John LoFrumento and last year's winner Kandi Burruss presented Timbaland with
his coveted award and LoFrumento was joined by Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell to present
Dupri with his significant honor.
Prior to the distinguished award gala, the popular mayor took time out of his busy
schedule to welcome ASCAP to his beautiful city and even issued a citation proclaiming
June 7 as "ASCAP Day" in Lovely Atlanta -- the L.A. of the South.
At the mayor's press conference, ASCAP's President and three-time Academy award-winning
lyricist Marilyn Bergman stated, "Each year, ASCAP Rhythm & Soul draws the
biggest names in music and so many of them are based in Atlanta. We are delighted to be
hosting a celebration of our members musical contributions in a city that is home to so
much creative talent."
Over 600 leading songwriters, recording artists and music industry notables attended the
event honoring the Songwriters and Publishers of the best ASCAP songs on the
R&B/Hip-Hop, Rap, Dance and Reggae charts for 2000.
When it was over and done, the impressive Publisher of the Year honors went to EMI Music
Publishing and Warner/Chappell Music Inc., each with 14 award-winning songs. The sensuous
"I Wanna Know" written by Jolyon Skinner and Joe Thomas from the movie The Wood
won the Top Soundtrack of the Year Award in addition to Top R&B/Hip-Hop Song.
The Top Rap Song winner was "Hot Boyz" written by Missy "Misdemeanor"
Elliot and Timbaland. Top Dance Song winner was "Music" written by Madonna.
Immortal megastar Bob Marley was named Reggae Artist of the Year. Other Reggae Honorees
were Sean Paul, Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers, Sizzla and Bounty Killer.
The prestigious ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award was presented to cool, calm and
collected crooner Peabo Bryson by hie long-time friend Roberta Flack who was lovingly
referred to as "The Songstress of Love."
Bryson gave the audience the thrill of the evening when he was enticed to join in a
musical tribute to him performed by Gordon Chambers, Debra Killings, Jive Recording artist
SoL and Arista recording artist, Kenny Lattimore. The music masters soulfully participated
in a string of Bryson's hit recordings "Feel the Fire," "I'm So Into
You," "She's A Woman," and "Let the Feeling Flow."
Entertainment was also supplied by some of the most successful talents in the "Rhythm
& Soul" music arena including So So Def Recording Artists Da Brat and Jagged
Edge; Blackground Recording Artist Tank; Jive Recording Artist Syleena Johnson; Gospel
artist Darwin Hobbs; and spoken word guru Audra.
Seen on the scene and having a good time were ASCAP members and VIPs -- Kandi Burruss,
Johnta Austin, Marqueze Ethridge, Montell Jordan, Manual Seal, Ludacris, Xscape, Kay Gee,
Battlecat, Jaheim, Afeni Shakur and the members of the estate of Dr. Martin Luther King
Jr., Anthony "Shep" Crawford, former boxing champion Evander Hoylfield, Terrie
Williams, Tracey Davis of the Eastsidaz, Swiss Beatz, Stephen "Static" Garrett,
Kevin "Battlecat" Gilliam, Donell Jones, Tyson Beckford, LaToya Luckett, LaTavia
Roberson, Jolyon Skinner and Christopher "Tricky" Stewart."
The 2001 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards Winners are: R&S Award-Winning R&B/Hip-Hop
Songs were "Big Pimpin'," "Dance Tonight," "Get It On
Tonite," "He Can't Love You," "He Wasn't Man Enough For Me,"
"Hot Boyz," "Hot S**T," "I Don't Wanna,"
"Incomplete," "Just Be A Man About It," "Let's Get Married,"
"No More," "No More Rain," "Open My Heart," "Party Up
(Up In Here)," "Say My Name," "Shake Ya Ass," "Thong
Song," "Try Again," "U Know What's Up," "Untitled (How Dies
It Feel)," "What'Chu Like," "Whatever," "Where I Wanna
Be," "Wifey," In the Rap category, R&S Award-Winning Rap Songs included
"4,5,6," "Bounce," "Bounce With Me," "Down
Bottom," "G'd Up," "Hot S**T," "I Like Dem Girls,"
"Left, Right, Left," "Wobble Wobble," "Yeah That's Us," and
"You Can Do It."
In the Dance Song category, R&S Award-Winning Dance Songs winners were "Dive In
The Pool," "Don't Call Me Baby," "I
Learned From The Best," "I'm Outta Love,"
"King Of My Castle," "Stop Playing With My Mind," That Sound,"
and "With You."
About ASCAP
ASCAP is a membership association of 120,000 composers, songwriters and music publishers
of all genres of music. ASCAP members are the dominant creative force in music. ASCAP
songwriters secured ninety percent of the Top Ten R&B and Rap singles based on
Billboard's 2000 year-end charts.
The world's largest performing rights organization, ASCAP protects the rights of its
members by licensing and collecting royalties for the public performance of their
copyrighted works. ASCAP is the only performing rights organization whose Board of
Directors is made up solely of writers and publishers elected by the membership.
NEWSFILE: 20 AUGUST 2001
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