SZA had a big night at the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards, which were held at Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles on Thursday (Sept. 5). In addition to receiving the previously announced BMI Champion Award, she was named BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter of the Year and received Song of the Year for “Kill Bill” alongside her co-writers Rob Bisel and Carter Lang. The smash hit reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has over one billion streams on Spotify.
Upon receiving the BMI Champion Award, SZA said, “I have to say songwriting awards mean the most to me because when I started and I needed people to come and write for me; I didn’t have anybody. … I’m grateful to be honored today because there’s so many songwriters in here that literally made me.”
This marked the first time the BMI Champion Award has been presented in the R&B/Hip-Hop ceremony’s 24-year history. Mike Steinberg, BMI’s EVP, chief revenue & creative officer, praised SZA “for using her voice as a champion … and raising the bar in songwriting creativity and breaking boundaries at every turn.” He added, “Her once-in-a-lifetime sound has mesmerized audiences around the globe.”