Lil Baby named ASCAP’s 2021 Songwriter of the Year

The ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards, which praises the songwriters, producers and publishers behind some of the biggest songs in R&B, rap and gospel, returned on Tuesday (June 22), and Lil Baby was one of the many winners recognized for his work. The Quality Control artist was crowned 2021’s ASCAP Songwriter of the Year, following in the footsteps of previous victors, Cardi B and Migos star Quavo.

Per a press release, the award show particularly mentions Lil Baby’s writing on “Baby,” “Emotionally Scarred,” “For the Night” and “The Bigger Picture,” which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became his highest-charting song on the chart. He will virtually perform the record tomorrow (June 23) amid the ASCAP event.

Lil Baby joins honorees Swizz Beatz, D-Nice and Timbaland who, REVOLT previously reported, will be commemorated with the Voice of the Culture Award. The distinction specifically praises them for entertaining people throughout the pandemic with Verzuz and Club Quarantine.

Other ASCAP victors include Anderson “Vinylz” Hernandez, Che Ecru, Joshua “J-Louis” Huizar, Matthew “Boi-1da” Samuels and Noah “40” Shebib, who wrote Chris Brown’s “No Guidance” featuring Drake, this year’s Top Hip-Hop/R&B Rap Song.

Bryant “XCELENCE” Bell and Jahmal “BoogzDaBeast” Gwin won the Top Gospel Song award for penning ”Follow God” by Kanye West, and staff at Universal Music Publishing Group — who worked on The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights,” the Roddy-Ricch assisted “Rockstar” by DaBaby, and Drake and Lil Durk’s “Laugh Now Cry Later” — were named winners in the Publisher of the Year category.

The ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards is a three-day celebration that will end on Thursday, June 24 with a segment celebrating the life of the late DMX. A tour of Jermaine Dupri’s So-So Def studio will follow with afterparty duties going to D-Nice, who is set to close the night with a special edition of Club Quarantine.