Drake Accepts BMI Songwriter of the Year Award [Video]

Drake was the big winner at Friday night’s BMI Urban Awards in Hollywood. The Canadian superstar picked up numerous awards throughout the evening including Songwriter of the Year. He dedicated it to his mother and uncle, and called out former Universal Motown president Sylvia Rhone, who told him he’d never make it.

“I really want to dedicate this award to my mother who never gave me the definition of a word in my life,” said Drizzy. “I would always ask her what does this mean, and she would always make me go look it up and I would have to look through all these words and I would start to learn words and build a vocabulary that was somewhat impressive.

“And to my uncle who sat me down after Sylvia Rhone told me that I didn’t have what it took to make it in the music industry—to my uncle who sat me down and told me that I should keep on going because I have something special. And I also want to dedicate this to Kanye West, to André 3000, and to Phonte of Little Brother because their words always inspired me—and to Snoop, man, thank you for letting me share this night with you.”