REVOLT caught up with Jermaine Dupri, Melanie Fiona and TI at ASCAP’s 2024 Rhythm and Soul Music Celebration

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Jimmy Jam, Usher, Jermaine Dupri and Terry Lewis

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It was a great night to celebrate music as the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) hosted its Rhythm & Soul Music Celebration featuring some of today’s biggest stars.

One of the honorees was Usher, whose resurgence has been refreshing to see. The BET Lifetime Achievement Award winner received the Voice of the Culture Award, given to ASCAP members who “have had a major influence on music and culture.” Previous honorees include Swizz Beatz, D-Nice and Timbaland, who all received the award in 2021.

During his 12-minute speech, the “Good Kisser” singer thanked his friends, family and mentors for his incredible career. “I have a lot of people to thank, but I wanted to say something that I think is important, and that is the importance of collaboration,” he began. “No one is an island. We have to work together. Sometimes the vision that we have can be brought to its full potential if we are able to share it.”

Victoria Monét also received an award that night, the ASCAP Vanguard Award, which recognizes members for their innovative work that is shaping the future of music. “While I consider myself a leader, my brilliant team is by my side, never behind me,” she said in her speech. “We have all been on the front lines of this journey to success, meticulously transforming each non-believer into a believer through hard work and consistency. We aim not at eye level, but at the stars – and it truly takes a strong team to go from underdog to vanguard.”

REVOLT caught up with some of the stars on the red carpet. Jermaine Dupri opened up about his relationship with Ari Lennox, as they were spotted in the studio again with fellow artist Jai’Len Josey. “Pressure was such a big album for her, so it was important for us to go back and do something,” he explained, adding that he and Lennox have a “great connection” whenever they’re in the studio.

Melanie Fiona, who looked stunning in a silky green ensemble, shared a moment when she had to bite her tongue in her career and the lesson she learned from it. “Taking the risk of creatively and professionally unlearning some of the things that I thought versions of myself had to commit to. That meant losing people, going through difficult relationship endings, and I had to bite the bullet to be able to live in a space of creative freedom,” she shared. Fiona went on to discuss her longevity, calling it a “blessing” and thanking the 2012 version of herself for making records that stand the test of time. She also revealed that she’s gearing up to release new music later this year, aiming for a fall release and describing the records as “classic.”

TI revealed in 2021 that he would be releasing his final album, Kill the kingsoon and took a moment away from the ceremony to speak to REVOLT about what inspired this decision.

“I see the business world changing for better and for worse. When you’re in the middle of that change, you can either move with it or move away from it. So there are certain things that I don’t intend to change about the way I conduct myself in the business world, so I’m going to say what I have to say on this album and continue to talk about my business,” he said.

It’s no secret that the 43-year-old actor has also dabbled in the comedy circuit, with the actor telling REVOLT about the differences he’s found in storytelling in that field and in music.

“There are three different versions of ourselves: how we see ourselves, how the world sees us, and who we really are. In music, we talk about how we see ourselves. In comedy, we have to tap into how the world sees us. Ultimately, those two aspects are what tell us who we really are,” TI concludes.