Seven-time Grammy winner will.i.am has also won several BMI awards. Now the performance rights organization is planning to honour him again. He will receive the President’s Award at the upcoming Urban Music Awards on September 10.
This award will honour will.i.am’s work as a musician and humanitarian.
Besides his work with the Black Eyed Peas, Variety reports will.i.am "wrote or co-authored solo hits for bandmate Fergie and for Usher. He has produced such top acts as John Legend, Carlos Santana, U2, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake and Mary J. Blige."
Will.i.am also co-founded the Peapod Foundation. It works to support social issues affecting children worldwide, such as housing, hunger, health care, education, poverty and music and arts education.
Past winners of the President’s Award include Taylor Swift, Willie Nelson and Brian Wilson.
The Urban Music Awards recognize "the achievement of urban based artists, producers, club nights, dj’s, radio stations, record labels and artist that are or were previously unrecognised within their country of origin and are a product of the current Dance/R&B, HipHop, Neo Soul, Jazz, and dance music scene."