At the inaugural Girls Make Beats Fundraising Gala, the nonprofit will honor Missy Elliott, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr., Chlöe Bailey and hip-hop duo Flyana Boss.
The Girls Make Beats nonprofit began as a way to foster young women’s involvement in music production, DJing and audio engineering. Its event, titled “Hip Hop 50th: Celebrating Women Past, Present, and Future,” will take place at Avalon Hollywood on Nov. 4.
“We are thrilled to unite the vibrant hip-hop community in celebration of the remarkable achievements of women in music,” Girls Make Beats founder Tiffany Miranda said in a statement. “With less than 3 percent of women currently represented as producers, our mission extends beyond closing the gender gap. It’s about elevating awareness regarding the significance of empowering girls in underserved communities and facilitating their pursuit of dreams.”
Elliott will receive the night’s Diamond Impact Award for her work as an artist and a producer. The rap legend produced many of her own hits alongside longtime collaborator Timbaland, including the 2002 Billboard Hot 100 No. 2 smash “Work It.”
Chlöe, who rose to fame in the duo Chloe x Halle with sister Halle Bailey and now records as a solo artist, will receive the Powerhouse Producer Award. She produced 10 of the 14 songs on her debut solo album In Pieces, which was released in March.
Mason will receive the Champion Ally Award thanks to his work fostering an “inclusive and supportive music community,” the nonprofit said in a press release. “I am humbled to be a part of a collective effort working to champion women and girls in our industry,” Mason said in a statement. “Through initiatives like Women in the Mix, we at the Academy will continue to support organizations like Girls Make Beats and amplify women’s voices as they use their talent to shatter any artificial, outdated barriers.”
Finally, Flyana Boss — Bobbi Lanea Tyler and Folayan Omi Kunerede — will receive the Next Generation Wave Maker Award for the early strides they’ve made in the hip-hop community as rappers and producers.
Billboard is among the media partners at the Nov. 4 event, alongside iHeartMedia. “Billboard is thrilled to support Girls Make Beats and the incredible young women honing their skills as producers,” Dana Droppo, Billboard‘s chief brand officer, said in a statement. “We need more of them and are committed to continuing to platform women and girls in music for years to come.”
For more details about the gala and how to attend, head to GirlsMakeBeats.org/gala.
Billboard is a media partner of the Girls Make Beats Fundraising Gala.
