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      *As is tradition, a number of hip hop producers headed for Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards made a pit stop Friday to collect earned trophies from the annual BMI Urban Awards, which honor the songwriters and beat makers behind the year's biggest hits.     

      Producer Sean Garrett, who has worked with Britney Spears, Usher, Whitney Houston and Mary J. Blige, earned producer of the year and song of the year honors, reports the Associated Press.

      Other producers nabbing awards were Polow Da Don, Jazze Pha, Rodney Jerkins, will.i.am, Lil Jon and T-Pain, who was also recognized for his top-selling ringtone, "I'm N Luv (Wit a Stripper)."

      Since the VMAs were in Las Vegas this year, BMI set up shop at the nearby New York New York hotel to hand out its awards and pay tribute to Run-DMC's Joseph "Rev. Run" Simmons for his contributions to popular music.       

      "I'm lucky to be in the game," the rap pioneer said, adding that he was "shocked" to learn he would be joining Al Green, Isaac Hayes and James Brown as the recipient of BMI's Icon Award.     

      BMI chief executive Del Bryant compared Simmons to Mick Jagger, James Brown and Mohammed Ali, stating the rapper "had a permanent influence on generations of music-makers."     

      "He is the man for all time," he continued. "Run-DMC never crossed over. Popular music crossed over to them.     

      Sean “Diddy” Combs, a producer of Simmons' MTV reality show “Run’s House,” said the rapper changed his life.     

      "You gave birth to a whole culture, a whole generation," he said. "We bow down to you."     

      Simmons took the stage with Lil Jon and Lil Wayne to perform Run-DMC's 1986 breakthrough hit "Walk This Way."

      Comedians Chris Rock and Chris Tucker were among the guests at the show. However, several stars who were supposed to be there failed to show up, including Rihanna, Snoop Dogg and producer of the year honorees Kanye West and Pharrell Williams.