Drake wins songwriter of the year at 2022 SOCAN Awards

Drake has won several songwriting prizes at the 2022 SOCAN Awards.

The Toronto music star received two rap music awards for his singlesWants and Needsand Way 2 Sexyat a Toronto gala celebrating the best in Canadian songwriting, composing and music publishing. That's in addition to winning songwriter of the year in the performer category, announced earlier this month.

Drake did not attend Monday's celebration.

The evening bash also recognized previously announced winners including Yukon artist Stephen (Koz) Kozmeniuk, who claimed songwriter of the year in the producer category.

Kozmeniuk, whose lengthy past credits include projects withKendrick Lamar and Nicki Minaj, also won the International Song Award for themonster hit Levitating,performed by Dua Lipa.

Veteran film and TV composer Keith Power of Newfoundland and Labrador, who has scored hundreds of episodes of network television, took home his fifth Screen Composer of the Year Award. As well, Vancouver rapper and singer bbno$ was named breakout songwriter.

Canadian songwriter and performer Tom Cochrane was presented with the Cultural Impact Award for his 1991 radio staple Life Is A Highway.

Jazz-rock group Lighthouse, known for hits including 1971's One Fine Morningand 1972's Sunny Days,were inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame for their five-decade career.

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.