Busta Rhymes was given an enormous tribute on the 2023 BET Awards as he obtained a Lifetime Achievement Award. After award presenter, Marlon Wayans roasted the Lengthy Island MC for his boisterous demeanor, a video of Busta’s longtime collaborators and admirers like Diddy, Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Missy Elliott, Pharrell, and extra discovered him being referred to as “hip-hop’s mayor” and being difficult for his “rambunctious and daring” strategy to hip-hop music. His one-of-a-kind affect might solely be celebrated in a method, although — a efficiency that includes all of these qualities.
And so, Busta hit the stage to simply accept his award from Swizz Beatz and showcase his unmatched power with an electrifying set together with his verses from MOP’s “Ante Up” and A Tribe Referred to as Quest’s “Situation” remixes, his verse from Chris Brown’s “Look At Me Now,” and his hits “Break Ya Neck,” “Give It To Me,” “New York Sh*t,” “Contact It,” and “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See” — with a particular look from Coi Leray, who carried out her remix of “Players” that samples it. He completed along with his new track with BIA, “Seashore Ball” and a tribute to his Jamaican roots.
Throughout his acceptance speech, Busta admitted, “I do wanna cry,” earlier than doing simply that, shedding a few tears as he acknowledged his youngsters (the oldest of whom appeared in his “Woo-Hah!” video) and recounted his journey by way of hip-hop, from making his debut with Leaders Of The New Faculty to changing into a Grammy-nominated solo artist and game-changing MC who turned ubiquitous over the subsequent 30 years.
He additionally spoke out in opposition to petty beef in hip-hop (I’m gonna stare meaningfully at Jim Jones and Pusha T proper now), whereas shouting out J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Nas, and different hip-hop luminaries for his or her work in retaining hip-hop on the forefront of tradition regardless of streamers warning that its recognition is waning. Hip-hop’s 50th birthday was also celebrated with a string of performances saluting many years of excellence.
You’ll be able to watch Busta Rhymes’ efficiency and acceptance speech above.
