RAPPER Busta Rhymes shared a topical message with his fellow artists as he celebrated a huge success.
The Touch It musician accepted this year’s lifetime achievement honor at the BET Awards on Sunday, but used his speech to touch on a hot topic.
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Busta Rhymes, 51, didn’t hold back his emotions as he was granted the award.
In his speech, Busta – whose real name is Trevor George Smith Jr. – openly teared up at the honor, but made sure to leave some parting wisdom.
For the event, the legendary artist pulled out all the fashion stops.
He wore an eye-catching white blazer with gold-flecked floral designs and a thick black velvet lapel, layered over a black top.
Sticking with his usual bold style, he also added a super-chunky gold chain studded with diamonds, along with two large studs in his ears.
The Gimme Some More rapper got up on stage with his entourage, and seemed overwhelmed by the big moment.
As he wiped away tears, he admitted: “So, I’m gonna wear it on my sleeve. I do wanna cry.”
However, after sending out a touching tribute to his children and reminiscing about his early days in the now-disbanded group Leaders of the New School, he veered into an important issue in the industry.
BUSTA’S SPEECH
Busta first shared his love for his fellow hip-hop artists, saying (via People): “I see so many people in here that I’ve known and I’ve grown with for a long time, and y’all watched me grow, and I love y’all, and I know y’all love me.
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“But I’m a real giver of love. Sometimes I know I might overwhelm you. I wanna hug you, and I won’t let you go. I shake your hand.”
However, after sharing his own love, he urged others to: “Stop these little petty beefs that we be doing.”
He emphasized: “Y’all messing up the bag. Y’all messing up the energy. I don’t like when I talk to these dudes that run these streaming platforms and they talking about, ‘You know, we turning the consumer off because there’s so much little this and little that going on with you rappers.’
“We’re gonna stop that. We’re gonna love each other, and we gonna get to this money.”
The TV and film star concluded: “We’re gonna stop this narrative like we don’t love each other, this divide thing. It’s corny. It’s tired. It’s whack.”
‘A TRUE PIONEER’
This year, the BET Awards celebrated the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
Each year, the ceremony grants a Lifetime Achievement Award to an artist who has “powerfully shifted culture and the entertainment industry.” In 2023, the coveted award went to Busta Rhymes.
Scott Mills, CEO of BET, said: “Busta Rhymes is a multifaceted award-winning artist who has mesmerized audiences for decades with his original hip hop sound and one-of-a-kind visuals.
“He continues to leave an indelible mark on the culture that we hold dear, and it is with great pride that we present this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award to a visionary, a master of rhyme, and a true pioneer.”
He added: “We look forward to paying tribute to his remarkable journey and celebrating his countless hits, electrifying performances, and unforgettable moments defining an art form and the culture.”
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