The 12-time Grammy nominee can't hold back his tears as he's presented with the award by Marlon Wayans and Swizz Beatz, during which he delivers an inspirational message in his speech.
- Jun 26, 2023
AceShowbiz - Busta Rhymes was moved to tears at the 2023 BET Awards. Honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award during "culture's biggest night," the hip-hop pioneer choked up as he received the award at the Sunday, June 25 event.
Busta received thunderous applause as he was called onstage to accept the award, which was presented by Marlon Wayans and Swizz Beatz. As soon as he stood behind the mic, he was overwhelmed with emotions as he admitted, "All right. So, I'm going to wear it on my sleeve. I do want to cry."
The 51-year-old put out a white napkin to wipe his tears and needed some time to compose himself before he delivered his acceptance speech. After recounting his early days as a solo act following his departure from Leaders of the New School, he noted that "a lot of greatness from our people and our culture is by default, because it's by the magic that we have."
He told the audience, "I'm going to say I am grateful that the blessing that has been bestowed upon me and this gift that I have been given and this fire that continues to burn as a passion in my soul, that allows me to get into any situation -- from the stage to collabing with whoever -- and making sure that I am far from the weak link. Because I enjoy walking away from a situation saying, 'I bust ass!' "
"It's just me trying to do my duty to continue to advance the culture and continue to contribute in a significant way," he continued. "I see so many people in here that I have known and grown with for a long time, you're watching me grow and I love y'all and I know y'all love me."
He also had a message for the next generation of hip-hop and rap artists, encouraging them to stop beefs and "love each other." The 12-time Grammy nominee said, "We gotta stop this narrative that we don't love each other ... It's corny, it's whack." He also added, "Shout-out to every new artist that's contributing and doing their job," shouting out performers like Ice Spice and J. Cole.
Busta later returned to the stage to perform "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See", his feature from M.O.P.'s "Ante Up", "I Know What You Want" and his verse from "Look at Me Now" among other highlights of his discography.
Scott Mills, CEO of BET, said of the Lifetime Achievement Award honoree ahead of the show, "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."
The 2023 BET Awards airs live from the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles on the East Coast at 8 P.M., and on tape delay on the West Coast at 8 P.M. PT.
