LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥 As Lil Wayne was honored for his musical achievements, the rapper opened up about the little he has been recognized previously in his career during a pre-Grammy event that also paid homage to Dr. Dre and Missy Elliott.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 get honored,鈥 Wayne remarked Thursday night at the Recording Academy鈥檚 Black Music Collective event in Los Angeles, where he, Dre and Elliott were given the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award. The honorees received the renamed award for their personal and professional achievements in the music industry.
DJ Khaled presented Wayne with the award and a hug, while Drake and Deion Sanders paid tribute to him through video messages. Swizz Beatz, 2 Chainz and Tyga performed some of Wayne鈥檚 hits as well.
During his acceptance speech, Wayne explained how the responsibility of making adult decisions was first placed on his shoulders at age 12, when he signed his first record deal with Cash Money. The 40-year-old rapper thanked his mother, the mothers of his children and his kids.
鈥淲here I鈥檓 from, New Orleans, you鈥檙e not supposed to do this,鈥 the five-time Grammy winner continued as many in the audience at the Hollywood Palladium cheered him on. 鈥淲here I鈥檓 from, I walked into my momma room when I was 14, she asked me for a kid, because my dad was killed and her son had just blew up and went on his first tour. When I came home, she said, 鈥楽on, I can鈥檛 live in this house by myself. We鈥檙e going to have to figure something out.'鈥
Dre talked about starting his musical journey with the initial thought of making enough money to 鈥渂uy a decent pair of shoes鈥 to wear to school. The producer-rapper recalled when he first heard hip-hop for the first time in junior high school, and spoke about his knack for collaborating.
鈥淥ne of my passions is collaborations,鈥 the seven-time Grammy winner said. 鈥淚 never in my entire career done anything alone. I don鈥檛 even know if I want to be in the studio alone. It sounds boring.鈥
Dre was honored with performances by Snoop Dogg, Kurupt and Ty Dolla Sign. Dogg performed 鈥淣uthin鈥 but a 鈥楪鈥 Thang鈥 and 鈥淒eep Cover鈥 before the threesome joined together to perform 鈥淎in鈥檛 No Fun (If the Homies Can鈥檛 Have None),鈥 which was produced by Dre.
Some in the audience were moved to tears by Elliott's heartfelt speech praising music executive Sylvia Rhone, who also received the impact award.
鈥淪he saw something in me that I didn鈥檛 see in myself,鈥 the four-time Grammy winner said of Rhone, the Epic Records CEO who is regarded as one of the most influential executives in the industry. Rhone made history in 1994 when she was named chairman and CEO of Elektra Entertainment Group. At the time, the promotion made her the only African American and first-ever woman to hold the titles.
鈥淪he never told us 鈥榥o,鈥欌 continued Elliott, who recently became the first female rapper to receive a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nomination. 鈥淪he never told me, 鈥榊ou need to lose weight.鈥 She never told me, 鈥榊ou need to change your records.鈥欌
Chloe Bailey performed Elliott鈥檚 鈥淥ne Minute Man鈥 and sang a rendition of Aaliyah鈥檚 鈥淥ne In a Million,鈥 a song Elliott produced with Timbaland. Ciara and Tweet hit the stage to perform Elliott鈥檚 hits, while Busta Rhymes also performed in honor of Rhone.
The event marked a celebratory night for the Black Music Collective, a group of prominent industry leaders that formed in 2020 to find ways to drive Black representation and inclusion. Some of the honorary chairs include Jimmy Jam, Quincy Jones and John Legend, who was honored with the impact award along with MC Lyte and D-Nice last year.
