Jamaica’s culture was showcased at the 2023 BET Awards on Sunday when popular Dancehall artistes Spice, Dexta Daps, Skillibeng, and Cutty Ranks performed during Busta Rhymes’ tribute.
BET organizers honored Busta Rhymes, born Trevor George Smith Jr, for his contributions to music and black culture over the years.
Last Friday, BET revealed that the 51-year-old rapper would receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors industry pioneers who have profoundly influenced culture and the entertainment business.
Busta Rhymes who is of Jamaican parentage, paid homage to his dancehall culture when recording artistes Dexta Daps, Spice, Skillibeng, and Cutty Ranks each took the stage with him.
The audience got a taste of Jamaica’s culture from Dexta Daps’ “Shabba Madda Pot”, and Spice’s “So Mi Like It”, to Skillibeng’s “Whap Whap” and CuttyRanks’ “A Who Seh Me Dun (Wait Deh Man).
Swizz Beatz presented Busta Rhymes with the Lifetime Achievement Award, who is widely recognized as one of the greatest MCs, having had seven Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hits.
“Alright, imma wear it on my sleeve. I do wanna cry,” Rhymes started his speech, as his eyes started to water. He talked about his six children, being kicked out from his hip hop group Leaders of the New School, and learning how to rebuild by going into studios, sharing a cigar with whoever was in the studio, and “quickly whipping up a 16 bar verse. … By default, I pioneered the feature,” he said.
The 2023 BET Awards which recognized black media and creatives in the various fields of music, film, and sports was held at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California.
