A few of the largest names in music got here collectively to rejoice a few of Usher Raymond‘s biggest hits on Sunday.
Infantile Gambino, Keke Palmer, Chloe Bailey, Teyana Taylor and extra carried out a musical tribute to the R&B crooner as he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award on the 2024 BET Awards in Los Angeles.
Producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis launched a video retrospective that includes trade friends praising Usher’s profession, earlier than Gambino serenaded the stay viewers with the artist’s 2002 single ‘U Don’t Must Name’ earlier than Palmer transitioned to ‘You Make Me Wanna…’
The tribute additionally featured a medley of hits like ‘Good Good’, ‘There Goes My Child’ and ‘Confessions Half II’ from artists like Summer time Walker, Coco Jones and Marsha Ambrosius.
After taking within the present entrance row, Usher accepted the award with a heartfelt speech. “Getting right here has undoubtedly not been simple however it has been price it,” he started.
Infantile Gambino and Keke Palmer carry out onstage in the course of the 2024 BET Awards on June 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Pictures)
“This Life Achievement Award… I don’t know, man. Is it too early for me to obtain it? As a result of I’m nonetheless working and gunning and I nonetheless love this shit like I did after I was 8 years outdated. However I wish to thank every one of many performers tonight who paid tribute.”
Usher added, “We was going again to moments that a few of y’all won’t even know, after I was dropping my pants. So these moments that grow to be legacy are all about expression and simply having enjoyable and discovering the connection and the spark. After I first began, I had a special concept about what I believed life was gonna be. I began off as an artist in a gaggle in Chatanooga, Tennessee, and my title was Cha-Cha. And I actually was looking for some identification and I used to be doing that particularly as a result of I used to be making an attempt to make sense of this title that was given to me … {that a} man gave me that didn’t stick round as a result of he didn’t love me. Or at the least that was my notion of it as a result of I needed to stay lengthy sufficient to know that you need to have a forgiving coronary heart so as to perceive the true pitfalls and hardships of a Black man in America. And my father, he was a product of that. He made a whole lot of selections, he made a whole lot of decisions. And the one which in all probability damage and assist me on the identical time was to remain away, however that’s a part of the rationale why I say that is the yr of the daddy, the place all of the fathers gotta arise for his or her sons, their daughters and be the person that they must be for them.”
The Coming Residence artist thanked his father figures as he was surrounded by “my village” onstage. “These are the lads who motivated me, who communicate to me, who’ve spoken to me,” Usher mentioned.
Teyana Taylor and Victoria Monét carry out onstage in the course of the 2024 BET Awards on June 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Pictures)
He additionally imparted some knowledge to his personal youngsters, whom he hugged earlier than stepping onstage.
“However it’s all about y’all,” mentioned Usher. “It’s 100% all about my youngsters and ensuring that you simply perceive that your desires can come true when you’re really dedicated to it. If you happen to’re devoted to one thing and you discover ardour and also you keep dedicated to it, this might probably be you. This may very well be your second — not on this stage, as a result of I’m the one one which’s gonna have this one. However you could possibly have a second like this too.
Usher thanked his “pretty spouse” Jennifer Goicoechea. “Thanks a lot for being my finest pal,” he mentioned. “Thanks a lot for supporting me and inspiring me. For every one that has been a part of shopping for an album or both coming to a present or both supporting me, I completely wouldn’t have been ready to do that with out you.”
