Bobby Brown Presents Usher With Humanitarian Award in Full-Circle Moment at BMAC Gala

As a gamer who’s grown up with a diverse mix of tunes from Bobby Brown to LL Cool J, I can’t help but feel inspired by these two legends and their powerful stories at the 2024 BMAC Gala. Usher’s tale of saving up for a Bobby Brown cassette tape as a kid, dreaming that it would help him define his identity, resonates deeply with me. I mean, who doesn’t remember spending their hard-earned pocket money on video games or music back in the day?

At the 2024 Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) Gala held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in LA on a Thursday, Usher honored the influential men who shaped his life.

Growing up, I was given an unusual name that I rarely encountered, making it somewhat confusing. The unfortunate truth is that the man who bestowed this name upon me was absent, leaving me without any explanation or context about its origin or significance. Later on, I was honored with the Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award while I playfully danced to Bobby Brown’s “Don’t Be Cruel” as it echoed in the background.

The honor was bestowed upon Usher by Brown, one of many individuals that Usher publicly thanked for helping him shape his understanding of what it means to be a man, a father, and an entertainer. His brother James, who was in the audience, as well as actor and activist Harry Belafonte, and Jones (the namesake of the award) were among those acknowledged.

Speaking about his childhood memories, Usher shared a tale of his determination to buy a Bobby Brown cassette tape. He remembered his mother doubting whether it was wise to spend the limited funds he had on it. However, in his mind, he saw it as an investment in his future. If he could save this money and acquire the tape, there might be a path illuminated for him, as it could help define who he was or what ‘Usher’ signified if he could emulate Bobby Brown more closely.

Later on, Usher shared his story about encountering the renowned “King of R&B” around the ages of 12 or 13, expressing, “He recognized me before most of you did… I’m grateful for the support in my aspirations because if one believes, they can achieve. I simply urge everyone here to persist in nurturing others, as it holds significant importance. There may be a child with an unusual name who is yearning for someone to inspire them, someone to believe in their potential, someone to motivate them to discover their path towards their passion.

At the yearly BMAC Gala, which was organized by Kenny Burns, a businessman and media figure, the event kicked off with DJ Mars playing songs from three recently deceased Black musicians: Fatman Scoop, Tito Jackson, and Rich Homie Quan. Later on, Anthony Hamilton and The Ton3s paid tribute to Frankie Beverly of Maze, who had passed away on Sept. 10, through music. BJ the Chicago Kid then sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” often referred to as the Black National Anthem, before an auction started to benefit BMAC. Usher was the biggest spender of the evening, purchasing a signed synthesizer from producer Jimmy Jam for $7,000 and a pair of James Brown’s iconic sunglasses he wore during his CNN interview in April 1988 for $30,000. Flava Flav also auctioned off his diamond-encrusted watch for another $15,000.

To start off the ceremony, Live Nation won the initial award, namely the BMAC 365 Award. Subsequently, Ivy McGregor, executive director of BeyGood, was given the BMAC Change Agent Award. Additionally, Atlanta rapper Gunna was honored for his BMAC 30349 Guaranteed Income Program, where he provides a $1,000 monthly allowance to families living in his hometown South Fulton, Georgia. Lastly, the executive team of BET Media Group, including Scott Mills (president and CEO), LouisCarr (president, media sales), Constance Orlando (executive vp of specials, music programming, and music strategy) and Kimberly Paige (executive vp and CMO), received the BMAC Social Impact Award from Taraji P. Henson.

“What I want you to know is that representation matters,” said Henson in front the audience which included Kelly Rowland and Evan Ross. “As a little girl, as a dreamer, not seeing me represented on TV didn’t allow me to dream. When BET came along, I saw a place for me here. And 360, look at it, now my production deal is with BET.”

Bobby Brown Presents Usher With Humanitarian Award in Full-Circle Moment at BMAC Gala

On the night, LL Cool J was bestowed with another significant accolade – the Clarence Avant Trailblazer Award. This award was handed to him by renowned civil rights attorney, Benjamin Crump.

At a Viacom gathering, where I delivered a speech emphasizing unity and diversity, LL Cool J leaned over to me and remarked, “Ben Crump, you’re unaware of the influence you wield on our culture; you’re oblivious to the mark you’ve left on society.” Tonight, in front of your contemporaries at the Black Music Action Coalition Gala, I reciprocate, LL Cool J, expressing that you might not realize the profound impact you’ve made on our cultural landscape.

When accepting the award on stage, LL Cool J discussed the current phase in his 40-year career. He expressed that there were two significant factors that motivated him to create a new album. Firstly, he loves making music, but secondly, he felt compelled to challenge the perception that hip-hop culture and its artists are disposable. “We’ve been conditioned as a culture to think that if an artist takes a break for a weekend, they’re gone for 15 days, and their career is over,” he emphasized, questioning the reasoning behind this belief.

Disproving that misconception with his own long life, LL Cool J later stated, “Ultimately, I want you to understand that it’s essential to keep faith in the charm of your aspirations. You don’t need to pretend or change who you are to reach your destination. Stay true to yourself. People will admire and respect you more if you remain authentic.

2024-09-20 19:25

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