The 2015 BET Honors aired last night (February 23), commemorating the achievements of Usher Raymond, Phylicia Rashad, John W. Thompson, Kwame Simmons, Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole, and Kanye West.
While previously recorded in Washington D.C. last month, viewers were able to witness the ceremony for the first time via television.
West received the Visionary award for his dynamic and prominent voice in Hip Hop, which has earned him recognition as a highly regarded creative.
Former Roc-A-Fella Records CEO, Dame Dash, presented Kanye with the Visionary award, admitting he hadn’t seen Kanye in “a while” but was still proud of his protegé.
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Following Dash’s sentiments, Kanye took to the stage to accept the award and give a speech of his own.
He touched on racism, and rehashed many of the ideas he raps about on the song, “New Slaves.”
BET also put together a black-and-white visual montage that featured West’s peers speaking on his positive traits.
Before the night was over, the show’s host, Wayne Brady, enlisted ‘Ye, Usher, and John W. Thompson to assist him in forming an impromptu freestyle.
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Check out the clip below:
For more Kanye West coverage, watch the following DX Daily:
