Infantile Gambino & Keke Palmer Carry out Usher Tribute At BET Awards

A number of the largest names in music got here collectively to rejoice a few of Usher Raymond‘s best 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 business friends praising Usher’s profession, earlier than Gambino serenaded the stay viewers with the artist’s 2002 single ‘U Don’t Should 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 season 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 straightforward but it surely has been price it,” he started.

“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 As a result of I’m nonetheless working and gunning and I nonetheless love this shit like I did once I was 8 years outdated.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, once I was dropping my pants. So these moments that change into 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 assumed life was gonna be. I began off as an artist in a bunch 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 not less than that was my notion of it as a result of I needed to stay lengthy sufficient to grasp that it’s a must to have a forgiving coronary heart to be able 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 number of selections, he made a number of selections. And the one which in all probability harm and assist me on the identical time was to remain away, however that’s a part of the explanation why I say that is the 12 months of the daddy, the place all of the fathers gotta arise for his or her sons, their daughters and be the person that they should be for them.”

The Coming Dwelling artist thanked his father figures as he was surrounded by “my village” onstage. “These are the boys who motivated me, who converse to me, who’ve spoken to me,” Usher mentioned.

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 one hundred pc all about my youngsters and guaranteeing that you just perceive that your desires can come true for those who’re really dedicated to it. When you’re devoted to one thing and you discover ardour and also you keep dedicated to it, this might doubtlessly 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 can have a second like this too.

Usher thanked his “beautiful spouse” Jennifer Goicoechea. “Thanks a lot for being my greatest good friend,” he mentioned. “Thanks a lot for supporting me and inspiring me. For every one who 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 in a position to do that with out you.”