Kanye West receives BET Honors award from Damon Dash
Kanye West reunited with his old label boss Damon Dash on Saturday (24Jan15) as the music executive presented the Stronger hitmaker with a top prize at the BET Honors.
The rapper was feted with the Visionary Award at the Washington, D.C. ceremony, where stars including his longtime pal and collaborator Jay Z, Common, Kendrick Lamar and his wife Kim Kardashian paid tribute to West in a video montage.
He was then introduced to the stage by his old friend Dash, who
confessed he had doubted West's rapping abilities when he was first
trying to make the transition from producer to artist.
Stepping up to the podium, a flattered West stated, "I understand
what it is to be humbled for the first time."
He then shared a few words of advice to youths seeking to make
their mark on the entertainment and arts industry, saying, "You
can't be the kid in the back of the classroom with black nail
polish. You have to smack the s**t out of people with your
creativity."
It was also an emotional night for R&B superstar Usher, who
fought back tears as he received the Musical Arts Award from his
childhood idol, Bobby Brown, while actress Phylicia Rashad was
celebrated with the Theatrical Arts Award.
West has had little to do with Dash since the label co-founder fell
out with his business partner Jay Z in 2005 after the sale of their
record company to Island Def Jam.