Justin Timberlake leading a jubilant audience singalong to “Happy.” Kehlani delivering a tasty cover of “I Wanna Be Down.” John Legend and multicultural gospel choir Voices of Fire leading their own revivalist movement onstage.
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The Recording Academy Honors — presented by the organization’s Black Music Collective — overflowed with such memorable moments on Thursday (Jan. 29). The Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles rocked all night long as a who’s who paid tribute to three of Black music’s mainstays: Pharrell Williams, Brandy and Kirk Franklin.
Williams was saluted in song by not only Timberlake — who ran through an energizing medley of his collaborations with the songwriter-producer — but current Grammy nominees Clipse and Leon Thomas. Calling Williams his “big brother,” Timberlake recalled, “You made me feel like I belonged … You believed in me and taught me so much from music to just conversations. You changed my life.”
Tyler, The Creator took the stage ahead of Timberlake, noting, “When I won my first Grammy, it meant so much is because [he] was my teacher, my master, the person that gave me all the codes. It finally paid off. From the bottom of my heart, from the bottom of my balls [drawing audience laughter], you have been, you are and you will always be my North Star.”
Upon accepting the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award from the man himself, Williams commented, “Music is a skeleton key that opened all the doors in my life and on this night dedicated to impact, I feel it’s worthwhile to look closely at the skeleton key, because I worry that they are disappearing. A good skeleton key opens all doors, not just exclusive ones. That’s what makes a skeleton key truly magical. Music opened the doors to the things that matter the most in my life; many of the closest friendships I owe to music. And if we look at all the genres, the genesis and the inception of all these different genres, it’s Black music.”
Williams ended with a message for the powers that be as ICE raids continue across the country. “I want to pray for the leaders of this nation … the ones who are giving these orders. I’m praying they find in their hearts some empathy, some grace and, most importantly, some mercy for people who may not have been born in this country. They would not be here if they didn’t believe us when we keep saying that this is the greatest nation on the planet.”
In addition to Kehlani, Coco Jones and FLO performed in tribute to Brandy. After delivering a riveting performance of her classic “Almost Doesn’t Count,” Brandy became emotional as Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. presented her with the Black Music Icon Award. Amid audience shout-outs, the singer-songwriter said, “Never did I imagine my name and the word icon to ever merge … This recognition, along with the success of The Boy Is Mine tour, awakened a part of me that I thought was gone forever; it has lit a fire inside of me that I didn’t think could ever be reignited. But I’m very much alive. I’m still here and, by the grace of God, I have unlimited opportunity to get out here and be somebody.”
Before performing a few of his own songs with Voices of Fire including “Why We Sing” and a roof-raising take on “Stomp,” fellow Black Music Icon Award honoree Kirk Franklin gave heartfelt testimony as to what the award means to him. “I learned early on about the personal relationship with Jesus Christ and never wanted to be afraid to say that name … never afraid to believe that he loves everybody. It hurts when I see the faith I believe in be so divisive and not be a message of love. If you only knew my mistakes, my sins, my failures, you would know that it’s only by the grace of God that I’m here. So it’s a great honor to be able to stand here and celebrate this moment.”
Setting the tone for the evening was Adam Blackstone, who returned this year as music supervisor. MVD Inc., headed by Miatta Johnson and Massah David, also returned for the fourth consecutive year to produce the Recording Academy Honors.
