Spice, Dexta Daps, and Skillibeng, among others, set the Microsoft Theater ablaze in honoring American rap legend born to Jamaican parents – Busta Rhymes, who was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 BET Awards yesterday.

This year’s BET Awards set out to celebrate 50 years of Hip-Hop and did so in a series of tributes that recognized pioneers in the genre, late legends, and rising stars.

The 12-time Grammy Award-nominated rapper, Busta, kicked off the Jamaican segment of his tributes in epic fashion. 

Following a series of performances featuring Rah Digga, Swizz Beatz, Coi Leray, and others, a sweat-drenched Busta brought both the crowd and the music to a halt. Dressed in all-white while a massive screen behind him showed a picture of the incarcerated Vybz Kartel and DJ Kool Herc, Busta addressed the crowd.

“I’m gonna be clear,” he began, “we celebrating Hip-Hop 50. Kool Herc, the founding father of Hip-Hop – he is a bloodcl#@t Jamaican! Mek sure yuh know dat. And Jamaica is in my blood, so as much as we gon’ rep Hip-Hop tonight, we gon’ represent this Dancehall culture!”

On cue, the stage behind the Hip-Hop legend transformed to reveal digital columns of colorful sound system boxes, complemented by a live band, a sound selector, and background dancers. Once the stage was set, Busta again addressed the crowd.

“All Caribbean people, mek we get up! Mek we stan’ up!!” Busta roared as the opening instrumentals to Dexta Daps’ Shabba Madda Pot swelled in the background. In a matter of seconds, Daps exploded onto the stage in a white blur to deliver an especially energetic rendition of the Daseca-produced track, as he promised his fans he would.

Daps had previously announced via Instagram that he would have been a part of the group selected to honour Busta Rhymes. He promised fans: “Without apology, I shall destroy this stage in the name of Jamaica.” 

The Bring It To The Owner singer also took a moment to reflect on Busta’s legacy. He wrote: “@BustaRhymes you’ve been breaking necks for decades and you’ve been my fav. rapper forever, [and] I’m honoured to be in the presence of @bet honoring a true legend in the game… Best believe Caribbean gon’ shake the stage and represent.”

Daps delivered on his promise and then some, riling up the mostly American crowd as Busta provided support.

Next to join Busta on stage was Queen of Dancehall Spice, who made an entrance to raucous cheers from the occasionally lackluster crowd.

The 40-year-old performed her hit single, ‘So Mi Like It’, raising the roof alongside Busta with an energy-filled performance. Taking things up a notch, Spice pulled off her signature leg lift – while singing. The star then performed a series of twerks, while Busta watched on in amazement, before sending the crowd into an absolute frenzy as she transitioned into a full ground split on stage.

An ominous synth of piano keys, complete with a bass drop and flashing lights, set the stage for Skillibeng, whose signature Whap Whap kept the crowd abuzz.

Rushing out onto the stage dressed in all white, like his counterparts, Skillibeng was joined by a fleet of backup dancers who brought the energy with him. The star rocketed to the front of the stage, shared an embrace with Busta Rhymes, then channeled his energy into the crowd. Chants of ‘Whap Whap’ filled the Microsoft Theatre as both Busta and Skillibeng took turns delivering segments of his catchy hit.

Cutty Ranks – who performed A Who Seh Mi Dun – also joined the Hip-Hop legend in his celebration.

For the man of night, Busta, who was born to Jamaican parents Geraldine Green and Trevor Smith Sr., receiving the night’s highest award was a moment of validation for his three-decades-long stint as a juggernaut in Hip-Hop.

An emotional Busta Rhymes, who was told he had only two minutes to deliver his acceptance speech, took the stage for over 12 minutes.

“All right. So, I’m going to wear it on my sleeve. I do want to cry,” Busta began. “I was the youngest one of the Leader of the New School… [and] I was scared when the group broke up. I ain’t never wanted to be a solo artist. I was cool just dropping my 16 bars, kicking everybody’s ass, and getting up outa there… so when I got kicked out of the group, I was scared.”

Busta was ousted from the group in 1993 and, as he explained, he didn’t put out a solo project until 1996. He also spoke about his six children, the struggles of trying to figure things out, growing up in a Jamaican home and how he found solace in the process of rebuilding himself by immersing himself in studios. 

Rhymes mentioned how he would share a cigar with anyone present in some of those studios and effortlessly create a 16-bar verse. “Long story short,” he said, “I pioneered the future.” 

He emphasized that much of the greatness within the Black culture arises naturally, almost as if by magic. “It took so long to gimmi dis!” Busta jokingly shared of his award.

The rapper woke up still in a jubilant mood today, and took to Instagram to thank his supporters and all the entertainers who helped to make his moment special.

The prestigious BET Lifetime Achievement Award was established in 2001, and is geared at honoring industry icons who have significantly shaped culture through their extensive careers. 

Being the award’s latest recipient, Busta joins a lineup of legends including Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Prince, Lionel Richie, and Diddy, who took home the title last year.

The BET Awards was established in 2001 to celebrate black entertainers and other minorities in music, film, sports and philanthropy.

Beyoncé and Sza—both absent—copped the Album of the Year award for Renaissance and SOS, respectively. Sza also earned the Video of the Year for Kill Bill, while Beyoncé was also announced the winner of Viewer’s Choice and BET Her for Break My Soul.

Chris Brown and Usher took the Best Male R&B/Pop Artist title, while Drake and 21 Savage won Best Group. Future feat. Drake & Tems’ Wait For U earned the Best Collaboration award, and Latto received the prize for Best Female Hip Hop Artist. Best Male Hip Hop Artist went to Kendrick Lamar, and Coco Jones was awarded Best New Artist.

The African Giant Burna Boy was named Best International Act. 

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Former music manager, Linda Smith Isaacs, in whose house the veteran singer Gregory Isaacs spent his last days while battling cancer, has died.

She passed away on June 21 at the age of 75. She suffered from emphysema and had breathing problems for a period of time before her death.

She is survived by three children, Anthony, Jason and Marie.

“She was a vibrant, powerful personality. She was one of a kind, a real character and she always had a ‘Plan’, she always had ideas,” her son, Anthony told DancehallMag.

Linda Isaacs was the last manager and agent of Gregory Isaacs before his death in 2010. She was well-known as the conceptualizer and promoter of the popular annual show, ‘John Holt in Symphony with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra’. Later, a John Holt live album was taken from these shows released in 2001. She dabbled in music production as well; as she was the executive producer of Gregory’s album, Brand New Me.

Linda Smith Isaacs grew up in Birmingham and was always proud of her roots. She married a Jamaican, Ken Jack, who grew up in Denham Town and was close to music figures like Ken Boothe and Strangejah Cole. She visited Jamaica quite often and was fond of the island’s culture and music.

She boasted an extensive record collection and also dabbled in music production.

“She has several unreleased records of Gregory Isaacs and other pop artistes in the UK, which have not been made available to the public yet,” Tony Owens, co-founder of Musical Youth in Birmingham and a close personal friend of Linda, said.

Linda is perhaps best known for the special relationship she shared with international reggae star Gregory Isaacs, labelled “the most exquisite vocalist in reggae” by the New York Times. Following the passing of the singer in October 2010, rumours surfaced surrounding the Night Nurse hit-maker’s relationship with his Linda, his UK manager at the time. In the UK media, she was often referred to as Isaacs’ wife.

Several people criticized Linda after Isaacs’ death after she said that the “proud” the star, who was dubbed ‘The Cool Ruler,’ had chosen to spend his final days with her at their home in the UK, as opposed to his birthplace, Jamaica.

A special blue plaque marking the Cool Ruler’s life was unveiled at Linda’s home in Weald Lane, Harrow Weald in 2016.

Linda, in interviews, often said that she and Isaacs were very much in love, even though their “union wasn’t recognised by law.”

“Gregory and myself were together for a few years, but we were not legally married. Last April, he wanted me to change my name by deed poll to Isaacs, so I did. And yes, he said I was his wife and I said he was my husband. If we did wrong, then let the Almighty judge us,” she was quoted as saying at the time.

Gregory Isaacs was legally married to June Isaacs at the time of his death.

Journalist Mandingo called Linda Smith Isaacs a “hardworking, independent and self-employed woman” and a real force of nature.

“She didn’t put up with any foolishness from friend, husband or stranger. She was a powerful woman, a mother many people on several continents. She layed a major role with the Roots Festival in Gambia, and she built a school in Gambia.. She was a great philanthropist who loved people,” he said.

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In the backdrop of the ongoing condemnation of violence against women and children, dancehall artists D’Angel and Razor B are denouncing domestic abuse on their new show, Live at 5. 

Sharing that she is a survivor of all types of abuse, D’Angel is using the platform – which livestreams on Instagram every Tuesday – to advise women across different branches of life. 

“I’ve been through, I think, absolutely everything in a relationship, everything in my career, everything in just trying to achieve (my goals) and the obstacles and challenges I have to go through on my road to success,” she prefaced. 

Saving the details of her abusive relationship for her autobiography, D’Angel instead shared how she is raising her son, Marco Dean Davis, to be a good man.

“Even though it’s just myself as a single mother, he’s not lack of love,” the Stronger singjay said. “I teach him everything, I’m there for him, I support him, I encourage him, I build him up, I show him love 24 hours a day, so, that is very important for mothers – even if you’re a single mother like myself – to show your children love. If you don’t show them love, they’re not going to know how to love.”

Co-host Razor B added that teaching children to respect others is just as important to mitigate violence in society. Ironically, he posited, “Any man that put him hand on a woman, him hand fi get chop off – just plain and simple… If yuh respect yuh madda, why would you put your hand on a female?… I have never put my hand on a woman, and I will never put my hand on a female no matter what the circumstance is.”

He said men should walk away instead of resorting to violence, even if scorned by a woman’s words.

“The only reason a man would put him hands on a female is because him know him stronger than her and more powerful than her.”

Their stance was challenged after interviewing a man who claimed to be a woman-beater. With his camera disabled, the man said “woman fi get a likkle slap up every now and then”, before sharing his story of beating his longtime spouse after catching her in his bed with another man. The caller detailed years of financial investment in the woman, even funding her children’s education. D’Angel sympathised with him. 

“If yuh meet a man weh a tek care of you and a do everything for you, don’t disrespect the man,” she said. “Even if you have a next man, don’t mek the man know… That man don’t deserve no bun because him already a tek care of you financially, tek care of your kids, everything, so, a man like that don’t deserve no bun.” 

Razor B, who had previously labeled abusive men cowards, chimed in.

“That’s why it’s good to hear everybody’s story because me did a look pon it as man just a beat woman and woman just a tek beating, and man just a beat woman unnecessarily. But fi a woman fi do that…a woman has to start looking into herself and say, ‘Listen, a f—kery yuh do enuh’.”

The entertainers encouraged him to heal from the situation, and not be closed-off from finding healthy love. Also sharing stories were survivors of domestic abuse, including a man. 

“I can safely say it was very educational, informative, and a start to healing for a lot of persons,” D’Angel recapped. “Stay tuned as we join you again next week Tuesday with my Co-Host @therealrazorb for another exciting episode of Live at 5.”

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