Busta Rhymes received the Icon Award at this year's BMI R&B Hip-Hop Awards. The awards were hosted by BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill and Vice President of Creative (Atlanta) Catherine Brewton, and were held in Miami this week (Sept. 7), with a bevy of stars on hand, including DJ Khaled and Pharrell Williams. The event recognized the top producers and songwriters of the previous year’s 35 best-performing R&B/hip-hop songs in the U.S.

O’Neill recognized Busta for his "defining impact on hip-hop and for mentoring the next generation of talent.” Pharrell, who's worked with Busta several times throughout the years, including on "As I Come Back” from Busta's album Genesis, Diddy's “Pass The Courvoisier II” and “Light Your Ass On Fire” from The Neptunes’ 2003 album Clones, said that he felt “honored to be in the presence of someone who had the courage to be so different… and still does today.” 

Busta, who also performed a medley of some of his hits including “Break Ya Neck,” “Scenario,” and “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See,” talked about how important it is to recognize and honor your gifts.

“We’re all blessed with this gift," he said. "It’s one thing to identify with the gift, it’s another thing to believe in it once you identify with it ... The most beautiful part about it is I earned this… I’ve never been celebrated as an icon before, but I never had to question whether I was one.”

In addition to honoring Busta's accomplishments, the awards also recognized Megan Thee Stallion and Christopher “YC” Pearson as songwriters of the year. Justin Beiber’s “Peaches” was named song of the year.