LL Cool J and Usher are set to be honored at this year’s Black Music Action Coalition Gala.
Scheduled for Sept. 19, the legendary rapper will receive the Clarence Avant Trailblazer Award, while Usher will receive the Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award. With their latest honors, both musicians will be rewarded for their activism and role in achieving “racial equity and social justice within their community.”
Other honorees include BET Media Group, BeyGoOOD exec. director Ivy McGregor, and Live Nation, who will receive the BMAC Social Impact Award, BMAC Change Agent Award and the BMAC 365 Award, respectively.
Hosted by Kenny Burns, this year’s gala will also feature their first auction alongside Julien’s Auctions.
In a statement, LL Cool J expressed his excitement for the award, emphasizing the honor of being named as a recipient.
“To be receiving this award from an organization that is making such big moves for racial equity and justice within the music industry is an honor. Clarence Avant was a true legend,” he said in a statement. “He and I were both inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame the same year [2021] and he was a father figure to me. So it’s a full circle moment and feels truly special.”
Through his Rock The Bells festival, LL Cool J has helped honor veterans of the genre, spotlighting the work of femcees such as Misa Hylton, Bevy Smith and other trailblazers like Wu-Tang Clan.
Through the annual event, Rock The Bells honors the music, culture, breakdancers, DJs and artists of hip hop.
Usher has also used his platform to draw attention to numerous issues such as police brutality, partnering with organizations like Art for Amnesty and The American Justice Summit. Through his New Look Foundation nonprofit founded in 1999, he’s also helped youth from low income neighborhoods.
He was recently awarded the President’s Award at the 55th NAACP Image Awards for his contributions to both music and social activism.
“We’re thrilled to celebrate this year’s honorees who have utilized their talents, platforms and resources to create a positive and meaningful impact in social and racial justice globally,” said the co-founder of BMAC, Willie “Prophet” Stiggers, in a press statement. “This year’s gala comes at a pivotal time for our industry and country. It is more important than ever to recognize these incredible accomplishments and unite the entertainment industry to use our collective voice in inspiring imperative change.”
