BET’s Hip Hop Awards 2021: Honorees Nelly and Tyler the Creator

The BET Hip Hop Awards is underway, and fans are raving about its winners. The “I Am Hip Hop Award” and “Rock the Bells Cultural Influence Award” are huge awards for the night. These prestigious awards honor those who have influenced the hip-hop momentum. The honorees are:

Nelly

“I Am Hip Hop Award”

Why Nelly is Hip Hop?

Nelly raised the bar in entertainment after stepping onto the scene in 2000. With his country grammar and very distinct vocals, he changed how we would enjoy rap in hip hop. His debut album, Country Grammar(2000), has sold over 10 million copies to date. In 2021, Nelly celebrated 20 years of “Nellyville” and “Country Grammar.”

Ground-breaking hits such as “Hot in Here,” “Country Grammar,” “Ride Wit Me,” and “Just a Dream,” His collaboration with Florida Georgia Line, “Cruise” reached diamond status. His hit song with Kelly Rowland, “Dilemma,” marked 1 billion views on YouTube! His music has also earned him 3 Grammy awards.

“He is 100 percent hip hop and he deserves every award he can possible get.”

Beyond the music

In 2005, Nelly made his big-screen debut in “The Longest Yard.” alongside Adam Sandler and Chris Rock. Returning to the big screen, he starred in “Reach Me” with Sylvester Stallone in 2014.

BET’s hit show “Real Husbands of Hollywood.” cast the rapper as a regular. His time on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2020 showed America that their country gem had more in the bag. Although he finished in third place, his fans were pleased. His time as a sports commentator with Fox Sports made him one of few actors with three shows airing at one time. Nelly has performed on NBC’s The Voice, The American Music Awards, and ABC’s Greatest Hits. He also served as a judge on CW’s “The Next.”

We can’t forget his women’s clothing line, Apple Bottoms. He is part-owner of the Charlotte Bobcats alongside Michael Jordan. The RIAA ranks Nelly as the fourth-best-selling rap artist in American music history, with over 35 million albums sold in the United States.

Taking hip hop to country

Twenty years later, Nelly is still making headlines as his country music album “Heartland” reaches Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. Subsequently, his single featuring Florida Georgia Line, “Lil Bit,” nears double-platinum status. As a diamond-selling, multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning rap superstar, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and actor, Nelly has cemented his place in Hip Hop history.

Tyler the Creator

“Rock The Bells Cultural Influence Award”

LL Cool J is the founder and CEO of Rock the Bells, the voice for classic and timeless hip hop.

“I am proud to honor Tyler The Creator, with the first-ever Rock The Bells cultural influence award, which celebrates an artist who continues to break down the conventional boundaries of hip hop culture,” LL Cool J said in a statement.

Hip hop’s “weird boy” proves why he’s still in the game after 15 years. Tyler, the Creator, is an award-winning artist, producer, director, fashion designer, filmmaker, and entrepreneur. He became the co-founder of the hip-hop group and record label Odd Future in 2007. To date, Tyler has released six solo albums. His album IGOR won the rapper a Grammy in 2020. He went on to win a BRIT Award: following the artist being banned just 5 years prior. His album, Call Me If You Get Lost, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 in 2021

Consequentially, the record won the 2021 BET Awards. Call Me If You Get Lost has successfully become the best album of the year.

Tyler continues to push beyond the constraints of hip-hop culture. He stays true to himself, which in turn brings him the respect and recognition he deserves. When asked about his creative process, he shared with BET, “I just make what I like and try to make it the best.”

Written by Antoinette Ford