Busta Rhymes thanked LL Cool J and his mother as he received the Global Icon gong at the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) on Sunday (10.11.24).
The 52-year-old rap star admitted that he was thrilled to win the Icon award, after "34 years of professionally recording". Speaking on stage at the Co-op Live in Manchester, Busta said: "This is my first time here. I’ve never got an award from MTV before.
"Thirty-four years of professionally recording, this is the first time I’m getting an award from MTV. It feels f****** incredible." Busta thanked his mother - who he described as his best friend - and fellow rap icon LL Cool J during his acceptance speech.
The 'Touch It' hitmaker admitted that LL, 56 - who also attended the ceremony in Manchester - inspired him to pursue a career as a rapper. He explained: "I want to salute my brother LL Cool J. Everything that I aspired to be, that man planted that seed.
" What's more, Busta suggested that his "generation" of rappers will prove to be trailblazer for the genre. The New York-born star insisted that he doesn't have any plans to retire from the music business. Busta - who starred in the rap group Leaders of the New School in the 1980s, before finding success as a solo artist - said: "You better believe that you will see me and the generation that I come from become the first James Browns and Mick Jaggers of this rap s***.
Because I am never going to stop." Busta previously described winning the award as a "celebration" of hip-hop cult.
