BET will be honoring the late DMX during a special tribute at the 2021 BET Awards, Billboard can exclusively announce. The show will be hosted by Taraji P. Henson in Los Angeles on Sunday (June 27). The late hip-hop icon died on April 9 at age 50.
Busta Rhymes, Method Man, Griselda, and Swizz Beatz will deliver performances during the tribute. Actor Michael K. Williams is also set to make an appearance. The tribute was curated by producer Beatz, who is DMX’s longtime friend.
“We look forward to celebrating DMX’s indelible mark in music and pop culture,” Connie Orlando, executive vice president of specials, music programming and music strategy at BET said in a statement. “DMX inspired fans around the world with his signature raspy voice, the delivery of raw emotion through his lyrics and performances, and his giving spirit.”
“We are proud to pay our respects to a hip-hop legend on our biggest stage, the BET Awards,” she continued.
The special tribute will feature some of DMX’s most iconic hits, including “Party Up (Up in Here),” “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem,” “What’s My Name?” “Get at Me Dog,” “DMX Prayer” and more, as well as music from his posthumous album, Exodus. Fatima Robinson, video choreographer and R&B and hip-hop veteran, is the creative director behind Sunday’s special tribute.
DMX will also be honored during an in memoriam segment celebrating his life and legacy at the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards on Thursday (June 24).
Three-time Grammy-nominated artist DMX, né Earl Simmons, has released 15 Billboard Hot 100 tracks. He posthumously earned his highest peak position with “Ruff Ryder’s Anthem” on the chart dated April 23 — it peaked at No. 16. Previously, the collaborative 1998 smash record “Money, Power, Respect” by The Lox featuring DMX and Lil’ Kim held his highest peak position, at No. 17 and charted for 20 weeks.
DMX posthumously appeared on the Billboard Global 200 — on the chart dated April 23 — with his tune “Party Up (Up in Here).” The song peaked at No. 52 and charted for one week.
The BET Awards will air live on BET Sunday (June 27) at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
