LL Cool J will present Tyler, The Creator with the Rock The Bells Cultural Influence Award during the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards. According to a press release, the honor, which was created in partnership with LL’s Rock The Bells brand, acknowledges “a younger, innovative, otherworldly artist that has significantly impacted the culture — while uplifting their community.”
“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,” the Mama Said Knock You Out rapper said in a statement.
Tyler is nominated for four awards during the forthcoming show, which is set to air next Tuesday (Oct. 5) on BET, including Hip Hop Artist of the Year, Best Live Performer, Producer of the Year and Best Hip Hop Album of the Year. His latest LP Call Me If You Get Lost debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, becoming the “EARFQUAKE” rapper’s second No. 1 album.
“This award will celebrate innovative hip hop artists who are shaking the industry, like Tyler, The Creator, and who will carry the hip hop torch for generations to come,” said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET.
Back in June, Tyler performed at the 2021 BET Awards for the first time ever in his career. He spoke to Complex about how that performance gave him the validation he had been seeking in the hip hop community.
“I was so hype to perform at the BET Awards,” he said. “Like, I don’t think people understand, dude. Having Durk and Lil Baby and Styles P just tell me how good the performance was meant a lot. I just never felt like my style of music would ever have been, not even appreciated, but allowed on there.”
Check out LL’s post below.