The 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards will be paying homage to the late Biz Markie amid their annual ceremony, and they have tapped one of his friends to help with the tribute. According to press release, Big Daddy Kane will honor the “Just a Friend” emcee, who he’s previously credited for his career as a rapper.

“Thank you for believing in me,” Kane penned on Instagram in the wake of Biz’s death. “Thank you for giving me a career. Thank you for the beats to ‘Ain’t No Half Steppin,’ ‘Warm It Up Kane’ and convincing @thereal45king to give me the beat to ‘Set It Off.’ Most importantly, thanks for being a true, genuine, loving FRIEND!!!! LOVE YOU FOREVER EMAZA!!!”

The 16th annual BET Hip Hop Awards is slated to go down on Tuesday, Oct. 5 in New York City’s Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller and Chico Bean will host the show, which will feature performances from Young Thug, Gunna, Bia, Lil Jon, Baby Keem, and Isaiah Rashad. Trina, Remy Ma, Jermaine Dupri and Tank are among the night’s presenters, and Nelly is slated to receive the I AM Hip Hop Award.

“I am honored to receive this award and humbled to be in such great company of past artists who have received this award,” Nelly said in a statement. “I have been blessed to work with some incredible people in my career, making 22 years go by in the blink of an eye.”

“This award isn’t just about Nelly; it is about my fans, BET, and the people that continue to support me and allow me to do what I love to do,” he concluded.

“We’re excited to once again celebrate all of the many talented artists who have made an undeniable impact on music this past year,” said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET.