As it was reported a couple weeks ago, Lil Wayne received the honorary “I Am Hip Hop” award Tuesday night during the airing of the 2018 BET Hip Hop Awards for his contribution to the game throughout his career starting way back with the Hot Boys.
Before taking the stage however, a video of folks like Kendrick Lamar, 2 Chainz DJ Khaled, and more speaking on Weezy played on the big screen for the audience to take in. All of them praised the Young Money rapper for his creativity and work ethic, qualities that made him a legend in the game. Then after introductory speech from Bun B & DJ Khaled, Weezy took the stage with his mother Jacida Carter and his daughter Reginae Carter behind him. Wayne then gave a very emotional & genuine acceptance speech, thanking his fans, family & friends who supported throughout his journey. He also gave thanks to the man name Uncle Bob, a New Orleans legend that ultimately saved his life after his wild near-death experience years ago.
"When I say, 'refuse,' there's a man in New Orleans, his name is Uncle Bob. He came into an apartment one day. He bust in the door, guns drawn—he saw nobody. He saw legs on the floor. It was my legs. He saw blood everywhere. Bunch of police hopped over me. He refused to do so. I never knew, I talked to him the other day, I never knew EMS was on the scene. He said EMS tried twice and they told him, 'There's nothing.' He refused to let that die."
Weezy continued, "He told his somebody, 'Come drive this car. Forget a ambulance.' He brought me to the hospital himself. He refused to wait, he kicked in the doors. He said, 'You get whatever you gotta do and you make sure this child make it.' Not only that, that day, Uncle Bob was a homicide detective. He was off on detail. He just heard the call and came. Not only did he refuse to sit, not only [didn't] he give me to the doctors and leave, he refused to leave, he stayed and made sure that I made it."
Watch the heartfelt acceptance speech from Lil Wayne (below). And if you missed any of the performances from the show, peep those right here.