Founder of Bad Boy Entertianment, P Diddy, used the stage to celebrate the lives of loved ones he lost while being honored with a BET Award for Lifetime Achiement. Not only did he perform individually, he joined artists he'd produced as they saluted him with their gifts. The set started with Jodeci and included Mary J Blige, Lil Kim,, Shyne, Ole Dirty Bastard, Maverick City Music and the honoree.
A renaissance man born in Virginia, Diddy dedicated the award to his mother who watched proudly in the audience. He said if it was not for God he would have lost his mind. He has lost several close relationships to death over the past 25 years.
He thanked Bishop T.D. Jakes and chreographer Lori Anne Gibson for holding him down in the dark moments.
The visionary shared that he rejected a recurring dream of being lowly when he was young. That dream motivated him to be driven to achieve his goals.
As an adult he has had a more optimistic dream and said tha the award show was the opportune time to release it.
thought was "The time is right now. I got this dream of Black people being free, not killing each other and being rich and living on the same block. The last shall be first and the frist shall be last." Before leaving the stage with the award that was presented by Baby Face, he pledged to donate $1 million to Howard University and the Jackson State Football team coached by Dion Sanders.