Jermaine Dupri wants the BET Awards to orchestrate a grand tribute to late music executive Clive Davis.
On Tuesday (June 23), the So So Def founder and music producer posted an Instagram reel to urge BET to hold a “big and special” to Davis at the upcoming awards show. The Arista Records founder, who’s credited for mentoring Alicia Keys, Whitney Houston and more, died at his home in New York City on Monday (June 22) at 94 years old.
Dupri said that Davis "put Black music on the forefront" among his reasons that the late executive should be honored.
"And he really did this shit different than any other white executive that I've ever seen," he continued. "I mean, you had to be going to Clive Davis' parties to understand what I'm saying."
"And he really understood what Black music meant to the world and what Black music meant to the music business, right? That's why his party was so popping," Dupri explained. "He was a white man with a party that had all the Black executives, all the Black artists, all the Black music wanted to be at a Clive Davis party."
The producer ended by sharing his prayer for Davis to be acknowledged by BET in a "big" fashion. In the caption of the reel, Dupri called an “extravagant” performance for Davis to be held at the BET Awards and listed artists that the late executive had business deals with, like Miles Davis, Patti Labelle and even Bad Boy Records founder Diddy.
Davis, whose career spanned 7 decades, was admitted to the hospital for an upper respiratory infection in late-May, and passed away this week from an age-related illness.
"To the world, our father was the iconic music legend whose vision, instincts, and relentless pursuit of excellence shaped the soundtrack of countless lives,” read a statement from Davis’ family, per People. “He discovered, mentored, and championed the greatest artists in modern music history, leaving an indelible mark on culture that will endure for generations.”
