Diddy had his youngsters by his aspect as he was honored with the International Icon Award on the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards on Tuesday, September 12.
“That is what’s up. Love wins. That is so surreal, I respect you all coming and simply even giving me my flowers and celebrating me,” Diddy, 53, mentioned in his prolonged acceptance speech. “It is a dream come true for me. I grew up watching MTV like, ‘Man I want someday I could possibly be up there.’”
Diddy shared that music wasn’t at all times what he noticed himself doing together with his profession. He entered the workforce at age 12 as a paperboy whereas dreaming of being a soccer participant. Nevertheless, after sustaining a leg harm, he started dancing and acquired observed on the streets of New York Metropolis and was forged in music movies.
“That’s how I fell in love with the music trade,” he shared whereas additionally thanking trade executives, songwriters and the Unhealthy Boy Data household.
Earlier than accepting his award, Diddy carried out a medley of his biggest hits alongside a number of of his youngsters, together with 25-year-old Christian (a.okay.a King Combs). His eldest daughter Probability, 17, even joined Mary J Blige to offer Diddy his golden moonperson Diddy’s 16-year-old twins, Jessie and D’Lila, additionally joined their dad on stage.
The International Icon Award is given to an artist or band who has achieved a novel stage of worldwide success within the music trade. The consideration originated on the MTV Europe Music Awards and, since launching on the VMAs in 2021, has been bestowed upon the Crimson Scorching Chili Peppers and Foo Fighters.
Diddy’s efficiency was the primary time the rapper took the stage on the awards present for the primary time since 2005, the identical 12 months he served as host. The rapper is ready to launch his first solo album since 2006, titled The Love Album: Off the Grid, on Friday, September 15. The venture options collaborations with high-profile names corresponding to Justin Bieber, The Weeknd and Mary J. Blige.
Along with the International Icon Award, Diddy is nominated for Greatest Collaboration and Greatest Hip-Hop Video for “Gotta Transfer On” with Bryson Tiller, Ashanti and Yung Miami in addition to Greatest Collaboration and Greatest R&B Video for “Creepin’ (Remix)” with Metro Boomin, The Weeknd and 21 Savage.
Diddy introduced his return to solo music in August by way of a trailer for his upcoming album. “Why am I doing this?” he requested. “You understand what I’m saying? Particularly with the success that I’ve had. Particularly the place my life is. How disturbing and treacherous this music trade is, why would I simply come again in right here and must do one thing that I don’t must do?”
He continued: “We within the love period — that’s the frequency that I’m asking y’all to be part of. I needed to go off the grid with the intention to actually lock in ‘trigger I used to be so hooked on my telephone, so hooked on the work, so hooked on the bulls—t.”
Diddy, who revealed in 2022 that he had legally modified his center title to Love, shared his want to make an influence together with his new music. “I don’t make an algorithm; I make a sense,” he mentioned. “You wanna give ‘em one thing that they will sing. Folks say, ‘Would you like streams?’ I mentioned, ‘I would like souls.’”
Diddy concluded the video by declaring that he was “not leaving right here till the world has modified.”
Throughout his break from solo music, Diddy has established himself as a powerhouse businessman, helming Unhealthy Boy Data — which he based in 1993 — and increasing his empire to incorporate a trend line, a cable music community, a tequila model, constitution colleges, a hashish distribution firm and extra.