The fourth annual Recording Academy Honors lit up the Fairmont Century Plaza on Thursday (Jan.29) night. Guests showed up in their finest black tie attire, and the room was filled with love and admiration for Black excellence. The night celebrated Pharrell Williams, Brandy, and Kirk Franklin, honoring their artistry, influence, and impact on the music industry. Williams received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award, while Brandy and Franklin each earned the Black Music Icon Award.

John Legend opened the night with a tribute to Franklin, performing “He’s Able” and “Melodies from Heaven,” followed by Lecrae delivering “Bless Me.” Franklin then took the stage with a medley of “Something About the Name Jesus,” “My Life Is in Your Hands,” “Silver and Gold,” and “Stomp,” and the audience sang and clapped along, fully immersed in the gospel energy. 

Brandy’s moment was next. Coco Jones performed “Full Moon,” Flo led a group rendition of “The Boy Is Mine,” and Kehlani performed “I Wanna Be Down,” each honoring Brandy’s catalog and showing off all of the vocal skills they’ve learned from listening to her as fans before their own fame.

Tyler, the Creator, came forward to honor Williams and shared how he and N.E.R.D. shaped his journey. “Every door he goes in, he comes out and grabs people, gives them the key… here is your desk, here is your seat, here is your bed. You have done that for me so many times that I call him and ask why,” Tyler said. He then introduced Clipse, who performed “So Be It” and “Grinding,” followed by an iconic performance of N.E.R.D.’s “Rock Star” from Grammy-Nominated R&B star Leon Thomas. 

Justin Timberlake closed out the tribute to Pharrell, getting everyone on their feet. He performed some of the music icon’s biggest hits, including a fire mashup of “Señorita” and N.O.R.E.’s “Nothin’,” Mystikal’s “Shake It Fast,” and Snoop Dogg’s “Beautiful.”  The room was wrapped in nostalgia and gratitude as the tribute reminded everyone of the trailblazer’s genius. 

Williams closed the night with his acceptance speech, but what stood out most from his words were the prayers for the world’s leaders. “I’m praying that they find it in their hearts, some empathy, some grace, and most importantly, some mercy for these people who may not have been born in this country but love it just as much as you do,” he said. He also added, “It doesn’t matter how you voted; it’s how you pray,” reminding everyone that influence and responsibility go hand in hand.