Anderson .Paak kicked off his somber moment on stage at the 2018 BET Hip-Hop Awards with a gospel of sorts: “Legends never die.” While minds typically jump to hip-hop hierarchy like Biggie Smalls and Tupac, .Paak is referring to the latest respected rapper to join the hip-hop ancestors: Mac Miller, who passed away at 26 from an apparent overdose.
The beloved Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania rapper (certified by JAY-Z himself) was memorialized by the Oxnard rapper/singer, who stood at the podium dressed in a Swimming T-shirt after the last album Miller released. .Paak professed that the late rapper was one of his music inspirations and a guiding light in terms of expertise within the genre. “He never hesitated to extend himself to the people he loved and was responsible for putting on so many artists,” .Paak said. “He not only influenced me, but a while generation of new, creative, independent artists.”
However, more than anything else, Miller was a dear friend to .Paak and a host of music peers. “Mac Miller was a humble rock star,” .Paak continued. “He was a rapper’s rapper. He was an actor, a comedian, a musical genius, a heartthrob. Mac Miller was a brother. He was my friend. I loved him and I still love him. Thank you Mac, for all the good times, thank you for being you.”
In addition to highlighting the traits that made Miller such a loved creative, .Paak also shined a light on his philanthropic work with the Mac Miller Circles Fund, which provides resources and opportunities to youth from underserved communities in the arts.
“This fund speaks to the man that Mac is, and we will keep that dream alive,” he said. “Many of us have felt this loss deeply, but with this, along with the music he left behind, Mac Miller will live on forever.”
Watch the full tribute up top.
READ MORE: Mac Miller Grew Through Joy And Pain, And Fans Saw It All Up Close