SWIZZ BEATZ AND TIMBALAND TO RECEIVE THE "ROCK THE BELLS CULTURAL INFLUENCE AWARD" AT "BET HIP HOP AWARDS" 2023

MARLEY MARL TO RECEIVE THE "I AM HIP HOP AWARD" WITH LL COOL J AND RAKIM TAKING THE STAGE TO PERFORM A SPECIAL TRIBUTE

BET HONORS 'AKA' POSTHUMOUSLY WITH THE "GLOBAL VISIONARY AWARD"

FAT JOE SET TO HOST HIP HOP'S MAIN EVENT PREMIERING TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2023, AT 9:00 PM ET/PT ON BET

#HIPHOPAWARDS

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NEW YORK, NY - October 3, 2023- This year's 'Non-stop Hip Hop Party' is heating up as BET announces the recipients of "The Rock the Bells Cultural Influence Award," "I Am Hip Hop Award" and "Global Visionary Award" for "BET Hip Hop Awards" 2023. Hosted by GRAMMY(R)-nominated recording artist, actor, entrepreneur, and media personality Fat Joe, the annual award show premieres Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at 9:00 PM ET/PT.

First up, global entertainment icon LL COOL J, founder and CEO of Rock The Bells, will present the "Rock The Bells Cultural Influence Award" to superstar producers and entrepreneurs Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, honoring their impressive cultural contributions, talents, and unbound creativity, that has cemented them as two of the most innovative forces in music and popular culture.

LL COOL J and Rakim will also be on hand to perform a special tribute to this year's "I Am Hip Hop Award" honoree, Marley Marl. Known as one of Hip Hop's first super producers, Marley Marl is recognized for trailblazing the world of sampling as house producer of the iconic Juice Crew which includes rappers Big Daddy Kane, the late Biz Markie, Roxanne Shanté, Kool G Rap, MC Shan, and Masta Ace. Marley Marl is credited with influencing several Hip Hop icons such as The Notorious B.I.G., RZA, DJ Premier, Pete Rock and more.

This year, Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes will be honored with the "Global Visionary Award" posthumously, for his profound impact on the global Hip-Hop landscape. Family members Lynn and Tony Forbes will accept the award on his behalf, during a tribute segment for the International airings of the "BET Hip Hop Awards" 2023.

Previously announced performers set to take the stage include DaBaby, Fivio Foreign, GloRilla, and Sexyy Red, along with a deejay and producer tribute featuring Kid Capri, Kool DJ Red Alert, Scott Storch, Spinderella, with more names to be announced. "BET Hip Hop Awards" 2023 will also honor the 30th anniversary of legendary record label So So Def with an all-star roster of Hip Hop icons taking the stage, including GRAMMY(R)-Award-winning producer, songwriter, Hip Hop artist, author, and DJ, Jermaine Dupri, as well as Bone Crusher, Bow Wow, Da Brat, Dem Franchize Boyz, Ludacris and more.

Super producers and "Rock The Bells Cultural Influence Award" recipients Swizz Beatz and Timbaland will present this year's cypher in a Hip Hop celebration deejayed by DJ E Feezy and DJ Runna, with lyricists Bun B, Cassidy, Foggieraw, Gloss Up, Lady London, Lola Brooke, Scar Lip, and Symba battling head-to-head. The digital cypher will feature DJ Hed, LaNell Grant, Maiya The Don, and That Mexican OT.

Nominees include 21 Savage and Cardi B, leading this year with an outstanding 12 nods each, followed by Drake with nine nods, as Burna Boy and DJ Khaled round out the top five with an impressive seven nods each. J. Cole scored six nods. Coi Leray, GloRilla, and Jay-Z are tied at five nods each. Other notable nominations include Lil Uzi Vert with four nominations; rounding out the tally are DaBaby, Kendrick Lamar, Latto, Lil Durk, Megan Thee Stallion, and Metro Boomin, scoring three nominations each.

Connie Orlando, EVP, Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy will oversee the annual show with Executive Producer for BET Jamal Noisette, VP, Specials & Music Programming. Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment, to serve as Executive Producer of "BET Hip Hop Awards" 2023 along with Jesse Collins Entertainment's Jeannae Rouzan-Clay and Dionne Harmon.

For more information about "BET Hip Hop Awards" 2023, including the latest news and updates, visit bet.com/hiphopawards.

Join the conversation on social media by logging on to multiple BET social media platforms: On Twitter by using the hashtag #HipHopAwards; follow us @HipHopAwards and @BET On Facebook by liking the fan page at facebook.com/HipHopAwards.

ABOUT BET MEDIA GROUP

The BET Media Group, a unit of Paramount (NASDAQ: PARAA; PARA; PARAP), is the world's largest media company dedicated to entertaining, engaging, and empowering the Black community and championing Black culture. Connecting Black audiences through a portfolio of brands including BET, BET+, BET Gospel, BET HER, BET International, BET Jams, BET Soul, BET Studios, and VH1, the BET Media Group is a thriving media ecosystem of leading interconnected platforms across cable TV, streaming, digital, studios, live events and international. For more information about BET, visit www.bet.com and follow @BET on social platforms. For more BET news announcements, follow us on social @BET_PR.

ABOUT "BET HIP HOP AWARDS"

"BET Hip Hop Awards" is an annual celebration that pays homage to a culture that changed the world while highlighting the best in hip hop music. Year after year, BET delivers the best in hip hop for an unforgettable night of performances, cyphers, and tributes honoring hip-hop legends that have and continue to make hip hop culture a global force.

ABOUT JESSE COLLINS ENTERTAINMENT

Founded in 2012, Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE) is a full-service Emmy winning production company that has played an integral role in producing many of television's most memorable moments in music entertainment.  JCE's award-winning and critically acclaimed television includes programming from its three divisions.  From the scripted division: scripted series - Real Husbands of Hollywood, American Soul and miniseries - The New Edition Story and The Bobby Brown Story.  From the unscripted division: unscripted series - Gabrielle Union: My Journey to 50, Oh Hell No! With Marlon Wayans, Cardi Tries, My Killer Body with K. Michelle, DJ Cassidy's Pass the Mic and Forward: The Future of Black Music, competition/game shows - Becoming A Popstar, Rhythm + Flow, Sunday Best, Hip Hop Squares and Nashville Squares, talk shows - Yara Shahidi's Day Off and Face to Face with Becky G, and children's series - Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices (Daytime Emmy Award winner).  From the specials division: award shows - The Emmy Awards, The American Music Awards, BET Awards, Soul Train Awards, BET Hip Hop Awards, Black Girls Rock!, BET Honors, UNCF's An Evening of Stars and ABFF Honors, specials - The Super Bowl Halftime Show (Primetime Emmy Award winner), The Light We Carry: Michelle Obama & Oprah Winfrey (Primetime Emmy(R) Award nominee), Lil Rel Howery: I said it. Y'all thinking it., CNN's Juneteenth: A Global Celebration of Freedom, Martin: The Reunion, John Lewis: Celebrating A Hero, "Love & Happiness: An Obama Celebration", "Change Together: From The March On Washington To Today" A GRAMMY Salute to the Sounds of Change, "Stand Up for Heroes", Dear Mama, Amanda Seales: I Be Knowin', Def Comedy Jam 25, "Leslie Jones: Time Machine", The All-Star Nickmas Spectacular and Rip the Runway.  Emmy winner Jesse Collins, Founder and CEO, is the executive producer of all JCE programming. He is also an executive producer for the Grammy Awards.  Collins produced the 2021 Oscars and 2022 Golden Globes.