HIP-HOP LEGEND BUSTA RHYMES WILL RECEIVE
GLOBAL ICON AWARD AT THE 2024 MTV EMAs
MANCHESTER (31 October 2024) - MTV today revealed that Busta Rhymes will receive the Global Icon Award at the 2024 MTV EMAs, live from Manchester’s Co-op Live on Sunday November 10. Alongside his award acceptance, Busta will take over the MTV EMA stage for an epic performance of his greatest hits, including his latest smash, “Do The BusABus Pt.2” which even inspired a viral dance craze.
Busta Rhymes said: “I am beyond honored and grateful to receive the MTV EMA Global Icon Award. This recognition is not only a celebration of my career but also of Hip Hop culture. To be acknowledged on this global stage is a reminder that Hip Hop has no boundaries - and neither do I! ‘Cause THE BLESSINGS DON’T STOP!”
Considered one of the world’s most impactful and influential rappers, Busta’s indomitable music career has seen him become a force of musical nature: the 12-time GRAMMY Award nominee has delivered seven Top 10 debuts on the Billboard 200, more than 10 million album sales and was dubbed “the greatest performer of all time” by JAY-Z, and “one of hip-hop’s greatest visual artists” by MTV.
Over the course of his career, Busta has collaborated with a string of musical giants, from Dr. Dre and Janet Jackson to Kendric Lamar, Eminem, Missy Elliott, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige and Mary Carey to Dave Chappelle, Ozzy Osbourne and Chris Rock. Busta’s latest, self-executive produced hit album “BLOCKBUSTA” saw him team up with Pharrell, Timbaland and Swizz Beatz. Meanwhile, on the horizon is Busta’s 12th highly anticipated studio album “Dragon Season”. Manchester is in for a treat!
The 2024 MTV EMAs will broadcast live on MTV in more than 150 countries on Sunday 10th November from Manchester’s Co-op Live, in addition to being available in multiple international territories on Pluto TV, and on demand on Paramount+.
As well as Busta Rhymes, performing on the night are Benson Boone, LE SSERAFIM, Peso Pluma, MTV EMA Pop Pioneers Award recipients Pet Shop Boys, RAYE, Shawn Mendes, Teddy Swims, The Warning and Tyla.
Fans can vote for their favorites across categories including “Best Song,” “Best Artist,” “Best Collaboration” at www.mtvema.com until 00:00 CET on November 6. The “Biggest Fans” winners will be voted for at a later date on social via @MTVEMA.
The 2024 MTV EMAs is sponsored by Meerchat from Compare the Market, Hotels.com and Paramount+.
About the 2024 MTV EMAS
The 2024 MTV EMAs will broadcast LIVE across the globe on Sunday 10th November from Manchester, UK. One of the biggest global music events that celebrates the world’s most iconic artists, the MTV EMAs bring fans a unique, multi-platform experience across MTV’s global network in nearly 150 countries. Follow @MTVEMA on Facebook, X and Instagram and join the conversation with #MTVEMA. Bruce Gillmer and Richard Godfrey are Executive Producers for the 2024 MTV EMAs. Debbie Phillips and Chloe Mason are Producers.
About Manchester
Manchester is recognised around the globe for its rich music history and heritage which cuts across musical genres and takes in live performances as well as a legendary nightclubbing scene. Situated in the North West of England Manchester's population and economy are amongst the fastest growing in Europe. Over the last 25 years it has been transformed from a struggling post-industrial city with a declining population to the UK's fastest-growing city playing a confident role on the international stage. In 2019, Manchester was listed by the Confederation of British Industry as the second largest creative city in Europe after London with a GVA to the city's economy of £1.4 billion. Manchester was host city for the 2002 Commonwealth Games and the city's bi-annual Manchester International Festival, first held in 2007, is now one of the world's leading arts festivals and the first to be entirely focused on the commissioning and producing of new original work, much of which goes on to be seen by audiences in cities around the world. Manchester has been a UNESCO City of Literature since 2017, and joined the international Music Cities Network in 2019. It has also just been designated a UNESCO City of Lifelong Learning.
About Co-op Live
Co-op Live is a £365m, 23,500 capacity premier venue located on the Etihad Campus in the heart of Manchester. It features over 120 nights a year of unique entertainment. Co-op Live emerges as the newest and largest arena in the UK, a testament to the unrivalled partnership between Oak View Group (OVG), City Football Group (CFG), Harry Styles, and Co-op. Distinguished as a world-class, planet-friendly venue deeply rooted in the local community, Co-op Live is poised to become one of the world’s most sustainable and socially responsible venues delivering on Co-op’s vision of a fairer world within the entertainment industry. With an impressive array of 32 food and drink concessions, including bars, premium restaurants, lounges, and club spaces, Co-op Live sets the standard for live entertainment in the music industry today. Venue excellence extends to the innovative ‘Smart Bowl’ design with cutting edge technology and state-of-the-art acoustics, crafted to offer an intimate and immersive sensory experience for all patrons.
Visit cooplive.com, and follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
About Meerchat from Compare the Market
Compare the Market was launched in 2006 and has grown rapidly over the past eighteen years to become one of the UK’s leading price comparison websites. Compare the Market provides customers with an easy way to make the right choice for them on a wide range of products including motor, home, life, travel and pet insurance as well as utilities and money products such as credit cards and loans. Introduced in 2024, Meerchat is Compare the Market’s entertainment show hosted by Aleksandr, the UK’s most famous meerkat, as he interviews his famous friends and international stars.
About Hotels.com™
Hotels.com makes it easy to find your perfect somewhere with hundreds of thousands of places to stay around the world. So, whether you’re looking for value in Vegas, treehouses in Thailand or villas with views, it’s all just a click away. And with our rewards program, members save an average of 10% or more on thousands of hotels. Booking just got smarter too. With over 25 million real guest reviews and an app so easy to use that it’s been downloaded 70 million times, you can be sure to find the perfect place for you.
About Paramount+
Paramount+, a direct-to-consumer digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, combines live sports, breaking news and A Mountain of Entertainment™. The premium streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel. Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, the service's cornerstone plan, is also home to SHOWTIME® content, including scripted hits, critically acclaimed nonfiction projects, SHOWTIME SPORTS® (including industry-leading SHOWTIME BOXING®) and films. This premium plan includes unmatched events and sports programming through the local live CBS stream, including golf, basketball and more, plus streaming access to CBS News Network for 24/7 news and CBS Sports HQ for sports news and analysis. For more information about Paramount+, please visit www.paramountplus.com and follow @ParamountPlus on social platforms.
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Notes to Editors
Previous editions of the MTV EMAs have taken place in the following cities:
Berlin, Paris, London, Rotterdam, Milan, Dublin, Stockholm, Frankfurt, Barcelona, Edinburgh, Rome, Lisbon, Copenhagen, Munich, Liverpool, Madrid, Belfast, Amsterdam, Glasgow, Bilbao, Seville, Budapest, Dusseldorf.
Press Contacts
MTV EMAs:
polly.stevens@paramount.com / harriet.scott@paramount.com
MTV UK:
julia.besley@paramount.com / harriet.otoo@paramount.com
Manchester City Council:
jane.lemon@manchester.gov.uk
Co-op Live:
btipple@cooplive.com