Legendary singer Bobby Brown and producer/artist Pharrell Williams are among the 2023 Urban One Honors nominees.
Brown, a founding member of New Edition and a multi-platinum solo superstar, will receive the first-ever Phoenix Award for “his enduring spirit to rise despite great loss and hardship.”
A&E documented Brown’s decades-long career, emphasizing his personal and professional highs and lows, in Biography: Bobby Brown, a two-part feature film that debuted last spring.
Brown will rejoin his New Edition bandmates on the Legacy Tour, kicking off March 9, at Colonial Life Arena, in Columbia, South Carolina. Their upcoming tour follows 2022’s Culture Tour, which included special guests Charlie Wilson and Jodeci.
Pharrell will receive the Music Innovation Honor.
As one half of The Neptunes, Pharrell has extensive songwriting and production credits working with artists from all genres, mainly R&B, such as SWV, Total, Kelis, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Ray J and Mariah Carey, among others.
Pharrell branched off as a solo act, making the biggest splash in 2014 with his chart-topping hit “Happy” and its award-winning parent album Girl.
Staying current, Pharrell has recently collaborated behind the board with Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Lucky Daye, Snoh Aalegra, Pusha T and Omar Apollo, to name a few.
Elsewhere in the awards ceremony, Congresswoman Maxine Waters will be recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Honor, while L.L. Cool J will be presented with the Entertainment Icon Honor.
Tamela and David Mann will take home the Inspirational Impact Honor. Tamela spoke to Rated R&B about her last album, Overcomer, in August 2021.
T.I., Kool Moe Dee, Marvin Sapp, Keke Wyatt, Monie Love, Doug E. Fresh and DJ Spinderella are set to give musical performances.
Hosted by Tank, the 2023 Urban One Honors airs Monday, Jan. 16, at 7 p.m. ET on TV One.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
