When Jamie Foxx first announced that J. Cole was taking to the stage, you might have been taken by surprise to find Wale sitting in front of a television set as the intro to Cole’s album played on in the backdrop. Soon, Canadian crooner Daniel Caesar would be on television screens to deliver on the hook found on Cole’s “FRIENDS” before “Choose Wisely” would flash on a screen, thereby introducing Cole to the stage to deliver on a performance that included a host of young dancers clad in all-white as Cole delivered on his anti-drug message.
The performance was a fitting introduction to DJ Khaled who would soon appear onstage to accept his award for Best Collaboration for “Wild Thoughts,” delivering on a speech aimed at the youth while accompanied by his son Asahd. “Big up the young world, all the young kids, the young geniuses. All of y’all are leaders. All of y’all are kings and queens, and we love you.”
His sentiments would be echoed when SZA took home her first major award for Best New Artist, acknowledging the honor as such as reminding the viewers at home to believe in themselves. “Anybody that’s watching […] just in the world lost follow your passion, ignore everyone, try to stay in gratitude. It will make the wack stuff feel better.”
