By Ismael AbduSalaam
A number of rappers will be on hand to honor the legendary Jacksons, at the 8th Annual Urban Music Awards, being held at the Wilshire Theatre in Beverly Hills.
Artists confirmed to attend the BMI Awards include E-40, Mario Winans, DJ Toomp, Lil Wayne, Ne-Yo, Rick Ross, T-Pain, Dallas Austin, Yung Berg, Polow Da Don, Soulja Boy and others.
The award show will be presented by performing rights organization BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc), which represents over 375,000 composers, songwriters, and music publishers across all genres of musical expression.
The Jacksons’ primary lineup featured Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, Randy and Michael from 1969 through 1989.
During that span, the group made history as pop music’s most decorated quintet.
The Jacksons were the first group to have their first four singles hit #1, and went on to secure 17 Top 10 singles over the quintet’s 20 year history.
Those singles featured their biggest hits: “ABC,” “I Want You Back,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There.”
The Jackson’s musical legacy is also felt in Hip-Hop, as their airy, disco-infused grooves and ballads became the foundation for artists such as Jay-Z (“I.Z.Z.O.,” “I Just Wanna Love U”), Naughty By Nature (“O.P.P.”), Mariah Carey (“Honey”), Jadakiss (“Put Your Hands Up”) and Ghostface Killah (“All That I Got Is You”).
The event will be hosted by BMI President and CEO Del Bryant and Vice President Catherine Brewton.
According to The New York Post, tension between Michael and his brothers is running high because they haven’t spoken to their estranged brother for three years - since he was acquitted of child molestation charges in 2005.
Michael, who is reportedly in a wheelchair, allegedly owes his brothers over $840,000 in royalties from their Jackson 5 recordings.
The 8th annual BMI Urban Music Awards begin at 6pm on September 4.