Photos Credit: BMAC
Mona Scott-Young’s Monami Entertainment and hip-hop icon Missy Elliott hosted The Sylvia Rhone Legacy Celebration on Thursday, June 25. The event took place in partnership with the Black Music Action Coalition. The intimate gathering unfolded at The Sun Rose in West Hollywood, bringing together a remarkable roster of artists and executives. Together, they honored Sylvia Rhone for her decades-long influence on the music industry.
A star-studded room came to celebrate her impact
The evening drew an impressive guest list that reflected the breadth of Rhone’s reach across genres. Stevie Wonder, Lil Wayne, Jimmy Jam, Adam Blackstone, FLO, Kenny Latimore, Yo-Yo, Suzanne de Passe, Bryan-Michael Cox, Master P, Too Short and Estelle were among the attendees. Additionally, the celebration received support from Amazon Music, Epic Records and PATRÓN Tequila, underscoring the scale of recognition behind the tribute.
The night opened with welcome remarks from BMAC co-founder Willie “Prophet” Stiggers and Monami Entertainment CEO Mona Scott-Young. Both praised Rhone’s lasting impact. Scott-Young expressed deep gratitude directly to Rhone. She emphasized how loved Rhone is and the scale of her influence across the industry.
Missy Elliott delivered an emotional tribute
Five-time Grammy winner Missy Elliott took the stage with visible emotion. She reflected on a friendship with Rhone that has spanned 30 years. Elliott credited Rhone directly with recognizing potential in her that she had not yet seen in herself. Furthermore, she credited her mentor with helping shape the trajectory of her entire career. Following her speech, Rhone received a special gold plaque from BMAC, Monami Entertainment, the RIAA and Elliott. The plaque was engraved with the signatures of artists Rhone has mentored throughout her career.
Rhone responded by thanking the room. She specifically praised Elliott’s groundbreaking rise in hip-hop, describing how she recognized something powerful in Elliott early on. That potential eventually became undeniable. She also reflected on their collaborative history with pride, noting how Elliott built her career brick by brick into international stardom.
Stiggers also took a moment to acknowledge Rhone’s broader legacy. He described true power as measured not by title but by the doors a person opens. In his view, power also comes from the people who rise because someone believed in them. As a result, he credited Rhone with redefining what leadership looks like across the music business.
Music filled the night with tributes to her legacy
The celebration unfolded inside The Sun Rose’s Live at the Sun Rose music space. Guests mingled over cocktails crafted exclusively with PATRÓN Tequila. Meanwhile, Grammy-winning producer Adam Blackstone curated a live musical tribute. He led the crowd in chants of Rhone’s name while his band backed a series of performances honoring artists and songs she helped bring to the world.
Jessica Betts performed Tracy Chapman’s “Give Me One Reason.” Cam Jackson delivered Giveon’s “Heartbreak Anniversary.” Kaitlen Howard, daughter of the late Miki Howard, performed her mother’s “Come Share My Love.” Terrell Carter performed “Feeling Good,” and husband and wife duo Rafael and Whitney Smith performed Brandy’s “Broken Hearted” alongside the classic “You’re All I Need to Get By.” Jozzy and Rapsody performed Missy Elliott’s “Sock It 2 Me,” and FLO closed out the tribute set with En Vogue’s “Don’t Let Go (Love).”
Kenny Latimore made a surprise appearance. He credited Rhone for recognizing his talent as a songwriter before performing his hit “For You.” Rapper Yo-Yo also performed and shared how Rhone gave her an opportunity that lasted more than 30 years. In one of the evening’s biggest surprises, Stevie Wonder took the stage to deliver a powerful speech thanking Rhone for her heart. Finally, Grammy-winning producer Bryan-Michael Cox closed the night with an exclusive DJ set.
A celebration rooted in BMAC’s broader mission
The tribute reflected BMAC’s ongoing commitment to cultivating emerging Black artists. It also highlighted the organization’s effort to create meaningful opportunities within the music industry. Through events like this one, BMAC continues to highlight how Black music has always represented far more than entertainment. Ultimately, the organization helps artists use their voices to challenge the present and inspire what is possible for the future.
Source: Press release via Monami Entertainment, BMAC
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