On Tuesday, May 10, the BET Hip-Hop Awards returned to television with a handful of producer tributes, performances from rising artists and a special look at the three-part Rap City documentary. During the ceremony’s broadcast, Timbaland and Swizz Beatz graced the stage to celebrate Marley Mal, host cyphers and tease the return of their live music celebration series — Verzuz.
“My brother [and I] created something special and it ain’t over. [It’s] Black owned. [It’s] Verzuz. [It’s] Swizz Beatz [and I]. I’m glad to share this with my brother,” Timbaland said as he and Swizz Beatz accepted the Rock The Bells Cultural Influence Award.
“Like Tim said, we own Verzuz again. We [were] quiet for a minute, but we’re gonna come back strong and show you what it is. That wasn’t just something for the pandemic. That’s something for the world,” Swizz Beatz added.
Verzuz was born during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the world searched for entertainment through their digital devices, Timbaland and Swizz Beatz produced online music battles in which artists would play 20 of their greatest hits against each other. Along the way, Teddy Riley, Babyface, Sean Garrett, The Dream, T-Pain, Scott Storch and countless others participated in the live music celebration series. Unfortunately, Verzuz slowed in 2022 as Timbaland and Swizz Beatz were embroiled in a legal battle with their business associates at Triller. By September of last year, both sides were able to reach an amicable agreement that has seemingly paved the way for the series to return in the future.
