‘Not On My Watch:’ Kevin Liles Vows To Keep Fighting Against Courts Using Black Artists’ Lyrics As Confessions Of Crimes

Last night, Coco Jones and Kenny Burns co-hosted the Second Annual Black Music Action Coalition Awards Gala in Los Angeles. Held at The Beverly Hilton, the event recognized the impact of execs, artists, content creators and legal and legislative leaders working to make the music industry more equitable for Black artists in particular.

Among the honorees this year was Kevin Liles, CEO of 300 Entertainment, who received the BMAC Social Impact Award for his advocacy for artists like Young Thug and Gunna who are currently facing controversial RICO charges.

“As African Americans we don’t do this alone. If we’re blessed with success shouldn’t we take on the burden of responsibility?” Liles said in accepting his award. “For my foreseeable future, my leg of the baton is focused on protecting Black art and protecting each of you.”

Speaking on the way the legal system has used Black artists’ — particularly Black rappers’ — creative artistic expression against them, Liles added, “Scholars around the world have tracked over 500 cases on Black and Brown people subjected to a double standard treating their art as confessions in court rooms. This doesn’t happen if you’re white. Not ever.

“I’ve got a crew of people that can’t be fathers to their children, that can’t hold their mother’s hand when she’s sick and suffering from disease and they’re chumped up on charges of lyrics. What they’re doing to us is attaching systemic racism policies to come at the number one music genre in the world. So, thinking about that baton, I said what about the next generation of people? And I said, ‘F-ck it, not on my watch.’ If you need a righteous cause, if you need somebody that wants to lead by example, I’m going to walk, I’m going to march, I’m going to run and do whatever I’ve got to do because we’re going to get this done. We’re going to protect Black art. We’re going to protect each other. God bless Hip-Hop.”

Also in attendance at last night’s event were Anthony Anderson who presented Liles with his award and Tyler The Creator, who made the presentation for Tim Hinshaw and the Amazon Music team. Congresswoman Maxine Waters, who couldn’t be in attendance received the BMAC Icon Award while Nikole Hannah-Jones, who also shared her remarks remotely, received the BMAC Change Agent Award. Scroll below to see the full list of awardees in attendance at last night’s gala.

01

Lil Baby: Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award

02

Harvey Mason Jr., Valeisha Butterfield Jones & Panos Panay: BMAC Social Impact Award

03

Joi Brown: BMAC Change Agent Award

04

Jon Platt: Clarence Avant Trailblazer Award

05

Brittany K. Barnett: BMAC Change Agent Award

06

Tim Hinshaw, Rochelle Balogun, Josh Beas and Sierra Lever: BMAC Social Impact Award

07

Shirley Halperin and Gail Mitchell: BMAC 365 Award

08

David Ali: BMAC BLACK: Future. Now. Award