At the 2026 Grammy Awards, Pharrell Williams accepted the prestigious Dr. Dre Global Impact Award with grace, gratitude, and a nod to his musical heroes.
Before he even took the mic, rap legend Q-Tip introduced Pharrell, setting the stage for a tribute that blended deep respect with heartfelt memories.
A Long Way to Greatness
Pharrell reflected on his youth, waking up at dawn to catch rap videos on MTV with longtime friend Pusha T. He spoke about those mornings spent listening to The Chronic and 2001, records that shaped his sound and vision.
“Now I get to hold this award that is signatory of one of the greatest producers of all time, Dr. Dre”, Pharrell said. “The greatest”.
Dr. Dre, seated in the audience, was visibly emotional. He saluted Pharrell from his seat, acknowledging the moment shared between two generations of groundbreaking producers.
Respect Across Generations
Though the spotlight was on him, Pharrell turned it outward. He gave thanks to Q-Tip, Dr. Dre, and the artists who paved the way for hip hop’s creative evolution. His humility echoed the spirit of the award itself: recognising those who push boundaries and influence the world beyond music.
The Global Impact Award was renamed in 2023 to honour Dr Dre, who received it that year. Now carrying his name, the award serves to spotlight Black artists who’ve helped shape culture through sound and vision.
Pharrell reunites with Clipse on Grammy stage
Pharrell’s longtime collaborators, Clipse, Pusha T and Malice, joined him at the ceremony. Their new album Let God Sort ’Em Out, produced by Pharrell, was nominated for Best Rap Album this year. Though it didn’t win, the trio reunited for a powerful performance, which boiled decades of collaboration and mutual respect down to several minutes on the Grammy stage.
