Babyface and Busta Rhymes Join Apollo Spring Benefit Honoring Music Legend Clive Davis

Thirteen-time Grammy winner Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and six-time Hip Hop Award recipient Busta Rhymes will take center stage at the 2025 Apollo Spring Benefit, the Apollo Theater announced Wednesday.

The star-studded celebration, set for June 4 at 7 p.m., will honor legendary music executive Clive Davis with the Apollo’s Legacy Award. It will mark the final major fundraiser at the historic venue before it undergoes a full-scale renovation.

Babyface will join Grammy-winning singer Monica to present Davis with the prestigious award, while Busta Rhymes will headline a tribute performance alongside Deborah Cox, Shoshana Bean, and others.

“This will be a powerful celebration of music’s transformative influence on culture,” said Michelle Ebanks, President and CEO of The Apollo. “To see visionary leaders and legendary artists unite on one stage—honoring the remarkable work of Clive Davis, the ingenious spirit of Teyana Taylor, and the iconic legacy of The Apollo—is a deeply meaningful moment.”

The evening will also feature the induction of Clive Davis into the Apollo’s Walk of Fame, with tributes led by L.A. Reid and Larry Jackson, co-founder of Gamma and a former Davis protégé. Davis, whose career spans more than six decades, is credited with launching or revitalizing the careers of countless Black artists, including Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Alicia Keys, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Luther Vandross.

The Apollo will also present its inaugural Innovator Award to Harlem native Teyana Taylor, recognizing her multidisciplinary achievements as a singer, actor, songwriter, and director.

Additional performances will include sets by Martha Redbone, Grammy winner Avery Sunshine, and an opening tribute to the late media executive Richard Parsons featuring The Baylor Project. Camille A. Brown & Dancers—helmed by the four-time Tony-nominated choreographer—will also take the stage. DJ D-Nice will return to host the official after-party.

Proceeds from the Spring Benefit will support The Apollo’s year-round arts, education, and community engagement programs. The upcoming renovation—the first in the 91-year-old theater’s history—aims to modernize the iconic venue while preserving its legacy as a cornerstone of Black artistic excellence.The evening begins with red carpet arrivals at 4:30 p.m., followed by Davis’ induction ceremony at 5:30 p.m., and the main concert and award program at 7:00 p.m.