YouTube Music Brings Out Atlanta’s Drippiest Icons To Swanky ‘Leaders & Legends’ Ball

Source: Paras Griffin/ Getty Images For YouTube Music / Getty

YouTube Music Hosts 2020 Leaders & Legends Ball Celebrating 30 Year Legacy Of LaFace Records

Wednesday night YouTube Music hosted the 2020 Leaders & Legends Ball in Atlanta celebrating the 30-year legacy of LaFace Records and honoring music veterans Babyface and LA Reid.

Source: Paras Griffin/ Getty Images For YouTube Music / Getty

The black-tie gala was introduced by YouTube Music’s Lyor Cohen and Tuma Basa, and several Atlanta music legends were in attendance including: Monica, Big Boi, TI, Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris, Future and more.

Source: Paras Griffin/ Getty Images For YouTube Music / Getty

The evening was capped off by special award presentations made to Edmonds and Reid for the storied careers and performances by Atlanta’s legendary acts including Big Boi, Pastor Troy, KP the Great, Goodie Mob, CeeLo, Killer Mike and TI. Other notable attendees and guest appearances included Ludacris, 2Chainz, Jermaine Dupri, Future, Rick Ross, Da Brat, YoungBloodZ, Sleepy Brown, Rico Wade, Dallas Austin, and more.

Source: Paras Griffin/ Getty Images For YouTube Music / Getty

Hit the flip for more great moments from the night.

Source: Paras Griffin/ Getty Images For YouTube Music / Getty

On Babyface and LA Reid’s impact on the city of Atlanta:

Tuma Basa, Director of Urban Music at YouTube: ”

The reason we’re here is because 30 years ago, LA and Babyface chose Atlanta to start LaFace Records. They embraced the homegrown talent and built a blueprint for all of us to follow. When you’re a music programmer or a DJ, you try to break a song. The song has to be right and then it pops because it’s time. What happened 30 years ago is that LA and Babyface came to Atlanta, a city that was ripe, and broke the city.

Source: Paras Griffin/ Getty Images For YouTube Music / Getty

LA Reid, co-founder of LaFace Records told the audience:

We’re not from Atlanta, but the city opened its arms to us and it didn’t have to. Atlanta never made us feel like outsiders and as a result we were able to give that back by giving opportunities to young aspiring artists like Jermaine Dupri and Dallas Austin and Rico Wade who are real geniuses. The real measure of a record executive is the ability to bump up against genius and I’m proud to say I started my career bumping up next to the greatest songwriter ever [Babyface]. It doesn’t get better, but Dallas measured up and Jermaine measured up and Organized Noize measured up. They gave us greatness and music that will live forever. So, I’m thankful to Atlanta for embracing us.

Source: Paras Griffin/ Getty Images For YouTube Music / Getty

Babyface, co-founder of LaFace Records told guests:

The thing that keeps sticking with me when I Iook across this room and see all the talent — if we had anything to do with inspiring this — to me that’s God’s blessing. When amazing things are happening you don’t always realize it. When we came down to Atlanta, we were just trying to make some music. I didn’t have it in my head that we were going to make this the greatest label of all time, but in that journey, were able to meet amazing people. I’ve never seen a music label like this where people didn’t want to go home. The thing that stayed with me is that that feeling of having something to be proud. It wasn’t just a record company. People were proud to say that they worked for LaFace. I feel blessed to have written the songs I wrote, but I’m just as blessed to have known and worked with the people at LaFace and to be a part of this city. There is no place like Atlanta and I don’t think there ever will be.

Source: Paras Griffin/ Getty Images For YouTube Music / Getty

When Monica hit the stage, she told the crowd:

We were always told what we couldn’t do, but being in this room reminds me what we can do. You don’t see us fighting often in Atlanta. We come from a place where we don’t see silver spoons until we can purchase them ourselves. We support, love and uplift everyone. I don’t need to know you to love you.. We will always welcome you to Atlanta because we feel like we can grow people from everywhere.