Chance The Rapper Wins Humanitarian Of The Year BET Award

CHICAGO, IL — On top of being named Best New Artist, Chance the Rapper was awarded the Humanitarian Award at the 2017 BET Awards in Los Angeles Sunday night for "positively impacting both local and national communities."

At age 24, he became the youngest ever recipient of the award in its 16-year history. In an acceptance speech he said was spontaneous, Chance (born Chancelor Johnathan Bennett) described the experience as overwhelming.

"It feels a little early to get something like this, but my God doesn't make mistakes," he said. "And I like to think that he's putting this enormous pressure on me to see how I react." He said he was reminded of a message from a friend that one must work on oneself before helping the world. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for Chicago — or your neighborhood. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

"I want to be a better father...I want to be a better big cousin....I want to be more involved outside of just my community in Chicago," he said. "I'm a good man, and I'm going to be a better man."

Chance was introduced by a taped video message from former First Lady Michelle Obama, who described him as an "outstanding role model and an inspiration to all of us who care about our next generation."

"In addition to making some really amazing music, Chance has been taking that big bright spotlight that follows him around and shining it on our hometown of Chicago," Obama said. "Chance is showing our young people that they matter, they have something inside of them that is worthy of being expressed."

Chance donated $1 million to Chicago Public Schools and met with Gov. Bruce Rauner in March, led a march to the voting booths on Election Day last year and has been engaged in artistic and entrepreneurial development of young people in Chicago for years.

The rapper touched on some matters of public policy in his speech. He advocated releasing people imprisoned for dealing marijuana before cannabis is legalized, discouraged Chicago Public Schools from taking a loan from Chase Bank and told judges "we just need a conviction."

Watch Chance the Rapper's full BET Humanitarian Award acceptance speech and Michelle Obama's introduction below:

Chance The Rapper's speech after receiving the BET Humanitarian Award. pic.twitter.com/d4VI2fAyCs
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Top photo: Chance the Rapper | via YouTube