2025 Respect Awards: Clipse, Key Glock and Corey Paul duke it out

Aaron McKrell
Jan 22
10 min read

This is the second annual Respect Awards. The first was published on Aaron McKrell’s Substack called Respect and can be found here.

A side-by-side graphic of photos of Future and Sol from "8 Mile."

Red Carpet

It’s a frigid January morning in Detroit. Future and Sol from the movie “8 Mile” stand outside a building and survey an eerily quiet street. The “red carpet” before them is three red yoga mats unrolled on the sidewalk. No one is walking on the yoga mats.

Sol rubs his hands together and exhales heavily, his breath visible in the single-digit temperature.

Sol: Another year, and “The Fall-Off” still ain’t here. He’s saying February.

Future: Bro, we’re hosting the Respect Awards again. I’d say the fall-off is happening right now.

Sol rolls his eyes.

Future: I’m just saying, it’s like Rabbit said. You ever think we should stop trying to live up here-

Future holds his hand up flat at eye-level.

Future: -and start living down here?

Future drops his hand down by his shoulder. Sol looks sideways at him.

Sol: It’s 7:30 in the mornin’, dogg.

Future: That’s another thing. Why is this award show being hosted at 7:30 in the morning?

Sol: Only slot Aaron could get. They got a Simple Plan tribute band playing tonight.

Future: A Simp- man, let’s get in there! Free parking ends at nine.

Sol: I got you. Roll up those mats. I gotta downward-face dog later.

Opening Monologue

Future and Sol stand on the stage at The Shelter. Rows of gray metal folding chairs are lined up on the audience floor. Six people are strewn about the chairs.

Future: Welcome to the 2nd annual Respect Awards! I’m Future-

Sol: And I’m Sol-

Future and Sol: And we’re here to honor the best hip-hop had to offer in 2025!

Sol: And it’ll be a Solful event!

Future narrows his eyes.

Future: We talked about this. It’s not the venue.

Sol: So you can make “Future” puns, but I can’t play off my name?

Future: Anyways…2025 saw youngsters rise, mainstays reign and legends return.

Sol: And from Memphis to the U.K., there was plenty of dope music along the way.

Someone from the audience raises their hand.

Future: Uh, yes sir?

Audience member: I’m Lonnie, and today I’m celebrating nine years sober.

Future: Four doors down, Lonnie.

Lonnie and two others get up to leave.

Sol: Great. Our audience has been cut in half.

Future: Let’s hurry up before the rest bounce.

Song Components Awards

Future: OK, presenting our first award of the evening is Carlton Banks from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air!”

Tom Jones’ “It’s Not Unusual” blares over the loudspeakers as a short man in a yellow cardigan does the “Carlton Dance” across the stage.

Carlton: Over the centuries, many men and women have been credited with famous utterances that have found their way into the history books. Take Patrick Henry, for example-

Sol clears his throat pointedly.

Carlton: Oh, right. Sorry, big guy. So anyways, here are the nominees for the Prodigy Award for Line of the Year:

JID - “I’ll put a bullet in Bob the fuckin’ Builder/’Fore they try and kick us out the building, what about the children?” from “Community”

Malice - “See, mine made sure he had every base covered/So imagine his pain findin’ base in the cupboard,” from “The Birds Don’t Sing”

Pusha T - “She want that, Mike Tyson, blow to the face,” from “M.T.B.T.T.F.”

Pusha T - “The Bezos of the nasal, that’s case closed/Got a team full of J. Bo’s on they toes,” from “M.T.B.T.T.F.”

Carlton: And the winner is…Malice, for his couplet on “The Birds Don’t Sing.”

No one comes to the stage.

Sol: He’s not-

Carlton: I know, I know. No one comes to this thing. Hilary told me. So what do I-

Future: There’s a milk crate backstage. Just drop the trophy in there.

Carlton exits.

Sol: Powerful words from Malice. Those are the kind of bars that stick with you.

Future: You know what else sticks with you?

Sol: I told you, bro. Gina’s lying her ass off. I went to the clinic, got tested, and-

Future: Not that, moron. A good hook.

Sol: Oh, right. Yeah, so here to present the Nate Dogg Award for Hook of the Year is Deebo from "Friday!"

Ominous keys start playing out of nowhere as Deebo walks onstage like the Terminator and uppercuts Sol in the chin. He goes flying.

Deebo: That’s my mic, punk!

Future stands over Sol.

Future: You got knocked the-

Deebo: Stop. Now, the nominees for this award are:

Bobby Hebb and Key Glock - “Sunny Dayz”

Frankie Gilbert - “Ruby Mae”

Key Glock - “The Grinch”

Saba - “a FEW songs”

Deebo: And the winner is, Saba, “a FEW songs.”

The Shelter is deathly quiet. Deebo glares at the audience and drops the mic. Sol picks himself up off the stage and grabs the mic.

Sol: Aaron doesn’t pay us enough for this.

Future: Don’t lie to these people, man. We’re not getting paid. Saba did his thing, though, so don’t worry Sol. “It is temporary….”

Sol waves him off.

Sol: So the presenter for the next two awards was going to be Brooklyn from "ATL," but he got fired. Again.

Future: So, on his behalf, allow me to present the nominees for the André 3000 Award for Feature of the Year:

Kendrick Lamar - Clipse’s “Chains & Whips”

Mac Miller - Big L’s “Forever,”

T.I. - Lecrae’s “Headphones”

Wretch 32 - Little Simz’s “Blood”

Future: And the winner is, Wretch 32, Little Simz’s “Blood” for his part on a creative concept of a dialogue between a brother and sister!

Sol: Bet. And the next award is the Eminem Award for Verse of the Year. The nominees are:

JID - Verse 1 of "Community"

Little Simz and Wretch 32 - Verse 3 of “Blood”

Malice - Verse 2 of “The Birds Don’t Sing”

Pusha T - Verse 1 of “M.T.B.T.T.F.”

Sol: The award goes to the milk crate for Little Simz and Wretch 32, Verse 3 of “Blood”

Future: How sweet for those two. I love that they played siblings on that track. I wish I had a sister.

Sol: I could be your sister.

Sol goes to wrap Future in a bear hug. Future shoves him away.

Future: Man, get off me!

Sol shakes his head.

Sol: We accept the love we think we deserve. This is why you’re alone.

Future: You know who’s not alone, though? People who rap and sing together! Stay tuned for the Best Rapping/Singing Record after the janitor spends five minutes mopping the floor.

A janitor in her fifties pushes a mop bucket across the floor and gets to work.

Sol: Hurry up, Janice.

Janice: What did you say to me, boy?

Sol: Sorry, Mom.

The Melody Awards (and a Comeback Award there was no other place for)

Future: We’re back, with 57 minutes until my car gets towed!

Sol: Here to present the award for Best Rapping-Singing Record is Smiley from “Training Day!”

Smiley walks up to the stage.

Smiley: So, the Respect Awards, huh? Good thing Alonzo’s not here to present, because he don’t respect nada. That’s why I never shake his hand. But here we go with the nominees for the “All I Need” Award for Best Rapping-Singing Record:

Clipse featuring Pharrell - “By The Grace of God”

Corey Paul featuring Frankie Gilbert - “Ruby Mae”

Saba & No I.D. featuring Love Mansuy, Ogi and Smino - “a FEW songs”

Saba & No I.D. featuring BJ The Chicago Kid and Eryn Allen Kane - “Every Painting Has a Price”

Smiley: And the victor is Corey Paul featuring Frankie Gilbert, “Ruby Mae.”

Smiley turns to Future and Sol.

Smiley: Hey guys, that song is a real gem, huh?

Smiley elbows Future.

Smiley: Get it? Ruby? Gem?

Smiley starts laughing hysterically. Future turns to Sol.

Future: See what you started? OK, so I’ll be presenting the Nas Award for Comeback of the Year. The nominees are:

Chance the Rapper

Clipse

G Herbo

Mobb Deep

Sol: RUN! PRODIGY CAME BACK FROM THE DEAD! ZOMBIE RAPPER! ZOMBIE RAPPER!

Sol tries to army roll off the stage and faceplants. Future shakes his head.

Future: Sol. It’s fine. I meant comeback as in musically.

For the second time of the morning Sol picks himself up off the floor.

Sol: I knew that. Theatrics, that’s all.

Future: I can present the award now?

Sol: Go ‘head.

Future: And the winner is Clipse! Good call. What time is it, Sol?

Sol: 8:18.

Future: Forty-two minutes. Can you present the next two? We gotta speed this up.

Sol limps back up to the stage.

Sol: Got it. DJ Premier Award for Beat of the Year nominees:

Bankroll Got It - Key Glock’s “Sunny Dayz”

Oh Ross - Key Glock’s “The Grinch”

Pharrell - Clipse’s “M.T.B.T.T.F.”

Pluss - Lecrae and Jackie Hill Perry’s “Tell No Lie”

Sol: Taking the award is Oh Ross, Key Glock’s “The Grinch” for that smooth sample of Curtis Mayfield’s “Little Child Runnin' Wild.”

And the nominees for the Dr. Dre Award for Producer of the Year are:

BoX

No I.D.

Oh Ross

Pharrell

Sol: Once again, the award goes to Oh Ross for his supremely soulful work on Key Glock’s album. And I think I’m bleeding internally from that fall off the stage, so we’ll take another break as I pass out.

Future: Ha! Fall off.

The Big Four

Future: Welcome back to the Respect Awards, where we just have four awards left to give out-

Sol: Thank God.

Future: Thank God is right, and with that said, we’ll go on to our next presenter, who is “Gangster standing at bar” from “New Jack City.”

Sol: Yeesh, we’re really scraping the bottom of the barrel, aren’t we? Gangster standing at bar?

Future: Hey, he fought Sugar Ray Robinson, give ‘im a break.

Gangster standing at bar shows up with a big cigar in his mouth and amusement in his eyes.

Gangster standing at bar: I remember those cheers, they still ring in my ears, much like rap hits from over the years. So now I’d like to announce the nominees for the “In Da Club” Award for Hit of the Year because-

Gangster standing at bar throws his arms out in front of him and grins around his cigar.

Gangster standing at bar: That’s entertainment!

Future: You think anyone’s gonna get this reference?

Sol: Ehh, they have the internet. Google will do the heavy lifting.

Gangster standing at bar: The nominees are:

Doechii - “Anxiety”

Gelo - “Tweaker”

Lil Wayne featuring BigXthaPlug and Jay Jones - “Hip-Hop”

Megan Thee Stallion - “Lover Girl”

Gangster standing at bar: And the winner is, Doechii, “Anxiety” for turning a song about a heavy, relatable topic into a bop.

Sol: We got anymore presenters?

Future: Tapped out.

Sol: That’s OK, the word count for this is getting entirely too high.

Future: What?

Sol: Nothing. OK, so allow me to present the nominees for “The Message” Award for Song of the Year:

JID - “Community”

Key Glock - “The Grinch”

Corey Paul featuring Frankie Gilbert - “Ruby Mae”

Saba & No I.D. featuring Love Mansuy, Ogi and Smino - “a FEW songs”

Sol: And the winner is… Corey Paul featuring Frankie Gilbert, “Ruby Mae” for being the most moving, beautiful song released this year!

Future: Doesn’t hurt that the gospel beat goes, either.

But now, the nominees for the "Illmatic" Award for Album of the Year are:

Clipse - “Let God Sort Em Out”

Key Glock - “Glockaveli”

Corey Paul - “Diane’s Baby”

Saba & No I.D. - “From the Private Collection of Saba and No I.D.”

Future: And the Respect trophy goes to…Key Glock, "Glockaveli."

Sol: So soulful with a smooth flow, tight lyrics and no weak links across 18 tracks!

Future: That’s right, but now it’s time for the biggest award of the night.

Sol: We bring to you-

Future: The nominees-

Sol and Future: For the 2Pac Award for Rapper of the Year:

Future: Key Glock-

Sol: Malice-

Future: Corey Paul-

Sol: And Pusha T

Future: And the winner is…

Sol and Future: Malice!!!!

Sol: That man wasted not one bar on “Let God Sort Em Out.”

Future: Time and My Man Upstairs have been good to that dude.

Sol: Well, that’s all folks, we’d like to thank you for-

An elderly, balding man named Jerry with a thin, angry face appears in the back.

Jerry: HEY!

Future: Uh-oh.

Sol: Jerry, it’s not what you think.

Jerry: So you didn’t take these chairs from my 7:30 AA meeting?

Sol and Future look at each other.

Sol: It’s exactly what you think.

Future: Wait, what time is it?

Jerry: 9:06.

Wide-eyed, Future looks at Sol, who returns his look with an apologetic glance.

Sol: Sorry, dogg, my watch is slow.

Future: My car!

2025 Respect Awards Complete List of Winners and Nominees

Prodigy Award for Line of the Year:

JID - “I’ll put a bullet in Bob the fuckin’ Builder/’Fore they try and kick us out the building, what about the children?” from "Community"
Malice - “See, mine made sure he had every base covered/So imagine his pain findin’ base in the cupboard,” from “The Birds Don’t Sing”
Pusha T - “She want that, Mike Tyson, blow to the face,” from “M.T.B.T.T.F.”
Pusha T - “The Bezos of the nasal, that’s case closed/Got a team full of J. Bo’s on they toes,” from “M.T.B.T.T.F.”

Nate Dogg Award for Hook of the Year:

Bobby Hebb and Key Glock on “Sunny Dayz”
Frankie Gilbert on “Ruby Mae”
Key Glock on “The Grinch”
Saba on “a FEW songs”

André 3000 Award for Feature of the Year:

Kendrick Lamar on “Chains & Whips”
Mac Miller on Big L’s “Forever”
T.I. on Lecrae’s “Headphones”
Wretch 32 on Little Simz’s “Blood”

Eminem Award for Verse of the Year:

JID, Verse 1 of “Community”
Little Simz and Wretch 32, Verse 3 of “Blood”
Malice, Verse 2 of “The Birds Don’t Sing”
Pusha T, Verse 1 of “M.T.B.T.T.F”

“All I Need” Award for Best Rapping-Singing Song:

Clipse featuring Pharrell, “By The Grace Of God”
Corey Paul featuring Frankie Gilbert, “Ruby Mae”
Saba & No I.D. featuring Love Mansuy, Ogi and Smino, “a FEW songs”
Saba & No I.D. featuring BJ The Chicago Kid and Eryn Allen Kane, “Every Painting Has a Price”

Nas Award for Comeback of the Year: