Artist gifted Busta Rhymes a painting. Minutes later, the rapper got on stage and changed his life forever

No matter how far someone may go in life, they should never forget where they started. While climbing the ladder of personal glory and satisfaction, it is important to stay humble. A man did the same and ultimately received his due from none other than his childhood hero. The London-based artist, David Speed—who goes by @davidspeeduk on Instagram—was neither awarded nor nominated for MTV’s “Europe Music Awards (EMAs),” yet his name still came up during the 2024 edition of the globally recognized annual event. A brief backstage interaction with American rapper Busta Rhymes and years of hard work earned him overnight global fame. The artist, known for his neon paintings and teaching style, claimed that a single yet precious shoutout from the hip-hop legend changed his life forever.

A widely circulating video showed a heartfelt exchange between Rhymes and Speed backstage. Both artists were seen shaking hands, with a portrait of the rapper, painted by Speed, in the background. He was invited to the event to create the portrait in his typical style, using light and shade. However, the London resident was surprised when Rhymes showed up backstage to meet him. “We never expected to actually meet him. Then, through a series of luck and coincidence, I got tickets to go and see the show and decided not to go,” Speed explained, adding that he would have missed the opportunity had he been in the audience.

When Busta Rhymes took over the stage to address the gathering after winning the award in the "Global Icon" category, the rapper acknowledged his mom, LL Cool J, and surprisingly, Speed. The footage transitioned to Rhymes’ speech from last year’s EMAs, in which he was heard saying: “I was speaking to a gentleman backstage by the name of David Speed. He's an artist, and he said something that touched my soul tonight. He teaches art to children and he told me, ‘When I teach these children, I show them my trash art from when I first started and how bad my art was. Because when they see the art that I'm doing now... If you don’t show them the process from the foundation and how it evolves—when you stay consistent, passionate and failure is no longer an option—you can become your best self.’”

The artist nearly shed tears when he heard his speech backstage, as shown in the two-minute footage. “To name-check me on a global stage like that just meant so much. It was such a kind thing for him to do, and he called me afterward,” Speed explained further, recalling how they both went to an after-party.

“I think I'm friends with Busta Rhymes now. I think Busta Rhymes might have just changed my life. When one of your heroes believes in you and your work, artist to artist, it gives you confidence that you’re on the right track,” the artist wrote in the description. The wholesome incident drew widespread attention on social media, garnering 139,511 likes. Among the countless reactions, Rhymes confirmed, “You are an incredible human being, brother, and yes, we are friends!” “Hearing Busta Rhymes compliment someone that strongly, after meeting them like an hour before, must be such a powerful thing, and it just shows the power of words,” @lee1ngham echoed these sentiments.

You can follow David Speed (@davidspeeduk) on Instagram for more artistic and uplifting content.