Watch Diddy Surprise Lil’ Kim at VH1 Hip Hop Honors

Sean Diddy Combs made a surprise appearance at VH1 Hip Hop Honors: All Hail the Queens Monday night.

After paying tribute to the other honorees — Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah and Salt-N-Pepa — Diddy explained who he was there for. 

“I flew in here tonight to honor my sister, Lil’ Kim,” he said. “The way you walk, the way you talk. You always pushed the envelope. There’s only one Queen Bee.”

He continued, “As soon as I heard her rhyme. It was something I had never seen or heard before. I knew she was going to be a superstar.”

“He told me that he had something to do and wasn’t going to be able to make it!” said an overwhelmed Lil’ Kim.

The televised event, which honored the above icons for their successes in a male-dominated hip hop industry, was a tribute to the women of hip hop.

In addition to themes of female empowerment from all the honorees, Common was one of several stars to address the Black Lives Matter movement and events of the last week in Louisiana, Minnesota, and Dallas.

“I’m also talking about everyday women,” he said while paying tribute to Queen Latifah. “Women like Diamond Reynolds, who filmed the police killing [Philando Castile].”

When it came time for Queen Latifah to take the stage, the Oscar-nominated singer-actress addressed the current racial climate, saying “racism is still alive and kicking.” 

Black Lives Matter founders Alicia Garza and Darnell Moore opened the show, calling for “love, not violence.”

The 2016 VH1 Hip Hop Honors made its return after a six-year hiatus when it aired live from New York’s David Geffen Hall at the Lincoln Center on July 11.

Watch Diddy’s surprise below.

This story originally appeared on Billboard.com.