The 22nd annual anniversary of the famed BET Awards were aired live from the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles last night. Taraji P. Henson took over the reins of the glittery night as the host.
The build-up was quite modest. Come showtime, the pompous award show lived up to its acclamation on its press release, touted as “culture’s biggest night” honoring “the best, brightest and most beautiful aspects of the Black experience – celebrating the present and the future of Black music by elevating the culture and being a driving force for social change” read a press release. Looking back now, no lie was told. The ceremony was a star-studded event that will be remembered for a long time – and even spawned idyllic moments encrusted in our minds reassuring why we fell in love with the event in the first place.
From musicians, innovators, entertainers, actors, the gala was a memorable occasion starring notable wins for debutant acts such as Tems, back-to-back triumphs for Megan The Stallion, and almost-expected victory laps for the likes of Silk Sonic just to name a few.
Here are some of our favorite moments:
Diddy honored with Lifetime Achievement Award
On the zealous night, Sean “Diddy” Combs was presented with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. The music mogul, entertainment purveyor, and all-round cultural behemoth saw a breathtaking medley in which he run the clock through his career’s evolution assisted by previous collaborators, colleagues, and the BET Network. From the 90’s Uptown Era, to his Bad Boy esteemed aughts, through to his Love Era, the Diddy bops, larger-than-life moments, all packaged into a 12-minute party was one of the best-appointed tributes to a legend like Puff.
In the medley – Jodeci clad in all-black vegan leather costumes set the mood with “Come & Talk to Me”, before Mary J. Blige tore the roof with her My Life number “I’m Goin’ Down”. Love declared “Victory” before a surprise Shyne verse of “Bad Boyz” left us in awe. Only until Lil’ Kim teamed up with The Lox for “It’s All About The Benjamins” as the greats looked impeccable together doing what they do best. Busta Rhymes popped out with his unrivalled hype-man Spliff Star electrifying the room with “Pass the Courvoisier” which they remixed “Pass the Ciroc this way”. This was the perfect segway into the ‘Love Era’ where Diddy brought out none other than Bryson Tiller for their latest single “Gotta Move On”, and then the crescendo of the performance was Diddy’s late ex Kim Porter’s video appearing on the mega screen. “Baby girl Kim, this one’s for you” he said as he went on to spew an emotionally received showing of “I’ll Be Missing You” with legend Faith Evans.
Icons Ye’, Jay-Z, Babyface and more honored the Bad Boy founder with touching messages. Puff thanked everyone from late mentor Andre Harrell, Kim Porter, Biggie, his ex-girlfriend Cassie “for holding me down in the dark times”. It was an emotional rollercoaster even as his current squeeze Yung Miami sat in the crowd front row with a huge red sign that said, “Go Papi!”
Wholesome performances
In a fitting manner, the show recruited today’s contemporary crop of superstars while impartially paying homage to the generational icons that paved the way. From Lizzo’s “About Damn Time” opener on the main stage, to Vicotria Monet and Juvenile rocking The Red Carpet Live!, to the unimaginable pairing of Jack Harlow & Brandy for the No. 1 hit “First Class” after the slaying Weezy performance, the night was not short of elated stage frenzy, surprises and fireworks.
Mariah Carey lending her scintillating vocals to help Best New Artist Latto on “Big Energy (Remix)”, Saucy Santana ripping up the Red Carpet Live! with the viral “Walk” and quaking twerk, Muni Long’s range of a voice, to Chlöe owning her steamy moment, the BET producers deserve their credit for stringing together some of the more noteworthy set lists for a long time. The general matching of old flair and new pizzazz was a treat not many expected to be spoiled with.
Afrobeats finally comes to the party
The amazing trajectory of Afrobeats is a spectacle to behold. The music genre originating from West Africa, more so Nigeria, has been spiralling all over the globe and finally made its way into the BET Main stage deservedly. Singer Tems took home two awards for Best Collaboration alongside Wizkid & Justin Bieber for “Essence” against the tall-ordered competition, and her luck didn’t run out as she coupled it up with Best International Act – becoming the second woman to do so after Sho Madjozi in 2019.
Right after, the Billboard Hot 200 Empire-signed king Fireboy DML hit the stage with his record-breaking party anthem “Peru”, and this was a joy to witness as for the long time the genre has been categorically marginalized from the main stage.
Bloopers make for good laughs
Heralded R&B singer BLEU was at the receiving end of the jokes as he butchered words from the teleprompter. Designated to issue out the Solid Black Changemakers Award, BLEU visibly struggled to read the sentences even making light of it with a chuckle on stage. “Oh they gave me the hardest one” BLEU quipped in his Southern accent as he read a long post on the teleprompter, sending the crowd into a delirium of laughter.
He carried on proficiently and stated in between “Oh I got it. I could read na,” he chimed in once more as the audience gave him a pass, before dishing out the award.
It seemed to be a night of gags and laughs as R&B sensation Giveon took to the stage to perform his fan-favorite ballad “Heartbreak Anniversary” off his When It’s All Said And Done … Take Time GIVÄ’ON LP. The audio production seemed to have sabotaged Giveon during his moment of truth when he was supposed to hit a high note only for the R&B singer to halt midway seemingly not able to hear himself through his earpiece. This brought about ghosts of the Verzuz that took place two nights ago where singer Omarion was caught lacking for lack of preparedness. Unlike O however, Giveon bounced back sending chills down our spines with live renditions of “For Tonight” and “Lie Again”.
Ray J is a whole mood
Ray J can’t seem to catch a break. The “Tie Me Down” artist was living his best life when he was caught enjoying a bowl of Cup Noodles mid-show. Footage of the hilarious entertainer went viral as the Twitterverse had a field day with him for not giving a hoot what people would say about his comical behavior at the show. Fans went as far as saying his sister Brandy had to put on a stellar show because Ray J failed to do so at the Verzuz and now this incident further made him even more frivolous to the internet. However, we stan our Ghetto Fabulous King!
