On Sunday evening, The 19th edition of the BET Awards hosted by Regina Hall took place at the Microsoft Theater in L.A. the award ceremony featured a number of contemporary pop and rap artists who have been dominating the charts throughout the year.
The awards, which celebrate the best in black American entertainment, paid tribute to the rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was shot and killed in Los Angeles in March. He was named best male hip-hop artist, and also given a special humanitarian award, to acknowledge the work he had done on social mobility in the city. John Legend and DJ Khaled performed a musical tribute to Hussle, and the red carpet at the Microsoft theatre in Los Angeles was turned blue, to acknowledge the gang colours of the Crip gang he grew up with.
The Awards red carpet always delivers some of the most memorable looks and you can always count on stunning fashion looks and yesterday night was no different. The guests were taken by surprise when Rihanna after three long years, Rihanna made a surprise appearance at the BET Awards.
The 31-year-old singer and world’s richest female musician somehow managed to skip the red carpet and make her way inside undetected. Even though Rihanna’s appearance was unannounced, she was on hand to present Mary J. Blige with the lifetime achievement award. During her speech, Rihanna praised Mary for “forever aligning the worlds of hip-hop and R&B” and “changing the game with her unique sound.
Other winners included Burna boy from Nigeria for best international act, Beyoncé and Bruno Mars, who won the pop/R&B categories, while the rap trio Migos won best group. Michael B Jordan and Regina Kelly won the acting categories, while Serena Williams and Stephen Curry won the sports awards. Spike Lee’s film BlacKkKlansman was named best movie.
The BET Awards celebrate African Americans and other American minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment. Here is the full list of nominees and winners and highlights in pictures from the event.
Video of the year
21 Savage featuring J. Cole, “A Lot”
Cardi B, “Money”
Cardi B and Bruno Mars, “Please Me”
Childish Gambino, “This Is America” *WINNER
Drake, “Nice for What”
The Carters, “Apeshit”
Best female R&B/pop artist
Beyoncé *WINNER
Ella Mai
H.E.R. Solange
SZA
Teyana Taylor.
Best male R&B/pop artist
Anderson .Paak
Bruno Mars *WINNER
Childish Gambino
Chris Brown
John Legend
Khalid
Best female hip-hop artist
Cardi B *WINNER
Kash Doll
Lizzo
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Remy Ma
Best male hip-hop artist
21 Savage
Drake
1.Cole
Meek Mill
Nipsey Hussle *WINNER
Travis Scott
Best new artist
Blueface
City Girls
Juice WRLD
Lil Baby *WINNER
Queen Naija
Best group
Chloe x Halle
City Girls
Lil Baby and Gunna
Migos *WINNER
The Carters
Best collaboration
21 Savage featuring J. Cole, “A Lot”
Cardi B and Bruno Mars, “Please Me”
Cardi B featuring J Balvin and Bad Bunny, “I Like It”
H.E.R. featuring Bryson Tiller, “Could’ve Been”
Travis Scott featuring Drake, “Sicko Mode” *WINNER
Tyga featuring Offset, “Taste”
Album of the year
Cardi B, “Invasion of Privacy” *WINNER
Ella Mai, “Ella Mai”
Meek Mill, “Championships”
The Carters, “Everything Is Love”
Travis Scott, “Astroworld”
Viewers’ choice award
Cardi B featuring J Balvin and Bad Bunny, “I Like It”
Childish Gambino, “This Is America”
Drake, “In My Feelings”
Ella Mai, “Trip” *WINNER
1.Cole, “Middle Child”
Travis Scott featuring Drake, “Sicko Mode”
Dr. Bobby Jones best gospel/inspirational award
Erica Campbell featuring Warryn Campbell, “All of My Life”
Fred Hammond, “Tell Me Where It Hurts”
Kirk Franklin, “Love Theory”
Snoop Dogg featuring Rance Allen, “Blessing Me Again” *WINNER
Tori Kelly featuring Kirk Franklin, “Never Alone”
Best actress
Issa Rae
Regina Hall
Regina King *WINNER
Taraji P. Henson
Tiffany Haddish
Viola Davis
Best actor
Anthony Anderson
Chadwick Boseman
Denzel Washington
Mahershala Ali
Michael B. Jordan *WINNER
Omari Hardwick
Best movie
“BlacKkKlansman” *WINNER
“Creed 2?
“If Beale Street Could Talk”
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”
“The Hate U Give”
Young stars award
Caleb McLaughlin
Lyric Ross
Marsai Martin *WINNER
Michael Rainey Jr.
Miles Brown
Sportswoman of the year
Allyson Felix
Candace Parker
Naomi Osaka
Serena Williams *WINNER
Simone Biles
Sportsman of the year
Kevin Durant
LeBron James
Odell Beckham Jr.
Stephen Curry *WINNER
Tiger Woods
BET HER award
Alicia Keys, “Raise a Man”
Ciara, “Level Up”
H.E.R., “Hard Place” *WINNER
Janelle Monae, “PYNK”
Queen Naija, “Mama’s Hand”
Teyana Taylor, “Rose in Harlem”
Video director of the year
Benny Boom
Colin Tilley
Dave Meyers
Hype Williams
Karena Evans *WINNER
Best international act
AKA (South Africa)
Aya Nakamura (France)
Burna Boy (Nigeria) *WINNER
Dave (U.K.)
Dosseh (France)
Giggs (U.K.)
Mr Eazi (Nigeria)
Best new international act
Headie One (U.K.)
Jok’Air (France)
Nesly (France)
Octavian (U.K.)
Sho Madjozi (South Africa) *WINNER
Teni (Nigeria)