Some of Hip Hop and Pop Culture’s biggest names were in attendance to celebrate fifty years of Hip Hop.
The event took place in Los Angeles at the Microsoft Theater with many big names in attendance, including those from the west coast region. Los Angeles artists Warren G and Tyga performed and Don P and Mobbin101 represented the Bay Area as the ambassador E-40 hit the stage.
The most pleasurable surprise was Quavo and Offset reuniting on stage at the awards show, seemingly burrying the hachet that has been between the two over the last year. The two Migos took to the stage to pay tribute to Takeoff, who was tragically slain last November.
The women of Hip Hop continue to strive in 2023, as Latto took home the Best Female Artist award. SZA won Best Female R&B/Pop Artist and tied with Beyoncé for album of the year. Ice Spice hit the stage and brought some New York flavor to the west coast.
Additionally out of New York, Busta Rhymes received a lifetime achievement award; an award that honors those who have made an impact on culture and entertainment. Busta Rhymes accepted the award humbly holding back tears.
“A lot of greatness from our people and our culture is by default ‘cause it’s just the magic that we have,” Rhymes said. “I just am grateful (for) the blessing that has been bestowed upon me and this gift that I have been given, and this fire that continues to burn as a passion in my soul.”
Lil Uzi Vert opened the show performing his hit ‘Wanna Rock’ single, and then followed up with dropping the first number one rap album of 2023 with The Pink Tape. It’s been a tough year for Hip Hop and the billboard charts, but LIl Uzi Vert was able to succeed in finally getting a rap album to #1.
Drake took home an award for his colloboration with Future and Tems. See the list of winners below:
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
GloRilla — Anyways, Life’s Great
Chris Brown — Breezy
DJ Khaled — God Did
Drake & 21 Savage — Her Loss
Kendrick Lamar — Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
Beyoncé — Renaissance — WINNER (Tie)
SZA — SOS — WINNER (Tie)
BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST
Ari Lennox
Beyoncé
Coco Jones
H.E.R.
Lizzo
SZA — WINNER
Tems
BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST
Blxst
Brent Faiyaz
Burna Boy
Chris Brown — WINNER (Tie)
Drake
The Weeknd
Usher — WINNER (Tie)
BEST GROUP
City Girls
Drake & 21 Savage — WINNER
Dvsn
FLO
Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin
Quavo & TakeOff
Wanmor
BEST COLLABORATION
Latto & Mariah Carey f. DJ Khaled — “Big Energy (Remix)”
Pinkpantheress & Ice Spice — “Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2”
Chris Brown f. Wizkid — “Call Me Every Day”
King Combs f. Kodak Black — “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop”
Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage — “Creepin’”
Hitkidd & GloRilla — “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)”
GloRilla & Cardi B — “Tomorrow 2”
Future f. Drake & Tems — “Wait For U” — WINNER
BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST
Cardi B
Coi Leray
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Latto — WINNER
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST
21 Savage
Drake
Future
J. Cole
Jack Harlow
Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
Lil Baby
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Chris Brown — “We (Warm Embrace)”
Peezy, Jeezy & Real Boston Richey f. Rob49 — “2 Million Up”
Lizzo — “About Damn Time”
Steve Lacy — “Bad Habit”
Jack Harlow — “First Class”
SZA — “Kill Bill” — WINNER
GloRilla & Cardi B — “Tomorrow 2”
VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
A$AP Rocky for AWGE
Benny Boom
Burna Boy
Cole Bennett
Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
Director X
Teyana “Spike Tey” Taylor — WINNER
BEST NEW ARTIST
Ambré
Coco Jones — WINNER
Doechii
FLO
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Lola Brooke
Hip Hop’s fiftieth year was celebrated thoroughly at the BET Awards, and as the year continues we will look forward to additional number one albums, and the Hip Hop Awards taking place this October in Atlanta.