Kendrick Lamar was the massive winner on the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards, profitable in 4 classes – hip-hop artist of the 12 months, finest stay performer, lyricist of the 12 months and, together with his inventive companion Dave Free, video director of the 12 months.
The BET Hip Hop Awards, hosted by Fats Joe, had been taped final week on the Cobb Power Middle in Atlanta and aired on BET on Tuesday (Oct. 10). There might be an encore airing Tuesday at midnight ET on BET.
Lamar wasn’t the one huge winner on the present. Two profitable collaborations, Drake & 21 Savage and Lil Durk that includes J. Cole, every received two awards, as did Lil Uzi Vert and Metro Boomin. Successful one award every had been Ice Spice, 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Black Sherif, Caresha Please (finest hip hop platform) and the aforementioned Dave Free.
LL Cool J and Rakim carried out a particular tribute to Marley Marl, this 12 months’s I Am Hip Hop Award winner, alongside Jazzy Jeff, DJ Technician and the Adam Blackstone Band. The present additionally featured a thirtieth anniversary tribute to So So Def and its founder Jermaine Dupri. This 12 months’s cypher, offered by Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, was deejayed by DJ E Feezy and DJ Runna.
Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes, a South African rapper who was murdered in February at age 35, was honored with the International Visionary Award for his impression on the worldwide hip-hop panorama.
Whereas the robust showings by Lamar and these others had been largely anticipated, there have been some snubs and surprises, too. Have a look.
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Snub: Cardi B
Cardi B tied with 21 Savage for essentially the most nominations however didn’t win a single award. That is the second 12 months in a row that Cardi has been shut out at this present. Final 12 months, she went 0-6 on the night time. She has carried out higher in years previous, profitable 5 awards in 2017, 4 in 2018, two in 2019 and three in 2021. Her earlier wins embody MVP of the 12 months in 2018 and track of the 12 months twice, for “Bodak Yellow” in 2017 and “WAP,” her collab with Megan Thee Stallion, in 2021.
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Shock: Lil Uzi Vert
Lil Uzi Vert’s “Simply Wanna Rock,” which reached No. 10 on the Sizzling 100, received track of the 12 months, beating a pair of songs that had been notably greater crossover hits – “All My Life” by Lil Durk that includes J. Cole and “Wealthy Flex” by Drake & 21 Savage, each of which reached No. 2. “Simply Wanna Rock” additionally received finest hip hop video. It’s the second work in three years to win in each classes. “WAP” by Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion achieved the double win two years in the past.
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Snubs: Burna Boy and DJ Khaled
Each artists acquired seven nominations, placing them among the many prime 5 artists with essentially the most nods, however received nothing. Burna Boy’s nods included hip hop artist of the 12 months; DJ Khaled’s nods included track of the 12 months and hip hop album of the 12 months.
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Shock: Jay-Z
Although DJ Khaled was shut out, Jay-Z was a winner for his featured verse on DJ Khaled’s “God Did,” which additionally featured Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, John Legend and Fridayy. Right here’s how BET describes the award, dubbed “Candy 16: Greatest Featured Verse”: “Typically a visitor verse from the appropriate MC can rework a track from cool to basic. This award is for essentially the most excellent function verse by an artist on a track for which he/she just isn’t the lead artist.”