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The 2023 edition of the BET Awards took place Sunday at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

Six awards were given out on Sunday night’s telecast, with Latto accepting best female hip-hop artist and Coco Jones accepting best new artist in person. 

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Teyana Taylor‘s mother, Nikki, accepted her daughter’s award and even called her up via FaceTime during the broadcast to let her know she won video director of the year.

Keeping the audience tearfully turnt, Quavo and Offset reunited in a touching tribute to Takeoff, honoring the impact he had on them and the culture at large.

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During Sunday night’s ceremony, Patti LaBelle admittedly forgot the words to “Simply the Best,” the song she sang as the show’s lone tribute to the late Tina Turner (who passed on May 24 at age 83).

Despite her temporary improv, the consummate performer was able to recover — and on beat.

A BET spokesperson later told The Hollywood Reporter that “due to the crowd’s enthusiasm, the teleprompter was obstructed, obscuring Ms. LaBelle’s view of the lyrics.” At least one video tweeted by an audience member, seen below, seems to prove that the crowd was indeed blocking the singer’s view.

Don’t this hit don’t make my people wanna jump jump!

“I’m gonna wear it on my sleeve. I do wanna cry,” began the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Busta Rhymes, 51, as he became emotional and wiped tears from his eyes before delivering a heartfelt homage to hip-hop’s heroes and heroines.

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Ice Spice was In Ha Mood

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Not a night without controversy, Lil Uzi Vert and his girlfriend JT — member of hip-hop duo City Girls– got into a heated exchange (and phone throwing) after multiple reports from people sitting nearby suggested he was talking with Ice Spice after her performance.

Other highlights included a celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with 69 Boyz, Chief Keef, DJ Unk, Fast Life Yungstaz, Kid ‘n Play, Master P, Soulja Boy, Warren G, and Ying Yang Twins; the Sugarhill Gang, MC Lyte, D-Nice, and Big Daddy Kane doing “Rapper’s Delight” and “Cha Cha Cha”; E-40, Tyga, and Yo-Yo doing “Tell Me When to Go” and “Rack City”; a hits medley by Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Ja Rule, and Fabolous.

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305 was live at the BET Awards

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A full list of nominees follows, with the winners are indicated in bold below.

Album of the Year
Anyways, Life’s Great, GloRilla
Breezy, Chris Brown
God Did, DJ Khaled
Her Loss, Drake & 21 Savage 
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, Kendrick Lamar
WINNER (TIE): Renaissance, Beyoncé
WINNER (TIE): SOS, SZA

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Ari Lennox
Beyoncé
Coco Jones
H.E.R.
Lizzo
WINNER: SZA
Tems

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Blxst
Brent Faiyaz
Burna Boy
WINNER (TIE): Chris Brown
Drake
The Weeknd
WINNER (TIE): Usher

Best Group
City Girls
WINNER: Drake & 21 Savage
Dvsn
FLO
Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin
Quavo & Takeoff
Wanmor

Best Collaboration
“Big Energy (Remix),” Latto & Mariah Carey feat. DJ Khaled
“Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2,” Pinkpantheress & Ice Spice
“Call Me Every Day,” Chris Brown feat. Wizkid
“Can’t Stop Won’t Stop,” King Combs feat. Kodak Black
“Creepin’,” Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage
“F.N.F. (Let’s Go),” Hitkidd & GloRilla
“Tomorrow 2,” GloRilla & Cardi B
WINNER: “Wait For U,” Future feat. Drake & Tems

Best Female Hip Hop Artist   
Cardi B 
Coi Leray
GloRilla
Ice Spice
WINNER: Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj

Best Male Hip Hop Artist
21 Savage
Drake
Future
J. Cole
Jack Harlow
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar
Lil Baby

Video of the Year
“We (Warm Embrace),” Chris Brown
“2 Million Up,” Peezy, Jeezy & Real Boston Richey feat. Rob49
“About Damn Time,” Lizzo
“Bad Habit,” Steve Lacy
“First Class,” Harlow
WINNER: “Kill Bill,” SZA
“Tomorrow 2,” GloRilla & Cardi B

Video Director of the Year
A$AP Rocky for AWGE
Benny Boom
Burna Boy
Cole Bennett
Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
Director X
WINNER: Teyana “Spike Tey” Taylor

Best New Artist
Ambré
WINNER: Coco Jones
Doechii
FLO
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Lola Brooke

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
WINNER: “Bless Me,” Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin
“Finished (Live),” Tamela Mann
“I’ve Got Joy,” CeCe Winans
“Kingdom,” Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin feat. Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore
“New,” Tye Tribbett
“One Moment From Glory,” Yolanda Adams
“The Better Benediction (Pt.2),” PJ Morton feat. Lisa Knowles-Smith, Le’andria Johnson, Keke Wyatt, Kierra Sheard & Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Viewer’s Choice Award
“About Damn Time,” Lizzo
WINNER: “Break My Soul,” Beyoncé
“First Class,” Jack Harlow
“Jimmy Cooks,” Drake feat 21 Savage
“Kill Bill,” SZA
“Last Last,” Burna Boy
“Super Freaky Girl,” Nicki Minaj
“Wait For U,” Future feat. Drake & Tems

Best International Act
Aya Nakamura (France)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
WINNER: Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Central Cee (UK)
Ella Mai (UK)
Ko (South Africa)
L7nnon (Brazil)
Stormzy (UK)
Tiakola (France)
Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)

Viewer’s Choice: Best New International Act
Asake (Nigeria)
Camidoh (Ghana)
Flo (UK)
WINNER: Libianca (Cameroon)
Maureen (France)
MC Ryan SP (Brazil)
Pabi Cooper (South Africa)
Raye (UK)
Werenoi (France)

BET Her
“About Damn Time,” Lizzo
“Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2,” Pinkpantheress & Ice Spice
WINNER: “Break My Soul,” Beyoncé
“Her,” Megan Thee Stallion
“Lift Me Up,” Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From And Inspired By – Rihanna & Ludwig Göransson
“Players,” Coi Leray
“Special,” Lizzo

Best Movie
WINNER: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Creed 3
Emancipation
Nope
The Woman King
Till
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody

Best Actor
Amin Joseph
Brian Tyree Henry
WINNER: Damson Idris
Daniel Kaluuya
Demetrius ‘Lil Meech’ Flenory Jr.
Donald Glover
Michael B. Jordan

Best Actress
WINNER: Angela Bassett
Coco Jones
Janelle James
Janelle Monáe
Keke Palmer
Viola Davis
Zendaya

Youngstars Award
Akira Akbar
Alaya High
Demi Singleton
Genesis Denise
WINNER: Marsai Martin
Thaddeus J. Mixson   
Young Dylan

Sportswoman of the Year Award
Alexis Morris
Allyson Felix   
WINNER: Angel Reese
Candace Parker
Naomi Osaka  
Serena Williams
Sha’carri Richardson

Sportsman of the Year Award
Aaron Judge   
Bubba Wallace
Gervonta Davis
WINNER: Jalen Hurts
Lebron James
Patrick Mahomes
Stephen Curry

Hailing from Charlotte North Carolina, born litterateur Ezekiel J. Walker earned a B.A. in Psychology at Winston Salem State University. Walker later published his first creative nonfiction book and has...