The 23^rd annual BET Awards pay homage to hip-hop. Bringing out new-school artists while honouring old-school artists. With performances by hip-hop icons like DJ Kid Capri, Big Daddy Kane and Master P alongside new-school artists like Tyga and Coi Leray. Coi Leray’s performance outfit included the names of legendary icons, such as Missy Elliot, Queen Latifah and the late Left-Eye and new-school stars like Megan Thee Stallion, Flo Milli and Cardi B. The show was a beautiful night for hip-hop, uniting old and new-school hip-hop. 

Despite the show’s lack of a host because of the ongoing writers’ strike, it was still a beautiful night. It was a beautiful moment for the hip-hop legend Busta Rhymes as he accepted his BET Lifetime Achievement Award with tears streaming down his face. The hip-hop icon went on to deliver an appreciation speech, mentioning how he was just trying to feed his family. Acknowledging new-school hip-hop and honouring old-school hip-hip seemed to be the recurring theme at the award show this year because the hip-hop icon continued his speech by giving a few shout-outs to new-school artists such as Ice Spice- a rising hip-hop star and Coi Leray and a shout-out to big stars such as J.Cole and Kendrick Lamar. 

A bittersweet moment for the night was the surprise reunion between the two remaining members of Migos- Quavo and Offset. The pair reunited to give a special tribute to their late friend and the third member of Migos, Takeoff, who lost his life last year. The tribute performance started with Takeoff’s verse from the Migos song “Hotel Lobby” and Quavo and Offset dancing along to it together onstage. The pair continued the tribute by performing one of Migos’ hit songs, “Bad and Boujee”. It was a bittersweet moment for the fans of the musical group and their friends. That is the reunion everyone wanted, we hope they make more music together and honour Takeoff’s legacy.

While the BET Awards show was running smoothly, despite the absence of a host and a script, there was a tiny mishap. RnB icon Patti LaBelle’s tribute performance to the late pop icon Tina Turner- who lost her life at the age of 83 in May 2023- turned out to have stumbled upon a minor issue. It seemed as though the icon had a problem with remembering the lyrics to Tina Turner’s song, “The Best”, and yelled out, “I’m trying y’all”, before continuing to sing the chorus of the song beautifully. Nevertheless, LaBelle managed to deliver a sweet performance in honour of the late legendary pop icon Tina Turner. 

The BET Awards showcased Black Excellence and joy while honouring the greats who contributed to the making of hip-hop and music as it is known today and acknowledging and opening up the scene for the rising stars.

Here’s a full list of winners:

2023 BET Awards Winners List

ALBUM OF THE YEAR (TIE)

SOS – SZA

RENAISSANCE – Beyoncé

BEST COLLABORATION

WAIT FOR U – Future feat. Drake & Tems

BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST

SZA

BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST (TIE)

Chris Brown

Usher

BEST NEW ARTIST

Coco Jones

BEST GROUP

Drake x 21 Savage

BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST

Latto

BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST

Kendrick Lamar

DR. BOBBY JONES BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD

Bless Me – Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin

BET HER AWARD

Break My Soul – Beyoncé

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Kill Bill – SZA

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Teyana “Spike Tey” Taylor

BEST MOVIE

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

BEST ACTRESS

Angela Bassett

BEST ACTOR

Damson Idris

YOUNGSTARS AWARD

Marsai Martin

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR

Angel Reese

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR

Jalen Hurts

VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD

Break My Soul – Beyoncé

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT

Burna Boy