9 Best Moments From the 2023 BET Awards

Child Capri chronicled hip-hop’s 50-year historical past all through the awards present in varied chapters, beginning off with ’80s New York with performances by The Sugarhill Gang, MC Lyte, DJ D-Good and Massive Daddy Kane and touring by way of the West Coast (Warren G, Yo-Yo, Tyga, E-40), Miami (Trick Daddy & Trina, Uncle Luke) and Atlanta (Jeezy, Tip “T.I.” Harris, Grasp P) earlier than ending on ’00s New York (Fats Joe & Remy Ma, Fabolous, Kinds P and Ja Rule). With basic graffiti-covered brick partitions serving as a constant backdrop and touching tributes to fallen stars like Tupac and Pop Smoke, Capri’s cross-country musical journey was enjoyable to comply with alongside whether or not followers had been witnessing dwell or watching at dwelling.

Coco Jones was in tears holding up the award for finest new artist, and it was a full-circle BET second for the “ICU” singer. “I keep in mind after I did 106 & Park with y’all after I was 16 in them tight little grey skinny denims and my sneakers. It’s been a protracted journey. Thanks guys for rocking with me the entire time,” she mirrored. “And for my Black women, we do need to struggle a bit more durable to get what we deserve. However don’t cease combating. Even when it doesn’t make sense and also you’re undecided the way you’re going to get out of these circumstances, preserve pushing as a result of we’re deserving of nice issues, y’all. And I’m going to proceed to offer y’all my every part.”

Whereas Teyana “Spike Tey” Taylor was bodily unable to simply accept her video director of the yr award, her mom Nikki Taylor had a intelligent work-around. “I’m sorry, this can be a little off-script, however that is her evening, I’m going to let her have her evening, I’m calling her proper now. Sorry, BET!” Nikki introduced earlier than grabbing her cellphone and video-chatting her daughter from the stage. Teyana was too shocked to talk when her mom flipped the digicam towards the dwell viewers, however she was much more shook when her mother knowledgeable her that she’s taking dwelling one other BET Award for video director of the yr, which she additionally gained in 2020. Though the standard of the Wi-Fi wasn’t finest, it didn’t take away from Teyana’s gratitude as a very powerful phrases that could possibly be heard had been “Thanks.”

Davido won’t be the primary Afrobeats artist to carry out on the principle stage of the BET Awards, however his larger-than-life presence Sunday evening ensured that the continent’s greatest acts are worthy of dominating the U.S.’ most-viewed levels. Recent off his Timeless album launch, he introduced Lagos to Los Angeles together with his efficiency of “Really feel” and his summer season anthem “Unavailable,” that includes Musa Keys. As one of many greatest Afrobeats acts on this planet, Davido reminded American audiences that celebrations of Black music have to be world.

About an hour into the present, nobody anticipated Quavo and Offset to return collectively for his or her first efficiency since Takeoff‘s premature dying final November to honor “The Rocket.” A floor-to-ceiling projection of a rocket appeared on the display as the 2 remaining members of Migos gathered round a solo highlight whereas performing “Lodge Foyer” from Quavo and Takeoff’s 2022 joint undertaking Solely Constructed For Infinity Hyperlinks. “Do it for Take!” they shouted, watching the animated rocket launch into the sky that left behind a larger-than-life picture of their misplaced member. Quavo and Offset then carried out their three-week Scorching 100 No. 1 “Unhealthy and Boujee,” that includes Lil Uzi Vert for the last word sing-a-long second, turning the real-life and TV audiences’ temper from somber to celebratory. Everybody within the Microsoft Theater was standing all through their whole efficiency, demonstrating that the BET Awards will at all times preserve producing history-making moments like this.

For the night’s most surprising efficiency, which wasn’t accessible through the awards present’s broadcast, Sexxy Pink bought up out of her seat on the sound of her Billboard Scorching 100 hit “Pound City” with Tay Keith. The viewers instantly round her cheered her on as she waved round stacks of money in each fingers, and a pregnant Chrisean Rock began twerking on her for what can be essentially the most motion the aisle had seen.

Busta Rhymes couldn’t maintain again the tears from streaming down his face when he accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award from Swizz Beatz and Marlon Wayans. “Alright, so, I’mma put on it on my sleeve. I do wanna cry,” he stated, which was met with astounding applause that bought the waterworks going. Busta wiped his face with a towel earlier than continuing with the remainder of his speech, the place he opened up about his parallel struggles of being a solo rapper and a father and defined how he “pioneered the function.” Watch his whole acceptance speech beneath.

Reggae and dancehall’s indelible affect on hip-hop wasn’t missed this night, as Child Capri devoted a Jamaican portion of performances through the present that featured Mad Lion (“Take It Straightforward”) and Patra (“Romantic Name”). However the backup dancers waving the inexperienced, yellow and black Jamaican flag wasn’t the one visible illustration in the home. Throughout his tribute efficiency, Busta Rhymes projected photos of DJ Kool Herc on the display and reminded the viewers that hip-hop’s founding father was “a bloodclot Jamaican. Be sure you know that! And Jamaica’s in my blood, in order a lot as we’re going to rep hip-hop tonight, we’re going to characterize this dancehall tradition,” he stated earlier than Dexta Daps got here up on stage to carry out “Shabba Madda Pot.” Audio system within the Rastafarian colours of inexperienced, yellow and purple appeared on display earlier than Busta additionally introduced up Spice (“So Mi Like It”), Skillibeng (“Whap Whap”) and Cutty Ranks (“A Who Seh Me Dun (Wait Deh Man).”

The present’s celebration of hip-hop’s fiftieth anniversary couldn’t have ended on a greater be aware than F.L.Y. (Quick Life Yungstaz) main your complete Microsoft Theater to their 2009 debut single “Swag Surfin’.” It soundtracked and captured the Black pleasure within the room, sending all people dwelling remembering (or reminding these watching from dwelling) why they fell in love with the style within the first place.