In kicking off BET’s “home get together of the yr” — aka Soul Prepare Awards 2023 — host Keke Palmer ticked off three guidelines for the annual affair premiering Nov. 26, whose prime winners had been SZA, Usher and Victoria Monét.
“Welcome to Keke’s,” mentioned a grinning Palmer to the combination of nominees, performers, presenters and invited company ensconced on sofas within the opulent yard of a Beverly Hills mansion. “Rule No. 1: Act such as you all bought sense. No. 2: Deal with my furnishings prefer it’s your personal. And No. 3: Once you’re at a Keke get together, stand up when the spirit strikes you!” And people gathered did simply that regardless of the uninvited, blustery presence of Los Angeles’ signature Santa Ana winds. In truth, at one level in the course of the pre-taped present, Palmer humorously famous, “I really feel like my wig is falling off.”
One particular word: In tandem with the Soul Prepare Awards saluting the tip of the author’s strike, it was introduced that for the primary time in Soul Prepare historical past, the 2023 writing group was comprised of all females of shade.
That includes a cross part of established and rising R&B/soul artists, the two-hour telecast’s efficiency highlights included:
Spirit of Life Award honoree Janelle Monae. Bedecked in a colourful flowered cape, matching boots and head crown and backed by an all-female horn part, Monae instantly revved up the proceedings, energetically sashaying her means via “Float” and “Champagne Shit.” Each tracks are from her newest album The Age of Pleasure, Grammy-nominated in each the album of the yr and finest progressive R&B album classes.
Muni Lengthy, who joined forces with fellow Grammy winners Jermaine Dupri (who introed the efficiency) and Bryan-Michael Cox (offering piano accompaniment) on “Made for Me” —which the trio additionally co-wrote with Jordan XL. Wearing glowing silver trousers accented by a white blazer that was adorned by a protracted sheer prepare within the again, Lengthy delivered a nuanced efficiency of her newest single. Boosting the ballad’s emotional quotient: the take-me-to-church, soul-searing vocals of Lengthy’s six backing vocalists.
This yr’s Soul Cypher, which featured R&B artists Nicci Gilbert (lead vocalist of lady group Brownstone), Arin Ray, Eric Bellinger and Marsha Ambrosius (one-half of the duo Floetry). Accompanied by Cox — who additionally doubled because the present’s DJ — the quartet freestyled over Usher’s 2001 Sizzling 100 No. 1 “U Acquired It Dangerous,” co-written by Dupri and Cox. Famous Ambrosius throughout her mic flip, “The final time I used to be right here, I received music of the yr.” Sealing the deal: the group’s pristine harmonizing on the music’s hook because the cypher got here to an finish.
A double displaying by Coco Jones, who additionally received finest new artist. Jones first delivered a mesmerizing efficiency of her London on da Monitor-produced single “Double Again,” which samples the SWV hit “Rain.’” Then that revered group’s members Cheryl “Coko” Gamble, Tamara “Taj” George and Leanne “Lelee” Lyons took heart stage and confirmed off their nonetheless potent vocalizing on “Rain,” with Jones becoming a member of the trio to shut out the efficiency. Later within the present, Jones teamed up with BJ the Chicago Child on their mid-tempo single “Spend the Night time” — which host Palmer rightfully described as “the melodic pairing we didn’t know we would have liked.”
Talking of Palmer, the actress additionally turned in an riveting efficiency by means her newest single, “Ungorgeous.” Among the many music’s lyrics is the road, “I’m uninterested in proving myself to you.” After sustaining a protracted word simply earlier than the ballad’s chilly cease, Palmer the singer didn’t have something to show given the viewers’s enthusiastic response.
The night’s closing spotlight was the presentation of the Legend Award to T-Ache. Rapper, activist and longtime good friend David Banner spoke in regards to the “rappa ternt sanga” whose new sound within the mid-2000s “had the entire world sprung. When folks copied him, he stood. When folks criticized him, he stood. He didn’t fold. That’s a legend within the making.”
Thanking Banner and his stunning, “sturdy spouse for coping with his negatives and flaws” as T-Ache and his actual identify Faheem Rashad Najm — “a feat I haven’t found out my rattling self” — the artist mirrored on turning 39 this yr. “Receiving a legend award at 39 could also be bizarre or slightly early,” he acknowledged. “I really feel like I’ve bought two or three extra songs I might most likely do [laughter]. That is superb. However to the brand new artists on the market, I don’t need you to chase this. I don’t need you to base your life on what number of of those folks on this crowd can let you know that you could have this. I need you to know that you just already bought this. You have already got this in your thoughts. on or care what different folks say. Be who you might be unapologetically. Be who you ever need to be.”
Then T-Ache shifted the viewers into full-fledged get together mode with a rollicking, get-up-on-your-feet medley of his many hits. Amongst these he reeled off had been “Acquired Cash,” “Good Life,” “I’m N Luv (Wit a Stripper),” “Bartender,” “Low,” “Blame It,” “Purchase U a Drank” and “All I Do Is Win.”
