The BET Awards brought artists from the past five decades to Los Angeles Sunday night to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip hop.
Among the artists who took the stage were the Sugarhill Gang, Trick Daddy, Trina, Big Daddy Kane, MC Lyte, Doug E. Fresh, Warren G, Ying Yang Twins, Yo-Yo, and E-40. Viewers were also treated to performances by Master P, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, T.I., Fabolous, and Lil Uzi Vert inside the Microsoft Theater.
The show also included a tribute to the late Tina Turner performed by Patti LaBelle. Former Migos members Quavo and Offset reunited to perform a tribute to Takeoff. And Busta Rhymes got emotional and wiped away tears as he received BET’s lifetime achievement award.
Related Story: BET Awards 2023: Sugarhill Gang Kicks Off Hip-Hop 50th Anniversary Tribute
“I do wanna cry,” Busta told the audience.
The BET Awards went without a host this year as the Writers Guild of America strike continues. Several presenters mentioned the strike and said the union writers were missed.
Actors Cynthia Kaye McWilliams and Malcolm Barrett from the BET+ series, Average Joe, joked that there wasn’t anything in the teleprompter because of the strike. “Oh dear God, bring the writers back,” McWilliams said.
“Let’s take a moment to acknowledge and stand in solidarity with the artists who make us laugh, cry and, most important, think — our Writers Guild of America family,” added singer-songwriter Muni Long.
Among the winners were Drake, Beyoncé, SZA, Chris Brown and Usher. Latto picked up the award for best female hip hop artist.
“Shout-out to all the women, we killing it,” Latto told the audience.
Below is the complete list of winners from the 2023 BET Awards.
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
VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD: BEST NEW INTERNTIONAL ACT
Libianca
BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT
Burna Boy
