Rap royalty showed up and showed out Sunday night at the 2023 BET Awards.
As BET celebrated the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, artists from past and present eras took the stage — with performances sprinkled throughout the show.
After Lil Uzi Vert opened the broadcast, the hip-hop tributes went all the way back with the Sugarhill Gang performing “Rapper’s Delight.”
MC Lyte, D-Nice, and Big Daddy Kane came out next, with the “Raw” artist thanking the late Biz Markie before “Just a Friend” played and a portrait of Biz appeared on stage.
DJ Kid Capri spun hits from late rappers Tupac Shakur, Nate Dogg, Guru, Pop Smoke, and Young Dolph, and tossed things over to Miami for performances by the 305’s Trick Daddy, Trina, and Uncle Luke.
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A West Coast rap tribute included performances by Warren G, Yo-Yo, E-40, and Tyga. Yo-Yo was seated with performers at tables on stage before she got up and started rapping “You Can’t Play With My Yo-Yo.”
The diversity of hip-hop was shown in performance segments with reggae artists, as well as Puerto Rican/Cuban-American rapper Fat Joe who belted out his hit single with Remy Ma, “All the Way Up.”
The audience swayed and sang along as Queens native Ja Rule performed “Put It On Me.”
The hip-hop tribute also included notable performances by Kid ‘n Play, 69 Boyz, Master P, the Ying Yang Twins, Chief Keef, and Soulja Boy.
Other key moments in the show included Busta Rhymes receiving BET’s lifetime achievement honor; Offset and Quavo reuniting to perform a tribute to late Migos member Takeoff; and Patti LaBelle performing a tribute to the late Tina Turner.
The BET Awards were broadcast live from the Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
