Kendrick Lamar truly stole the show at the 2023 BET Awards held in Los Angeles, an event dedicated to celebrating black actors, singers, and sports stars. The acclaimed rapper won an impressive five awards out of his ten nominations, solidifying his status in the music industry. Among the prestigious accolades, Lamar took home Best Album for his project "GNX," and Best Video for "Not Like Us." Additionally, he and filmmaker Dave Free were honored with the Video Director of the Year award, showcasing their collaborative excellence.
During the awards ceremony, hosted by comedian Kevin Hart, Lamar expressed his gratitude, stating, "BET has always made sure they're representing the culture right and always put me in the midst of the cycle of what we represent." His remarks highlight the network's dedication to uplifting and showcasing black culture through music and entertainment.
Rapper Doechii, who won the award for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, used her acceptance speech to address pressing political issues. She criticized former President Donald Trump for deploying military forces to counter protests in Los Angeles. These demonstrations erupted following Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids targeting heavily Latino neighborhoods. Doechii passionately declared, "I want y'all to consider what kind of government it appears to be, when every time we exercise our democratic rights to protest, the military is deployed against us."
Kendrick Lamar's dominance in the previous year's BET Hip-Hop Awards, where he won eight out of eleven nominations, set a high bar for this year's event. The ceremony also recognized outstanding contributions to music and community through the Ultimate Icon Awards. This year, the honors were bestowed upon renowned musicians such as Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, and Kirk Franklin, alongside actor Jamie Foxx.
Jamie Foxx accepted his award from music legend Stevie Wonder and shared a heartfelt moment reflecting on his recovery after suffering a stroke in 2023. He noted, "I gotta be honest, when I saw the in memoriam segment, I was like, 'Man, that could have been me.'" His candidness about overcoming adversity resonated with many attendees.
Mariah Carey, who also performed at the awards, received her Ultimate Icon Award from Busta Rhymes. She expressed her appreciation, saying, "This means so much. If you're gonna get one, might as well start with the Ultimate Icon Award. My life and career have been quite the adventure." Her acknowledgment of fellow winners further highlighted the unity within the music community.
The BET Awards showcased a variety of performances, including Wicked star Cynthia Erivo, who won Best Actress and was also nominated for the BET Her award for her empowering rendition of "Defying Gravity." Veteran actor Denzel Washington took home the Best Actor award for his role in Gladiator II, affirming his enduring legacy in Hollywood.
The ceremony featured captivating performances from R&B artist Ashanti, who revisited her classic hit "Foolish," alongside Lil Kim, who performed "Left Eye (Remix)" with Honey Bxby. Other notable performers included Jim Jones, Amerie, Keyshia Cole, Mya, TI, B2K, and Bow Wow with Jermaine Dupri, ensuring that the evening was filled with memorable musical moments.
