Recap of the 23rd Annual BET Awards

BET Awards | Christopher Polk/Getty Images

By: Joshua Martin

Wow!! What a night!! The 23rd annual BET Awards, which honors the year’s best performances in music, TV, film and sports was jam packed with plenty of nostalgic performances, memorable speeches and tributes to the late great Tina Turner and this year's Lifetime Achievement Award winner Busta Rhymes.

Patti LeBelle sings at the 2023 BET Awards on June 25, 2023. (Michael Tran/ Getty Images)

Led by musical melodies curated by DJ and Producer Kid Capri, the 5 hour long ceremony took place at a packed Microsoft theater in Los Angeles. This year’s ceremony featured live performances from Hip Hop legends like Big Daddy Kane, Master P, Uncle Luke, Trina, Trick Daddy, Ja Rule, the Ying Yang Twins and more… It was truly a celebration of 50 years of Hip Hop.

The past two award shows were hosted by actress Taraji P. Henson, but due to the writers strike, BET like many others are switching to a hostless format. SInger Muni Long took time to acknowledge the importance of writers amid the WGA strike.

“Writers are, in many instances, the glue to the execution of artistry and storytelling. Our ability to extract emotion from performers helping them to articulate their voices and vision to the world is irreplaceable. The protection of the writer is crucial. We simply must protect our intellectual property.”

— Muni Long

During the broadcast Latto won Best Hip Hop Female Artist while Coco Jones took home the award for Best New Artist.

Coco Jones receives the Best New Artist at the BET Awards on June 25, 2023. (Kevin Minter/Getty Images)

Drake led all nominees with 7 nominations, including Best Male Hip Hop Artist and Album of the ‘Year for Her Loss’ with 21 Savage. 21 Savage and Lizzo followed with 5 nominations each, while Beyonce, Burna Boy, Chris Brown, Ice Spice, and SZA  had four.   

HIGHLIGHTS

The Quavo and Offset onstage reunion brought out all the feels. It was great to see them squash whatever they had between them to perform some of the ‘Migos’ classic songs in the memory of fallen group Takeoff.

Quavo and Offest performs at the 2023 BET Awards on June 25, 2023. (Kevin Minter/Getty Images)

Busta Rhymes also had something to say about the current state of Hip Hop and what needs to change.

Busta Rhymes received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 BET Awards on June 25, 2023. (Michael Tran/Getty Images)

“Y’all messing up the bag. Y’all messing up the energy. I don’t like when I talk to these dudes that run these streaming platforms and they talking about, ‘You know, we turning the consumer off because there’s so much little this and little that going on with you rappers.’ We’re gonna stop that. We’re gonna love each other, and we gonna get to this money.”

— Busta Rhymes

Sza and Beyonce each won three times including tying for the Album of the Year Award

Below is the complete list of winners of each category

BEST ACTOR

Damson Idris — WINNER

BEST ACTRESS

Angela Bassett — WINNER

YOUNGSTARS AWARD

Marsai Martin — WINNER

BEST MOVIE

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever — WINNER

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Renaissance, Beyoncé — WINNER (tie)

SOS, SZA — WINNER (tie)

BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST

SZA — WINNER

BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST

Chris Brown — WINNER (tie)

Usher — WINNER (tie)

BEST GROUP

Drake & 21 Savage — WINNER

BEST COLLABORATION

“Wait For U,” Future feat. Drake & Tems — WINNER

BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST

Latto — WINNER

BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST

Kendrick Lamar — WINNER

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

“Kill Bill,” SZA — WINNER

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Teyana “Spike Tey” Taylor — WINNER

BEST NEW ARTIST

Coco Jones — WINNER

BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL

“Bless Me,” Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin — WINNER

VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD

“Break My Soul,” Beyoncé — WINNER

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT

Burna Boy (Nigeria) — WINNER

BET HER AWARD (honoring motivational and empowering songs that center women)

“Break My Soul,” Beyoncé — WINNER

SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR  

Angel Reese — WINNER

SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR

Jalen Hurts — WINNER

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