The BET Awards 2023 edition took place Sunday June 25 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. The event celebrated the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, and a tribute performance was given to the late Tina Turner.
The concert featured a performance by Nigerian megastar Davido, who wowed the crowd with his brand-new blockbuster hit single, Unavailable. Davido’s performance marked the second year in a row that an Afrobeats musician would take the stage at the main event after Fireboy DML’s appearance last year.
Best International Artist: Burna Boy. Burna Boy was nominated in four categories, and he was successful in one of them. The king of Afrobeats triumphed over competitors including Aya Nakamura, Ayra Starr, KO, Uncle Waffles, Tiakola, etc. to win the prize for Best International Artist. The Nigerian musician, who was one of the featured performers at the Champions League final opening ceremony, has now triumphed four times in a row.
Best Collaboration: (Future and Drake’s “Wait for U”) Tems, who had already won twice, took home her third BET Award in as many years. She received her prize this year along with Future and Drake for their work on the song Wait for U. Without a doubt, the musician’s contribution to this success is deeply valued. He received Best Melodic Rap Performance at the Grammys for it as well.
People’s choice: Best New International Act: New Cameroonian music sensation, Libianca, beats Nigeria’s Asake to win the People’s Choice category: Best New International Act. Libianca thus won her very first Bet Award while also making her the first Cameroonian artist to get nominated and winner of a BET Award.
The moment @iamlibianca was told she had won the Viewer’s Choice Best International Act at the #betawards is just perfect ❤️
To think her breakout single was less than a year ago 🤯 pic.twitter.com/mf1yJoyMf0
— Culture Custodian (@takingCustody) June 25, 2023
@modelbrandonlove Libianca full performance at BET Award. #libianca #people #betawards ♬ original sound – Agendia Brandon
Album of the Year
“Anyways, Life’s Great” – GloRilla
“Breezy” – Chris Brown
“God Did” – DJ Khaled
“Her Loss” – Drake & 21 Savage
“Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers”- Kendrick Lamar
“Renaissance” – Beyoncé – *WINNER (TIE)
“SOS” – Sza – *WINNER (TIE)
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Ari Lennox
Beyoncé
Coco Jones
H.E.R.
Lizzo
Sza – *WINNER
Tems
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Blxst
Brent Faiyaz
Burna Boy
Chris Brown – *WINNER (TIE)
Drake
The Weeknd
Usher – *WINNER (TIE)
Best Group
City Girls
Drake & 21 Savage – *WINNER
Dvsn
Flo
Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin
Quavo & Takeoff
Wanmor
Best Collaboration
“Big Energy” (remix) – Latto & Mariah Carey feat. DJ Khaled
“Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2” – Pinkpantheress & Ice Spice
“Call Me Every Day” – Chris Brown feat. Wizkid
“Can’t Stop Won’t Stop”- King Combs feat. Kodak Black
“Creepin’” – Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage
“F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” – Hitkidd & GloRilla
“Tomorrow 2” – GloRilla & Cardi B
“Wait For U” – Future feat. Drake & Tems – *WINNER
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B
Coi Leray
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Latto – *WINNER
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
21 Savage
Drake
Future
J. Cole
Jack Harlow
Kendrick Lamar – *WINNER
Lil Baby
Video of the Year
“We (Warm Embrace)” – Chris Brown
“2 Million Up” – Peezy, Jeezy & Real Boston Richey feat. Rob49
“About Damn Time” – Lizzo
“Bad Habit” – Steve Lacy
“First Class” – Jack Harlow
“Kill Bill” – Sza – *WINNER
“Tomorrow 2” – GloRilla & Cardi B
Video Director of the Year
A$ap Rocky for Awge
Benny Boom
Burna Boy
Cole Bennett
Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
Director X
Teyana “Spike Tey” Taylor – *WINNER
Best New Artist
Ambré
Coco Jones – *WINNER
Doechii
Flo
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Lola Brooke
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
“Bless Me” – Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin – *WINNER
“Finished (Live)” – Tamela Mann
“I’ve Got Joy” – Cece Winans
“Kingdom” – Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin feat. Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore
“New” – Tye Tribbett
“One Moment From Glory” – Yolanda Adams
“The Better Benediction (Pt.2)” – PJ Morton feat. Lisa Knowles-Smith, Le’Andria Johnson, Keke Wyatt, Kierra Sheard & Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Viewer’s Choice Award
“About Damn Time” – Lizzo
“Break My Soul” – Beyoncé – *WINNER
“First Class” – Jack Harlow
“Jimmy Cooks” – Drake feat. 21 Savage
“Kill Bill” – Sza
“Last Last” – Burna Boy
“Super Freaky Girl” – Nicki Minaj
“Wait For U” – Future feat. Drake & Tems
Best International Act
Aya Nakamura (France)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Burna Boy (Nigeria) – *WINNER
Central Cee (UK)
Ella Mai (UK)
K.O (South Africa)
L7nnon (Brazil)
Stormzy (UK)
Tiakola (France)
Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)
BET Her
“About Damn Time” – Lizzo
“Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2” – Pinkpantheress & Ice Spice
“Break My Soul” – Beyoncé – *WINNER
“Her” – Megan Thee Stallion
“Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” – Rihanna & Ludwig Göransson
“Players” – Coi Leray
“Special” – Lizzo
Best Movie
“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” – *WINNER
“Creed 3”
“Emancipation”
“Nope”
“The Woman King”
“Till”
“Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody”
Best Actor
Amin Joseph
Brian Tyree Henry
Damson Idris – *WINNER
Daniel Kaluuya
Demetrius ‘Lil Meech’ Flenory Jr.
Donald Glover
Michael B. Jordan
Best Actress
Angela Bassett – *WINNER
Coco Jones
Janelle James
Janelle Monáe
Keke Palmer
Viola Davis
Zendaya
YoungStars Award
Akira Akbar
Alaya High
Demi Singleton
Genesis Denise
Marsai Martin – *WINNER
Thaddeus J. Mixson
Young Dylan
Sportswoman of the Year Award
Alexis Morris
Allyson Felix
Angel Reese – *WINNER
Candace Parker
Naomi Osaka
Serena Williams
Sha’Carri Richardson
Sportsman of the Year Award
Aaron Judge
Bubba Wallace
Gervonta Davis
Jalen Hurts – *WINNER
LeBron James
Patrick Mahomes
Stephen Curry
