By Edem Latsu Nukafu
The BET Hip Hop Awards commemorated the genre’s 50th anniversary with a Tuesday-televised event hosted by Fat Joe at Atlanta’s Cobb Energy Center.
“This year’s BET Hip Hop Awards will mark the culmination of our yearlong celebration of hip-hop’s storied creation and the art form’s sonic and cultural expansion,” said Connie Orlando, the network’s executive vice president of specials, music programming, and music strategy.
“We are honoured by this year’s roster of nominees as they continue to carry the creativity and diversity of hip-hop into the future. We congratulate each nominee on their accomplishments as they take hip-hop artistry to new heights.”
Rapper 21 Savage and Cardi B led this year’s nominations with 12 each, followed by Drake, who earned 9 nods.
Kendrick Lamar was the night’s big winner, with four wins, sweeping all his categories.
Cardi went home winless, while a bunch of artists won two: Drake and 21 Savage, Lil Durk and J. Cole, Metro Boomin, and Lil Uzi Vert.
Below, see how this year’s categories shook out, with the winners in bold.
■ Hip-Hop Artist of the Year
Drake
Kendrick Lamar ☆won
J. Cole
21 Savage
Lil Uzi Vert
Cardi B
Burna Boy
GloRilla
■ Song of the Year
Lil Durk feat. J. Cole, “All My Life”
DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy, “God Did”
Lil Uzi Vert, “Just Wanna Rock” ☆Won
Coi Leray, “Players”
Latto feat. Cardi B, “Put It On Da Floor Again”
Drake & 21 Savage, “Rich Flex”
Burna Boy feat. 21 Savage, “Sittin’ On Top Of The World”
GloRilla & Cardi B, “Tomorrow 2″
■ Hip-Hop Album of the Year
GloRilla, Anyways, Life’s Great…
Coi Leray, Coi
DJ Khaled, God Did
Drake & 21 Savage, Her Loss ☆ Won
Metro Boomin, Heroes & Villains
Jack Harlow, Jackman
Lil Uzi Vert, Pink Tape
Megan Thee Stallion, Traumazine
■ Best Hip-Hop Video
Lil Uzi Vert, “Just Wanna Rock” ☆ Won
Coi Leray, “Players” (DJ Smallz 732 – Jersey Club Remix)
Latto feat. Cardi B, “Put It On Da Floor Again”
DaBaby, “Shake Sumn”
Burna Boy feat. 21 Savage, “Sittin’ On Top Of The World”
Drake & 21 Savage, “Spin Bout U”
GloRilla & Cardi B, “Tomorrow 2″
■ Best Collaboration
“All My Life,” Lil Durk feat. J. Cole ☆ Won
DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy, “God Did”
Coi Leray feat. Busta Rhymes, “Players” (DJ Saige Remix)
Ice Spice & Nicki Minaj, “Princess Diana” ‘
Latto feat. Cardi B, “Put It On Da Floor Again”
Burna Boy feat. 21 Savage, “Sittin’ On Top Of The World”
GloRilla & Cardi B, “Tomorrow 2″
■ Impact Track
Nas, “30,” Nas
Lil Durk feat. J. Cole, “All My Life” ☆ Won
Megan Thee Stallion, “Anxiety”
Symba, “Can’t Win for Nothing”
NLE Choppa, “Champions”
DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy, “God Did”
Killer Mike & André 3000 feat. Future & Eryn Allen Kane, “Scientists & Engineers”
Robert Glasper feat. Mac Miller, “Therapy Pt. 2”
■ Best Duo or Group
City Girls
DJ Drama & Jeezy
Drake & 21 Savage ☆ Won
Earthgang
Larry June & The Alchemist
Quavo & Takeoff
Rae Sremmurd
■ Best Live Performer
Burna Boy
Busta Rhymes
Cardi B
Coi Leray
Dababy
Drake
Kendrick Lamar ☆ Won
Megan Thee Stallion
■ Best Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist
Armani White
Central Cee
Doechii
Finesse2tymes
Ice Spice ☆ Won
Kaliii
Lola Brooke
Sexyy Redd
■ Lyricist of the Year
21 Savage
André 3000
Burna Boy
Cardi B
Conway the Machine
Drake
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar ☆ Won
■ Producer of the Year
ATL Jacob
DJ Khaled
Dr. Dre
Hit-Boy
Hitmaka
Kaytranada
London on Da Track
Metro Boomin ☆Won
The Alchemist
■ Video Director of the Year
Anderson .Paak
Cole Bennett
Colin Tilley
DaBaby & Reel Goats
Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar ☆Won
Dave Meyers
Travis Scott
■ DJ of the Year
Chase B
D-Nice
DJ Cassidy
DJ Clark Kent
DJ Drama
DJ Jazzy Jeff
DJ Khaled
Kaytranada
Metro Boomin ☆Won
■ Best Hip-Hop Platform
AllHipHop
Caresha Please ☆Won
Drink Champs
HipHopDX
Million Dollaz Worth of Game
Rap Caviar
The Breakfast Club
The Joe Budden Podcast
XXL
■ Hustler of the Year
21 Savage
50 Cent ☆Won
Burna Boy
Cardi B
Caresha
DJ Khaled
Drake
Jay-Z
■ Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse
21 Savage, “Creepin’” by Metro Boomin, also feat. The Weeknd
21 Savage, “Peaches & Eggplants” by Young Nudy
André 3000, “Scientists & Engineers” by Killer Mike, also feat. Future and Eryn Allen Kane
Cardi B, “Tomorrow 2” by GloRilla
Cardi B, “Put It On Da Floor Again” by Latto
Drake, “Oh U Went” by Young Thug
J. Cole, “All My Life” by Lil Durk
Jay-Z, “God Did” by DJ Khaled, also feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, John Legend, Fridayy
■ Best International Flow
Aka (South Africa)
Black Sherif (Ghana) ☆ Won
Central Cee (UK)
Gazo (France)
J Hus (UK)
K.O (South Africa)
Major Rd (Brazil)
Ninho (France)
Sampa The Great (Zambia)
Tasha & Tracie (Brazil)
■ Check out some performances during the event: Credit: BET
Writer’s email: edemlatsu093@gmail.com
