Adeyemi Matthew |
Busta Rhymes, center, accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award from Spliff Star, far left, and Swizz Beatz, right, onstage during the BET Awards 2023. |
The awards, which honor the year’s best performances in music, TV, film and sports, were handed out during a live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. This year’s event celebrated 50 years of Hip Hop, with Busta Rhymes receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Trevor George Smith Jr. known professionally as Busta Rhymes, receives the 2023 BET Lifetime Achievement Award in celebration of 50 years of Hip Hop.
The teary-eyed multiplatinum rapper, songwriter and record
producer was recognised on Sunday night for making notable impact on culture
and entertainment.
Rhymes, 51, was introduced by comedian Marlon Wayans, who
praised the rapper as a “brilliant” musical force.
“Every song this man has done, he’s been a part of other
people’s hits and been stealing hits for years,” Wayans said. “If you know
Busta, we are all happy for Busta in this room ‘cause everybody knows he
deserves it. He’s a good brother, a great dude.”
Receiving the prestigious honor proved to be an emotional
moment for the rapper. “I’m (going to) wear it on my sleeve. I do want to cry,”
Rhymes said, before dabbing his eyes with a hand towel.
Delivering a lengthy acceptance speech, the “Woo-Hah!! Got
You All in Check” rapper attributed part of his success to his Black cultural
heritage.
“A lot of greatness from our people and our culture is by
default ‘cause it’s just the magic that we have,” Rhymes said. “I just am
grateful (for) the blessing that has been bestowed upon me and this gift that I
have been given, and this fire that continues to burn as a passion in my soul.”
Rhymes added: “It’s just me trying to do my duty to continue
to advance the culture and continue to contribute in a significant way. I see
so many people in here that I have known and grown with for a long time, you’re
watching me grow and I love y’all and I know y’all love me.”
SZA also won tonight for best Female R&B/Pop Artist and for Video of the Year for “Kill Bill,” while Beyonce’s “Break My Soul” won both the Viewers Choice Award and the BET Her Award.
There was another tie tonight, with Chris Brown and Usher sharing the Male R&B/Pop Artist honor.
In film, Disney/Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever won Best Movie, while the pic’s Angela Bassett won Best Actress. Damson Idris won the Best Actor honor.
Drake scored a pair of wins tonight after he and GloRilla came in with the most nominations overall with seven apiece.
Some of the highlights of the night included Offset and Quavo reuniting to pay homage to the late Migos member Takeoff. Muni Long also took time to acknowledge the importance of writers amid the WGA strike.
Below is the full list of winners.
2023 BET Awards Winners List
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (TIE)
SOS – SZA
Renaissance – Beyoncé
BEST COLLABORATION
Wait For U – Future feat. Drake & Tems
BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST
SZA
BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST (TIE)
Chris Brown
Usher
BEST NEW ARTIST
Coco Jones
BEST GROUP
Drake x 21 Savage
BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST
Latto
BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST
Kendrick Lamar
DR. BOBBY JONES BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD
Bless Me – Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin
BET HER AWARD
Break My Soul – Beyoncé
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Kill Bill – SZA
VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Teyana “Spike Tey” Taylor
BEST MOVIE
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
BEST ACTRESS
Angela Bassett
BEST ACTOR
Damson Idris
YOUNGSTARS AWARD
Marsai Martin
SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
Angel Reese
SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR
Jalen Hurts
VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD
Break My Soul – Beyoncé
BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT
Burna Boy