The acclaimed rapper’s haul included Album of the Year for GNX, Best Collaboration for "Luther" featuring SZA, Best Male Hip Hop Artist—a record-extending eighth win in the category—Video of the Year for Not Like Us, and Video Director of the Year, which he shared with longtime collaborator Dave Free.
Lamar’s GNX win marks his second BET Album of the Year title, following his first for DAMN. in 2017. He now joins Beyoncé as the only artists to win the category twice since its inception that same year. Beyoncé previously won for Lemonade and Renaissance.
GNX is already a front-runner for the 2026 Grammy Awards and stood out in a tough BET Awards field, edging out Grammy-winning albums like Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter (which won both Album of the Year and Best Country Album at the Grammys), Chris Brown’s 11:11 Deluxe (Best R&B Album), and Doechii’s Alligator Bites Never Heal (Best Rap Album).
SZA and Chris Brown each secured two wins. SZA was named Best Female R&B/Pop Artist for the third consecutive year, further solidifying her place among elite company—only Beyoncé (with 10 wins) and Alicia Keys (three wins) have achieved that milestone. She also shared the Best Collaboration award with Kendrick Lamar for "Luther," a track that also served as a heartfelt tribute to the late soul legend Luther Vandross.
Chris Brown was crowned Best Male R&B/Pop Artist for a record-extending eighth time and also clinched the Viewer’s Choice Award for his hit “Residuals.” Brown’s total in the male R&B/pop category now equals Beyoncé’s record in the female category, with only Lil Wayne also previously matching that four-time win mark.
The awards also honored Luther Vandross in two major ways. His legacy was celebrated through the Best Collaboration win for "Luther" and the documentary Luther: Never Too Much, which won Best Movie. This marks the second consecutive year a biographical film on a music icon has won the category, following Bob Marley: One Love in 2024.
Doechii, another standout of the night, took home Best Female Hip Hop Artist, her first BET Award. In her emotional acceptance speech, she acknowledged the ongoing protests outside the venue against ICE arrests in Los Angeles, using her platform to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis affecting many in the community.
The 2025 BET Awards celebrated not only musical excellence but also cultural relevance and activism, underscoring the power of artists to shape conversations far beyond the stage.
Full List of Winners
- Best Female R&B/Pop Artist – SZA
- Best Male R&B/Pop Artist – Chris Brown
- Best Group – Future & Metro Boomin
- Best Collaboration – "Luther" – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
- Best Male Hip Hop Artist – Kendrick Lamar
- Best Female Hip Hop Artist – Doechii
- Video of the Year – "Not Like Us" – Kendrick Lamar
- Video Director of the Year – Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
- Best New Artist – Leon Thomas
- Album of the Year – GNX – Kendrick Lamar
- Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award – "Rain Down on Me" – GloRilla feat. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music
- Best Actress – Cynthia Erivo
- Best Actor – Denzel Washington
- Best Movie – Luther: Never Too Much#
- Young Stars Award – Blue Ivy Carter
- Sportswoman of the Year – Angel Reese (Basketball)
- Sportsman of the Year – Jalen Hurts (Football)
- BET Her Award – "Heart of a Woman" – Summer Walker