The BET Awards were barely about the awards as wild performances stole the night and Don Cheadle dedicated the night to the ailing Nelson Mandela.
"We want to take a moment and send our prayers and thoughts to a man who literally changed the world," he said. "This evening we would like to offer prayers and support and hope to the extraordinary Nelson Mandela and his family."
Janelle Monae ended the event with a top-notch performance of "Q.U.E.E.N." alongside Erykah Badu, who brought a white poodle onstage. It was one of the night's best performances, which also featured a seductive Ciara, a slick Miguel, a random - but welcomed - reggae set and a playful Justin Timberlake with an even more playful Charlie Wilson.
Timberlake took a backseat to the soul singer, joining Wilson onstage for a medley of his solo and Gap Band hits.
Stevie Wonder, Jamie Foxx, Pharrell, Snoop Dogg and India.Arie were also part of the tribute to 60-year-old Wilson, who earned the lifetime achievement award.
"Charlie Wilson is soul music. His impact colors the work of many artists, which is basically my nice way of saying I and a lot of other artists have stolen from him," Timberlake said when presenting Wilson the award.
Wilson's lively stage presence was arguably the night's top moment, though others were on fire.
Ciara echoed Janet Jackson when she danced and sang her R&B hit "Body Party," while Dawn Penn, Chaka Pliers, Beenie Man and Elephant Man electrified the audience when they gave a colorful performance of reggae classics.
Badu sang with Monae and Kendrick Lamar, who also performed with 2 Chainz. Miguel sang alone, and with Mariah Carey and J. Cole, while Minaj performed with Ciara and Chris Brown. Pharrell helped out Wilson and Robin Thicke, who excitedly performed his current No. 1 hit, "Blurred Lines."
Drake, who didn't attend the awards show, led with 12 nominations, though he won viewer's choice and best collaboration for his appearance on A$AP Rocky's "(Expletive) Problems" with Lamar and 2 Chainz. Drake had five nominations for video of the year, which had 10 nominees.
Lamar, who along with 2 Chainz was the second most nominated act, won best new artist, male hip-hop artist and collaboration.
Minaj and Brown picked up their fourth consecutive wins for best female hip-hop artist and the fandemonium award.
"Don't read the bull in the news, I'm a real dude," Brown told the crowd.
Brown opened the show with a medley of new songs, including one that featured vocals from late R&B singer Aaliyah and another with Minaj, who joined him onstage. BET couldn't bleep some of the rapper's expletives -much like the awards show last year. Expletives from Badu, Wayne Brady and the singers who performed with R. Kelly slipped, too.
Carey was angelic as she belted - or lip synched - her latest hit, "#Beautiful," and an excited R. Kelly sang snippets of a dozen of his hits - including "Bump N Grind" and "Ignition" - as the crowd cheered on.
Host Chris Tucker sang and danced too - in tribute to Michael Jackson.
LIST OF WINNERS:
Female R&B/Pop Artist
- Rihanna | WINNER
- Beyoncé
- Tamar Braxton
- Alicia Keys
- Elle Varner
Male R&B/Pop Artist
- Miguel | WINNER
- Chris Brown
- Bruno Mars
- Justin Timberlake
- Usher
Group
- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis | WINNER
- Mary Mary
- Mindless Behavior
- Slaughterhouse
- The Throne (Kanye West & Jay-Z)
Collaboration
- A$AP Rocky f/ Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar -- Problems | WINNER
- 2 Chainz f/ Drake -- No Lie
- French Montana f/ Rick Ross, Drake and Lil Wayne -- Pop That
- Kendrick Lamar f/ Drake -- Poetic Justice
- Justin Timberlake f/ Jay-Z -- Suit & Tie
- Kanye West f/ Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz -- Mercy
Male Hip Hop Artist
- Kendrick Lamar | WINNER
- 2 Chainz
- A$AP Rocky
- Drake
- Future
Female Hip Hop Artist
- Nicki Minaj | WINNER
- Azealia Banks
- Eve
- Rasheeda
- Rye Rye
Video of the Year
- Drake -- Started From The Bottom | WINNER
- 2 Chainz f/ Drake -- No Lie
- A$AP Rocky f/ Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar -- Problems
- Drake f/ Lil Wayne -- HYFR
- Kendrick Lamar f/ Drake -- Poetic Justice
- Macklemore & Ryan Lewis f/ Wanz -- Thrift Shop
- Miguel -- Adorn
- Rihanna -- Diamonds
- Justin Timberlake f/ Jay-Z -- Suit & Tie
- Kanye West f/ Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz -- Mercy
Video Director of the Year
- Benny Boom | WINNER
- A$AP Rocky & Sam Lecca
- Director X
- Dre Films
- Hype Williams
New Artist
- Kendrick Lamar | WINNER
- Azealia Banks
- Joey Bada$$
- Trinidad Jame$
- The Weeknd
Gospel Artist
- Mary Mary | WINNER
- Deitrick Haddon
- Lecrae
- Tamela Mann
- Marvin Sapp
Actress
- Kerry Washington | WINNER
- Angela Bassett
- Halle Berry
- Taraji P. Henson
- Gabrielle Union
Actor
- Jamie Foxx | WINNER
- Don Cheadle
- Common
- Samuel L. Jackson
- Denzel Washington
YoungStars Award
- Gabrielle Douglas | WINNER
- Jacob Latimore
- Keke Palmer
- Jaden Smith
- Quvenzhané Wallis
Movie
- "Think Like A Man" | WINNER
- "Beasts of the Southern Wild"
- "Django Unchained"
- "Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap"
- "Sparkle"
Subway Sportswoman of the Year
- Gabrielle Douglas | WINNER
- Brittney Griner
- Candace Parker
- Serena Williams
- Venus Williams
Subway Sportsman of the Year
- LeBron James | WINNER
- Victor Cruz
- Kevin Durant
- Robert Griffin III
- Ray Lewis
Coca-Cola Viewers Choice Award
- Drake -- Started From The Bottom | WINNER
- A$AP Rocky f/ Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar -- Problems
- Kendrick Lamar -- Swimming Pools (Drank)
- Miguel -- Adorn
- Rihanna -- Diamonds
- Justin Timberlake f/ Jay-Z -- Suit & Tie
Centric Award
- Tamar Braxton -- Love and War | WINNER
- Fantasia -- Lose To Win
- Miguel -- Adorn
- Nas -- Daughters
- Charlie Wilson -- My Love Is All I Have
FANdemonium Award
- Chris Brown | WINNER
- Rihanna
- Beyonce
- Nicki Minaj
International Act: Africa
- Ice Prince (Nigeria) | WINNER
- 2Face Idibia (Nigeria)
- Toya Delazy (South Africa)
- Donald (South Africa)
- R2Bees (Ghana)
- Radio and Weasel (Uganda)
International Act: UK
- Emeli Sandé | WINNER
- Marsha Ambrosius
- Estelle
- Labrinth
- Rita Ora
- Wiley
Humanitarian Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
BET Awards open with message to Madiba PLUS winners list
The BET Awards were barely about the awards as wild performances stole the night and Don Cheadle dedicated the night to the ailing Nelson Mandela.
"We want to take a moment and send our prayers and thoughts to a man who literally changed the world," he said. "This evening we would like to offer prayers and support and hope to the extraordinary Nelson Mandela and his family."
Janelle Monae ended the event with a top-notch performance of "Q.U.E.E.N." alongside Erykah Badu, who brought a white poodle onstage. It was one of the night's best performances, which also featured a seductive Ciara, a slick Miguel, a random - but welcomed - reggae set and a playful Justin Timberlake with an even more playful Charlie Wilson.
Timberlake took a backseat to the soul singer, joining Wilson onstage for a medley of his solo and Gap Band hits.
Stevie Wonder, Jamie Foxx, Pharrell, Snoop Dogg and India.Arie were also part of the tribute to 60-year-old Wilson, who earned the lifetime achievement award.
"Charlie Wilson is soul music. His impact colors the work of many artists, which is basically my nice way of saying I and a lot of other artists have stolen from him," Timberlake said when presenting Wilson the award.
Wilson's lively stage presence was arguably the night's top moment, though others were on fire.
Ciara echoed Janet Jackson when she danced and sang her R&B hit "Body Party," while Dawn Penn, Chaka Pliers, Beenie Man and Elephant Man electrified the audience when they gave a colorful performance of reggae classics.
Badu sang with Monae and Kendrick Lamar, who also performed with 2 Chainz. Miguel sang alone, and with Mariah Carey and J. Cole, while Minaj performed with Ciara and Chris Brown. Pharrell helped out Wilson and Robin Thicke, who excitedly performed his current No. 1 hit, "Blurred Lines."
Drake, who didn't attend the awards show, led with 12 nominations, though he won viewer's choice and best collaboration for his appearance on A$AP Rocky's "(Expletive) Problems" with Lamar and 2 Chainz. Drake had five nominations for video of the year, which had 10 nominees.
Lamar, who along with 2 Chainz was the second most nominated act, won best new artist, male hip-hop artist and collaboration.
Minaj and Brown picked up their fourth consecutive wins for best female hip-hop artist and the fandemonium award.
"Don't read the bull in the news, I'm a real dude," Brown told the crowd.
Brown opened the show with a medley of new songs, including one that featured vocals from late R&B singer Aaliyah and another with Minaj, who joined him onstage. BET couldn't bleep some of the rapper's expletives -much like the awards show last year. Expletives from Badu, Wayne Brady and the singers who performed with R. Kelly slipped, too.
Carey was angelic as she belted - or lip synched - her latest hit, "#Beautiful," and an excited R. Kelly sang snippets of a dozen of his hits - including "Bump N Grind" and "Ignition" - as the crowd cheered on.
Host Chris Tucker sang and danced too - in tribute to Michael Jackson.
LIST OF WINNERS:
Female R&B/Pop Artist
Male R&B/Pop Artist
Group
Collaboration
Male Hip Hop Artist
Female Hip Hop Artist
Video of the Year
Video Director of the Year
New Artist
Gospel Artist
Actress
Actor
YoungStars Award
Movie
Subway Sportswoman of the Year
Subway Sportsman of the Year
Coca-Cola Viewers Choice Award
Centric Award
FANdemonium Award
International Act: Africa
International Act: UK
Humanitarian Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
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