July 04, 2013
By Chelsea Battle
Contributing Writer
BET launched its 12th annual awards show this Sunday at LA Live’s Nokia Theater. The star studded event featured performances from some of the entertainment industry’s hottest artists. This year’s headliners included Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey, Young Jeezy, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Lion, Charlie Wilson, R. Kelly, Robin Thicke, TI, Pharrell, Miguel, ASAP Rocky, 2 Chainz, Erykah Badu, Beenie Man, and Elephant Man.
The show also attracted nine Oscar-nominees, including winners Jamie Foxx, Forrest Whittaker, and Stevie Wonder. Also in attendance was the cast of “The Best Man Holiday” (the sequel to “The Best Man”) including Morris Chestnut, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, Terrance Howard, Regina Hall, Harold Perrineau, and Melissa De Sousa. The stars of “Think Like a Man 2” (sequel to “Think Like a Man”) Gabrielle Union, Kevin Hart, Meagan Good, and Taraji P. Henson also made appearances.
Best Performances of the Night
Charlie Wilson: After winning the Cadillac Lifetime Achievement Award, Charlie gave an electrifying performance alongside Pharrell Williams and Snoop Lion to their 2003 hit single “Beautiful”. Both the performance and the award served as a tribute and testament to his successful career in the music industry. He later joined Justin Timberlake in a performance of their hit single, “Signs”. Adding the cherry on top of what was already a momentous performance, Wilson belted out his classic chart toppers “Outstanding”, and “You Dropped a Bomb On Me”, as delighted fans sang along.
Kendrick Lamar: The audience jumped up out of their seats and stayed up when Kendrick Lamar performed his hit single, “M.A.A.D City”. Things really began to heat up when he brought out guest star Erykah Badu to sing the chorus of the critically acclaimed single, “Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe”.
Ciara: Ciara delivered an outstanding performance of her hit single “Body Party”, complete with those sultry dance moves that only Ciara can pull off. She looked like new money—literally—in a sexy two-piece costume bedecked with dollar bills.
TI, Robin Thicke, & Pharrell: Three of the hottest men in the building gave an even hotter performance as they hammered out their second hit single of the summer, “Blurred Lines”. Surrounded by beautiful women on a stage illuminated by red lights flashing the words “Blurred Lines”, the trio crossed all limit lines between them and an audience on fire.
Full list of BET AWARDS 2013 winners are:
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Rihanna
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Miguel
Best Group
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Best Collaboration
A$AP Rocky f/ Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar – Problems
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
Kendrick Lamar
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Nicki Minaj
Video of the Year
Drake – Started From The Bottom
Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom
Best New Artist
Kendrick Lamar
Best Gospel Artist
Mary Mary
Best Actress
Kerry Washington
Best Actor
Jamie Foxx
YoungStars Award
Gabrielle Douglas
Best Movie
Think Like A Man
Subway Sportswoman of the Year
Gabrielle Douglas
Subway Sportsman of the Year
LeBron James
Coca-Cola Viewers Choice Award
Drake – Started From The Bottom
Centric Award
Tamar Braxton – Love and War
Best International Act: Africa
Ice Prince (Nigeria)
Best International Act: UK
Emeli Sandé
Photos by Robert Torrence for LAWT