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

Category: Arts & Culture