The buttoned-up atmosphere of award shows doesn’t apply to the BET Aw🍎ards, which took place in Los Angeles last night. The ceremony, now in it’s 15 year, saluted African-Americans in their achievements across the entertainment world. But for the most part, it was the musicians, singers, and rappers who stole the limelight. These are the best and worst musical moments from the night.
Best
Kendrick Lamar
It was only fitting that the best rapper in America opened up the night, adding the kind of spectacle that was on an equal footing toꦍ his music. Lamar performed the “To Pimp a Butterfly” track “Alright” atop a graffiti-covered police car and even incorporated a fake technical failure into the segment that had everyone going for a few seconds. When the Compton emcee finally goes on a full tour, it’s going to be a sight to see.
The Weeknd
As is so often the way at award ceremonies, the newbie has to team up with a legend and so, Weeknd performed “Earned It” with a typically overdramatic Alicia Keys. But he ༺doesn’t need her, as he demonstrated when delivering a throbbing version of new single “The Hills,” laying its bad intentions thrillingly bare in the process. His time is most definitely now.
Smokey Robinson
The Motown legend put in a fine medley of his songs, including the Miracles classic “Track of My Tears” and the Temptation🦋s’ “My Girl” (which he co-wrote), but the real moment of class came when he gently admonished the arrogance of other, younger acts. “For you to become haughty and self-absorbed because millions of people around the world – most of them you will never know or never even meet – love you… it’s so ridiculous. You should be thankful.” At time of publication, Drake was not available for a response.
Worst
Diddy
The medley of Bad Boy Record’s biggest hits had it’s moments, but the nostalgia value was reduced on𒁏ce the realization set in that many of Diddy’s old acts and buddies can’t command the mic or stage like they could. Mase sluggishly rapped along to a backing track of “Feel So Good,” Lil’ Kim’s guest verse was jarring, while Diddy himself managed to fall down a trap door on stage during an underwhelming “All About the Benjamins.”
Janet Jackson
It’s not that Janet did anything bad, it’s just that she didn’t do anything at all. Tinashe, Jason Derulo and Ciara all paid sincere tributes with their dance routines and Jackson herself was gracious 🍸and graceful in accepting her Ultimate Icon: Musical Dance Visual award. But hopes that she might sing or pꦗerform herself were dashed. It was a little anticlimactic, but let’s just all hope really hard that Jackson’s tour (which starts in two months) makes up for it.
Rihanna
Ri-Ri’s hubris is beginning to irritate. The singer spent the evening in the crowd clutching a roll of gaffer tape, and her🍌 only contribution of the night was to throw some money around and introduce a fairly uninspiring preview to her new video for “Bitch Better Have My Money.” Come on Rihanna, stop stalling and get that eighth album done.