Black Entertainment Television Awards screened live for first time in Australia
MTV celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Black Entertainment Television (BET) Awards this morning with its first live screening in Australia on MTV Music.
Still underway, Kendrick Lamar opened up the ceremony with a performance of Alright. The Compton rapper took out the Best Male Hip-Hop Artist award, beating Drake, J.Cole and Common.
Click the image below to watch Lamar's performance.
Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, Robin Thicke, Ne-Yo and Tyga also performed with Minaj, Brown and Meek Mill performing their collaborationAll Eyes On You.Chris Brown won the Coca-Cola Viewer's Choice Award and the award forBest Male R&B/Pop Artist.
Tinashe, Ciara and Jason Derulo performed a tribute to Janet Jackson. Jackson was awarded the first-ever Ultimate ICON: Music Dance Visual Award. Watch the highlights here.
Mullumbimby-born rapper Iggy Azalea was nominated in he Best Female Hip Hop Artist category, but six-time nominee Nicki Minaj took out the award, along with the Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award.
Simon Bates, Vice President, MTV Australia & New Zealand toldTMN the youth brand’s choice to screen the awards was influenced by ratings analytics.
“We know from international ratings data that Australian’s love award shows, and MTV is the home of some of the biggest award shows on the planet, MTV VMA’s, MTV EMA’s and MTV Movie Awards, so we’re thrilled to now have the opportunity to add the BET Awards in to the mix for our hip-hop and R&B lovers,” Bates told TMN. “[The Awards] aired live this morning at 8am on MTV Music, our flagship music channel, and will repeat throughout the week.”
The ceremony, which recognises artists, entertainers and athletes across 20 categories, is the pinnacle of the four-day BET Experience festival. The festival featured performances by Bell Biv Devoe with Doug E. Fresh, Top Dawg Entertainment, Lauryn Hill, N.W.A (sans Dr. Dre) and a tribute to J. Dilla by The Roots, Erykah Badu and Busta Rhymes among others.
The BET Awards will encore again tonight at 8.30pm on MTV Music.
See the announced winners below:
Best New Artist
Sam Smith (WINNER)
Dej Loaf
Fetty Wap
Rae Sremmurd
Tinashe
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
Kendrick Lamar (WINNER)
J. Cole
Drake
Common
Big Sean
Wale
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Nicki Minaj (WINNER)
Azealia Banks
Tink
Iggy Azalea
Trina
Dej Loaf
Best Actor
Terrence Howard (WINNER)
Anthony Anderson
Idris Elba
Jussie Smollett
Kevin Hart
Centric Award
The Weeknd – “Earned It” (WINNER)
Avery Sunshine – “Call My Name”
Jazmine Sullivan – “Dumb (feat. Meek Mill)”
Mark Ronson – “Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars)”
Sam Smith – “Stay with Me (feat. Mary J. Blige)”
Humanitarian Award
Tom Joyner
Ultimate Icon: Music Dance Visual Award
Janet Jackson
Fandemonium Award
Chris Brown
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Beyoncé (WINNER)
Janelle Monáe
Jhené Aiko
Ciara
Rihanna
K. Michelle
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Chris Brown (WINNER)
The Weeknd
John Legend
Trey Songz
Usher
August Alsina
Best Group
Rae Sremmurd (WINNER)
A$AP Mob
Migos
Rich Gang
Young Money
Jodeci
Best Collaboration
Common & John Legend – “Glory” (WINNER)
Chris Brown – “Loyal (feat. Lil Wayne & Tyga)”
Big Sean – “I Don’t F**k with You (feat. E-40)”
August Alsina – “No Love (Remix) [feat. Nicki Minaj]”
Chris Brown – “New Flame (feat. Usher & Rick Ross)”
Mark Ronson – “Uptown Funk (feat. Bruno Mars)”
Best Actress
Taraji P. Henson (WINNER)
Gabrielle Union
Kerry Washington
Tracee Ellis Ross
Viola Davis
YoungStars Award
Mo’Ne Davis (WINNER)
Jacob Latimore
Jaden Smith
Quevenzhané Wallis
Zendaya
Best Movie
Selma (WINNER)
Annie
Beyond the Lights
Think Like a Man Too
Top Five
Best Gospel Artist
Lecrae (WINNER)
Deitrick Haddon
Erica Campbell
Fred Hammond
Mali Music
Michelle Williams
Video of the Year
Beyoncé – “7/11″ (WINNER)
Chris Brown – “New Flame (feat. Usher & Rick Ross)”
Chris Brown – “Loyal (feat. Lil Wayne & Tyga)”
Big Sean – “I Don’t F**k with You (feat. E-40)”
Nicki Minaj – “Anaconda”
Common & John Legend – “Glory”
Video Director of the Year
Beyoncé, Ed Burke & Todd Tourso (WINNER)
Benny Boom
Chris Robinson
Fatima Robinson
Hype Williams
Sportswoman of the Year
Serena Williams (WINNER)
Brittney Griner
Candace Parker
Skylar Diggins
Venus Williams
Sportsman of the Year
Stephen Curry (WINNER)
Chris Paul
Floyd Mayweather, Jr.
Lebron James
Marshawn Lynch
Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award
Nicki Minaj – “Only feat. Drake, Lil Wayne & Chris Brown)” (WINNER)
Beyoncé – “7/11″
Dej Loaf – “Try Me”
Kendrick Lamar – “i”
Rae Sremmurd – “Throw Sum Mo (feat. Nicki Minaj & Young Thug)”
The Weeknd – “Earned It”
Best International Act: Africa
Stonebwoy(Ghana)
Best International Act: UK
Stormzy