Rapper Kendrick Lamar lands the biggest wins at the 2025 BET Awards
LOS ANGELES, June 9 (Reuters) - Kendrick Lamar was the top winner on Monday at the BET Awards, an awards ceremony honoring Black actors, singers and sports stars.
The "30 For 30" rapper won the best male hip hop artist award, best album of the year as well as the video of the year award for 'Not Like Us."
Lamar and filmmaker Dave Free also took home the video director of the year award at the event, which was held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles and broadcast on the BET cable channel.
"BET has always made sure they're representing the culture right and always put me in the midst of the cycle of what we represent," Lamar said on stage when accepting his award.
Host comedian Kevin Hart opened the ceremony by recognizing the BET Awards' 25th anniversary and all of the "history that has been made" on the stage.
The ceremony traversed the evolution of Black music, starting with a performance by R&B artist Ashanti that featured a compilation of songs, including her 2002 song "Foolish."
Additional performances included other 2000s songs "Ballin'" by Mustard, "1 Thing" by Amerie and "Like You" by Bow Wow.
Hart led with jokes while also highlighting the BET Ultimate Icon Award winners of the night, including Kirk Franklin, Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx and Snoop Dogg.
The special award was given to those that have paid homage to music, entertainment, advocacy and community impact.
Presented by Stevie Wonder, Foxx accepted his award and reflected on his recovery journey after having a stroke in 2023.
"I gotta be honest, when I saw the in memoriam, I was like, 'Man, that could have been me'," he said.
Another honor included the best female hip hop artist award for rising rapper Doechii.
"Trump is using military forces to stop protest," Doechii said in her acceptance speech, addressing the anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles, where the National Guard and U.S. Marines are being deployed.
"I want y'all to consider what kind of government it appears to be, when every time we exercise our democratic rights to protest, the military is deployed against us," she added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
22 minutes ago
- The Independent
Bills quarterback Josh Allen shows off new ring following marriage to actor Hailee Steinfeld
Josh Allen 's broad grin was familiar. The wedding band on the quarterback's ring finger was brand new. As much as Allen hoped to talk about the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday, the newlywed couldn't escape questions about his headline-grabbing marriage to actor/singer Hailee Steinfeld in Southern California on May 31. 'We're back to football,' he said, before pointing to his ring finger. 'Got some hardware now. So, good to go.' Allen was otherwise short on details as part of his longstanding bid to maintain a semblance of privacy, even though pictures from the outdoor wedding were posted on social media mere minutes after the couple exchanged 'I do's.' There were pictures of Steinfeld wearing a strapless white gown walking down the aisle, the couple sharing a kiss, and Allen, in a black tuxedo, posing with friends and Bills teammates. It wasn't until being asked about what the past four months have meant to him — in which Allen was named NFL MVP in February, signed one of the league's richest contracts in March and got married in May — that Allen finally opened up. He called Steinfeld his best friend, and said she makes everything easier. 'That was the most important decision I'll make in my life and I made the right one,' Allen said. Western New York and the NFL have a new power couple, both of whom happen to be from California and began dating two years ago. There's the 29-year-old Allen, who in seven seasons has set most of the Bills scoring and passing records. His star has continued to rise while he has transformed the Bills into an AFC power, also building his profile through various national commercials. And then there's Steinfeld, 28, who first gained fame by earning an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress for her role as Mattie Ross in the Coen brothers' 2010 remake of 'True Grit.' She has since enjoyed numerous starring roles, most recently in the movie 'Sinners,' while also branching out into music. Amid the buzz, Allen brought the focus back to football as Buffalo opened a three-day mandatory set of practices. The quarterback skipped the team's voluntary sessions last week. Aside from taking his familiar spot leading the offense on the field, Allen spent time after practice being filmed to measure his footwork and mechanics. It's something Allen does several times a year to ensure he's not picking up bad habits. 'Making sure we're staying on top of those things and if there's something that we need to tweak for the better, we are going to try to do it,' he said. The same could be said of Allen's unflinching approach to dealing with the spotlight. Coach Sean McDermott credits the quarterback for staying true to himself. 'What I've seen is this truly genuine, authentic person who, yes, is in the limelight, yes, is one of the top players in our league, and maybe the top player in the NFL,' McDermott said. 'But he is so authentic, so down-to-earth, so relatable. I think that's really the connection and the cool piece about Josh is because he is who he is.' And yes, McDermott was among those in attendance at the wedding. 'I was very grateful to be there, No. 1,' McDermott said. 'Two, it was what you would expect of a wedding. Just great to see, and two really special families coming together.' ___
Daily Mail
27 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Meghan Markle loses her chance to shine as LA Natural History Museum cancels glam gala as riots turn LA into a warzone
A woke gala set to honor Meghan Markle as a 'champion of underserved communities' has been scrapped because of the city's erupting ICE riots, can exclusively reveal. Guests had paid a minimum of $1,500 to see the Duchess of Sussex, 43, give a speech at this Saturday's Night of Wonder ball at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. But the star-studded event was dramatically scrapped today after street protests spiraled into violence, arson and a heavy National Guard presence. Chief Advancement Officer Paul Bessire emailed attendees to confirm that organizers had taken the 'difficult decision' to postpone the black-tie bash. 'Los Angeles is experiencing a challenging moment, and our responsibility is clear: to serve as a community resource focused on healing and unity, not celebration,' Bessire wrote. 'During challenging times, our role is to support our neighbors and demonstrate the values that make our city and County strong. 'Our Board of Trustees, and all event partners unanimously support this decision. We believe this is the right choice for our community and aligns with our shared commitment to serving all Angelenos. 'We will find a future moment to celebrate our work. Until then, we will channel our energy towards being welcoming spaces for learning and discovery for everyone who walks through our doors.' The cancellation is sure to come as a disappointment for Meghan who was due to be recognized for her 'work to advance community wellbeing and expand opportunity — especially for underserved communities'. The museum in Exposition Park had promised an enchanted garden setting with immersive exhibits, live music and a lavish banquet meal. The cream of LA's cultural elite including celebrities, artists and wealthy philanthropists were expected to attend. 'Imagine an enchanting night under a canopy of twinkling lights that reflects the breathtaking beauty of LA's coastal chaparral, oak forests and surrounding dramatic mountain ranges,' organizers said. 'As guests mingle amidst captivating installations showcasing the wonders of our local ecosystems, they will be inspired by thought-provoking presentations. 'With live music that echoes the rhythms of LA and interactive experiences connecting attendees to the natural world, the gala will ignite a sense of wonder and appreciation for the incredible local flora and fauna that surrounds us'. The whimsical, fairy tale setting could not be further at odds with the scenes of fiery destruction that have plagued neighborhoods including Compton and Paramount for the better part of a week. For four days and nights, stores were looted and cars torched as cops were bombarded with bricks, bottles and Molotov cocktails slung by masked, Mexican-flag wielding rioters. Nearly 150 people have been arrested and five officers hurt in the violence which began as protests over ICE raids targeting undocumented immigrants. President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard and Marines to help quell the unrest despite the objections of liberal California Officials including Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass. previously revealed that one of the Night Of Wonder organizers is Rick Genow, a powerful Hollywood lawyer and longtime ally of the Duchess. The gala was to be held on Saturday from 6pm to 10pm in the museum's gardens Genow was a key part of the elite Hollywood team Meghan secretly retained throughout her time in the British Royal Family who began poring over a host of multi-million dollar offers as soon as the Sussexes decided to emigrate – their so-called Mexit. Meghan and Harry have been stepping up their public appearances in LA, attending Taylor Swift and Beyonce gigs and popping up at Lakers game. They were seated in a $15,000-per-night private box with Genow, who was co-chair of Night of Wonder along with his wife, Mary Fulginiti-Genow. Geologist Lori Bettison-Varga, President and Director of the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County, hailed Meghan as a philanthropist and LA success story in a gushing press release announcing the gala. 'We are proud to honor Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, a native Angeleno, whose work to advance community wellbeing and expand opportunity — especially for underserved communities — aligns with our equity-focused approach to developing science literacy for the next generation,' she said. Ticket holders were offered refunds or places at the rescheduled gala though a new date is yet to be announced.
The Independent
32 minutes ago
- The Independent
Country musician Conner Smith fatally hit pedestrian with truck. No charges now, but probe ongoing
Country musician Conner Smith fatally hit a pedestrian while driving his truck in Nashville over the weekend, and he currently faces no charges as an investigation continues, police said. Metro Nashville Police said Smith, 24, hit Dorothy Dobbins, 77, Sunday evening while she was crossing the road inside a marked crosswalk. Dobbins, a retired attorney, later died at a hospital. The Tennessee Bar Association posted on its website that Dobbins had been out walking her dog when she was hit. Police say Smith showed no signs of impairment. They believe the 'preliminary contributing factor' appears to be that Smith did not yield the right of way to the pedestrian. Smith's attorney, Worrick Robinson, said his client is cooperating with the investigation. 'His heart goes out to Ms. Dobbins' family during this incredibly difficult time," Robinson said in a statement. Dobbins was a leader in the city's legal aid and family law communities, where she practiced for over 40 years, according to posts by the Bar Association and the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands. She played a 'foundational role in opening Nashville's first domestic violence shelter,' according to a Facebook post from the Legal Aid Society, and she wrote the state's first order of protection legislation. Smith was a 2024 new male artist of the year nominee at the Academy of Country Music Awards. He released his first full-length album, 'Smoky Mountains,' in 2024. The Nashville native has had gold-certified hits with 'Take it Slow' and 'Creek Will Rise,' according to his label, Big Machine. Smith had performed at Nashville's CMA Fest over the weekend.
