Rapper Kendrick Lamar lands biggest wins at BET Awards for hit song Not Like Us
American rapper Kendrick Lamar speaking on stage after winning album of the year with GNX during the 2025 BET Awards on June 9. PHOTO: AFP
Rapper Kendrick Lamar lands biggest wins at BET Awards for hit song Not Like Us
LOS ANGELES - Kendrick Lamar was the top winner on June 9 at the 2025 BET Awards, an awards ceremony honouring Black actors, singers and sports stars.
The American rapper won best male hip hop artist, album of the year for GNX (2024) and video of the year for his hit song Not Like Us (2024).
Lamar, 37, and American film-maker Dave Free, 38, also took home video director of the year at the event, which was held at 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 onstage when accepting his award for album of the year.
Host-comedian Kevin Hart, 45, opened the ceremony by recognising the BET Awards' 25th anniversary and all of the 'history that has been made' on stage.
The ceremony traversed the evolution of Black music, starting with a performance by American R&B singer Ashanti that featured a compilation of songs, including her track Foolish (2002).
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 who have paid homage to music, entertainment, advocacy and community impact.
Jamie Foxx receives the Ultimate Icon award from Stevie Wonder at the BET Awards in Los Angeles, California on June 9.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Presented by 75-year-old American music legend Stevie Wonder, Oscar-winning American actor-singer Foxx, 57, 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 (segment of the show), I was like, 'Man, that could have been me',' he said.
Another honour included best female hip hop artist for rising American rapper Doechii, 26.
Doechii smiles on stage after winning the Best Female Hip Hop artist at the BET Awards in Los Angeles, California on June 9.
PHOTO: REUTERS
'(US President Donald) Trump is using military forces to stop protest,' she said in her acceptance speech, addressing the anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles, where the National Guard and US 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. REUTERS
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