LOS ANGELES – After going virtual last year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the 2021 BET Awards made its long-awaited return complete with a live audience at the Microsoft Theater, and a history making night that featured the most performances since the show’s debut in 2001.
(Video Courtesy of BETNetworks)
With Taraji P. Henson taking the reigns as the night’s host at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, the show began with an uplifting performance from Kirk Franklin and Lil Baby and featured other incredible performances from a slew of artists including The Migos, Cardi B, DaBaby, Tyler the Creator, H.E.R., Jazmine Sullivan, DJ Khaled, City Girls and more.
Andra Day took home the first award of the night after she won the award for Best Actress for her role in “The United States vs Billie Holiday.”
During her performance with Migos, Cardi B also surprised fans when she revealed that she was expecting her second child with her husband Offset.
Silk Sonic, the duo who would later on captivate viewers with another remarkable performance of their hit “Leave the Door Open,” won the award for Best Group.
R&B singer and multi-instrumentalist H.E.R also delivered an electrifying performance of her song “We Made It,” and won the award for Best Female R&B/ Pop Artist.
Grammy-award winning artist Megan Thee Stallion, who sizzled during her performance of her new single “Thot Sh*t,” went home with the awards for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist and Viewer’s Choice.
Stallion and Cardi B also nabbed the awards for Best Collaboration and Video of the Year for their song “WAP.”
Jazmine Sullivan also had a huge night – she won the award for Album of the Year for her album “Heaux Tales” and wowed viewers with a performance that featured appearances by congresswoman Maxine Waters and Ari Lennox.
(Courtesy of BET Networks)
“This award is bigger than me. It’s for all the women, all the Black women that are amazing and strong, that have inspired me all my life,” Sullivan said. “I’m so glad that I was able to tell part of our story, I hope I did y’all proud.”
Lil Nas X also brought the heat during his performance of his song “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” which featured an ancient Egyptian-themed stage complete with pyramid designs, hieroglyphics and dynamic dance breakdowns.
Queen Latifah, who was this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, was honored with a star-studded tribute that featured Lil Kim, MC Lyte, Rapsody and Monie Love as they performed a medley of Latifah’s hits “Ladies First” and “U-N-I-T-Y.”
“I want to thank BET for creating an outlet for beautiful blackness to thrive, to shine. When we couldn’t get played on the radio and other places; we couldn’t get our videos played. There was BET, that allowed us to shine in our fullness and to shine,” Latifah said. “To this night, right now, right here – bless everybody and everyone in the audience for all your support.”
Closing out the night, Swizz Beatz and other artists including Method Man, Busta Rhymes, The Lox and Griselda performed a powerful tribute to legendary rapper DMX, who passed away in April after suffering a heart attack.
The group performed a medley of songs including “Get At Me Dog,” “Party Up (Up in Here),” “Ruff Ryder’s Anthem,” “Where the Hood At” and “Hood Blues” which is a new song from DMX’s upcoming posthumous album “EXODUS.”
