The BET Awards were extra special this year, paying homage to the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop with non-stop performances and honoring Busta Rhymes with the Lifetime Achievement Award. 

The 2023 BET Awards ceremony aired live from the Microsoft Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 25. This was first time since Tyler Perry became the primary owner of the network. Despite being hosted by Taraji P. Henson for the past two years, no one hosted this year’s show, as result of the writers’ strike throughout the entertainment industry. 

The show began with Philadelphia-born rapper Lil Uzi Vert performing his viral hit “Just Wanna Rock” before honoring Hip Hop’s earlier days with performances by many groundbreaking artists, including 69 Boyz, Big Daddy Kane, Crime Mob, D.J. Unk, E-40, Fat Joe, Ja Rule, Kid’ N Play, MC Lyte, Percy “Master P” Miller, Swizz Beats, Remy Ma, Soulja Boy, The Sugarhill Gang, Trick Daddy, Trina, Tyga, Uncle Luke, Warren G, Ying Yang Twins, and Yo-Yo. 

Despite the ode to the old, the new was still very present during the ceremony. 

Drake led the list of nominees, but he was not in attendance. Following closely behind him was GloRilla. Despite being nominated for best new artist and only breaking out this year, she competed closely with many industry legends. Tied for five nominations were Lizzo and 21 Savage, while Beyoncé, Chris Brown, Ice Spice, S.Z.A., and Burna Boy all received four nominations. Former Disney channel star Coco Jones was the best new artist, and also gave us a captivating performance. 

Offset, and Quavo paid tribute to late Migos members Takeoff. Similarly, Patti Labelle honored her late friend Tina Turner.

This year’s BET Awards were a must-see event. From the legendary throwback performances to the new talent making their TV debuts, it was a significant moment for Hip Hop culture. It was truly a full-circle moment for the genre, the network, the performers, and the fans.