It was a night of celebration for culture’s finest! The 2023 BET Awards brought together the biggest names in music, television, film, and sports to honor and uplift Black excellence.
Taking place at the iconic Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, this year’s show held even greater significance as it commemorated 50 years of hip-hop. The live telecast was brimming with exceptional musical performances from talented nominees such as Coco Jones, GloRilla, Doechii, and Lil Uzi Vert.
The evening also paid tribute to the legendary Tina Turner, as the incomparable Patti LaBelle delivered a heartfelt performance in her honor. The event showcased performances representing various subgenres of hip-hop and celebrated the outstanding musical legacy of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Busta Rhymes, spanning over 30 years.
When it came to the highly anticipated awards, both SZA and Beyoncé emerged as shining stars, each taking home three trophies. They tied for the prestigious Album of the Year Award, highlighting their exceptional artistry. SZA also secured victories for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist and Video of the Year for her impactful song “Kill Bill.” Meanwhile, Beyoncé’s empowering anthem “Break My Soul” claimed both the Viewers Choice Award and the BET Her Award.
Another notable winner was Drake, who earned two wins, sharing the spotlight with GloRilla as they both led the nominations with an impressive seven each.
Here’s the complete list of winners, with the deserving recipients marked in bold.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (*TIE!)
Anyways, Life’s Great, GloRilla
Breezy, Chris Brown
God Did, DJ Khaled
Her Loss, Drake & 21 Savage
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, Kendrick Lamar
Renaissance, Beyoncé — **WINNER!
SOS, SZA — **WINNER!
BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST
Ari Lennox
Beyoncé
Coco Jones
H.E.R.
Lizzo
SZA — **WINNER!
Tems
BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST (*TIE!)
Blxst
Brent Faiyaz
Burna Boy
Chris Brown — **WINNER!
Drake
The Weeknd
Usher — **WINNER!
BEST GROUP
City Girls
Drake x 21 Savage — **WINNER!
Dvsn
FLO
Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin
Quavo & Takeoff
Wanmor
BEST COLLABORATION
“Big Energy (Remix),” Latto & Mariah Carey Feat. Dj Khaled
“Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2,” Pinkpantheress & Ice Spice
“Call Me Every Day,” Chris Brown Feat. Wizkid
“Can’t Stop Won’t Stop,” King Combs Feat. Kodak Black
“Creepin’,” Metro Boomin, The Weeknd & 21 Savage
“F.N.F. (Let’s Go),” Hitkidd & GloRilla
“Tomorrow 2,” GloRilla & Cardi B
“Wait For U,” Future Feat. Drake & Tems — **WINNER!
BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST
Cardi B
Coi Leray
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Latto — **WINNER!
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST
21 Savage
Drake
Future
J. Cole
Jack Harlow
Kendrick Lamar — **WINNER!
Lil Baby
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
“We (Warm Embrace),” Chris Brown
“2 Million Up,” Peezy, Jeezy & Real Boston Richey feat. Rob49
“About Damn Time,” Lizzo
“Bad Habit,” Steve Lacy
“First Class,” Harlow
“Kill Bill,” SZA — **WINNER!
“Tomorrow 2,” GloRilla & Cardi B
VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
A$AP Rocky for AWGE
Benny Boom
Burna Boy
Cole Bennett
Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
Director X
Teyana “Spike Tey” Taylor — **WINNER!
BEST NEW ARTIST
Ambré
Coco Jones — **WINNER!
Doechii
FLO
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Lola Brooke
DR. BOBBY JONES BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD
“Bless Me,” Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin — **WINNER!
“Finished (Live),” Tamela Mann
“I’ve Got Joy,” CeCe Winans
“Kingdom,” Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin feat. Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore
“New,” Tye Tribbett
“One Moment From Glory,” Yolanda Adams
“The Better Benediction (Pt.2),” PJ Morton feat. Lisa Knowles-Smith, Le’andria Johnson, Keke Wyatt, Kierra Sheard & Tasha Cobbs Leonard
VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD
“About Damn Time,” Lizzo
“Break My Soul,” Beyoncé — **WINNER!
“First Class,” Jack Harlow
“Jimmy Cooks,” Drake Feat 21 Savage
“Kill Bill,” SZA
“Last Last,” Burna Boy
“Super Freaky Girl,” Nicki Minaj
“Wait For U,” Future Feat. Drake & Tems
BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT
Aya Nakamura (France)
Ayra Starr (Nigeria)
Burna Boy (Nigeria) — **WINNER!
Central Cee (UK)
Ella Mai (UK)
Ko (South Africa)
L7nnon (Brazil)
Stormzy (UK)
Tiakola (France)
Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)
VIEWER’S CHOICE: BEST NEW INTERNATIONAL ACT
Asake (Nigeria)
Camidoh (Ghana)
Flo (UK)
Libianca (Cameroon) — **WINNER!
Maureen (France)
MC Ryan SP (Brazil)
Pabi Cooper (South Africa)
Raye (UK)
Werenoi (France)
BET HER
“About Damn Time,” Lizzo
“Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2,” Pinkpantheress & Ice Spice
“Break My Soul,” Beyoncé — **WINNER!
“Her,” Megan Thee Stallion
“Lift Me Up,” Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From And Inspired By – Rihanna & Ludwig Göransson
“Players,” Coi Leray
“Special,” Lizzo
BEST MOVIE
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever — **WINNER!
Creed 3
Emancipation
Nope
The Woman King
Till
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody
BEST ACTOR
Amin Joseph
Brian Tyree Henry
Damson Idris — **WINNER!
Daniel Kaluuya
Demetrius ‘Lil Meech’ Flenory Jr.
Donald Glover
Michael B. Jordan
BEST ACTRESS
Angela Bassett — **WINNER!
Coco Jones
Janelle James
Janelle Monáe
Keke Palmer
Viola Davis
Zendaya
YOUNGSTARS AWARD
Akira Akbar
Alaya High
Demi Singleton
Genesis Denise
Marsai Martin — **WINNER!
Thaddeus J. Mixson
Young Dylan
SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
Alexis Morris
Allyson Felix
Angel Reese — **WINNER!
Candace Parker
Naomi Osaka
Serena Williams
Sha’carri Richardson
SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
Aaron Judge
Bubba Wallace
Gervonta Davis
Jalen Hurts — **WINNER!
Lebron James
Patrick Mahomes
Stephen Curry
