BET Awards honor Mary J. Blige, Nipsey Hussle, Tyler Perry
By Mesfin Fekadu (AP)
Mary J. Blige and Method Man perform onstage during the 2019 BET awards at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California on June 23, 2019. (JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX/Getty)
The 2019 BET Awards featured a number of contemporary pop and rap stars who are dominating the charts, from Cardi B to Lil Nas X. But the show belonged to artists viewed as icons in the black community, including singer Mary J. Blige, filmmaker Tyler Perry and the late rapper Nipsey Hussle.
Hussle, a respected and beloved community activist in South Los Angeles who was shot to death on March 31, posthumously earned the Humanitarian Award on Sunday night. His family, including his mother, father, grandmother, children and fiancée, actress Lauren London, accepted the honor on his behalf.
Cardi B performs onstage at the 2019 BET Awards on June 23, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty)
"I just want to thank you guys for all the love and support, and the marathon continues again," London said onstage at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
John Legend, DJ Khaled, YG and Marsha Ambrosius celebrated Hussle, born Ermias Asghedom, with a performance. Hussle also won best male hip-hop artist, besting Drake, J. Cole, Travis Scott, Meek Mill and 21 Savage.
Blige, who earned the Lifetime Achievement Award, ran through her hits during a lengthy performance, which featured Lil Kim and Method Man. The R&B star went from "My Life" to "No More Drama" to "Just Fine," when audience members turned the aisles into "Soul Train" lines as they showed their best dance moves while the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul sang onstage.
John Legend and Dj Khaled (L) perform onstage during the 2019 BET awards at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California on June 23, 2019. (JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX/Getty)
Rihanna presented Blige with the award, who earned a standing ovation as she walked to the stage.
"Yeah, I know, a lot of hair," she said in her curly blonde-do. "It's a big day."
"Mommy, I love you and I want to thank you for your love and understanding," Blige said as her mom teared up in the audience.
The nine-time Grammy winner and two-time Oscar nominee went on to thank her father, saying she was happy their "relationship is healed." She also thanked her siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and friends, including longtime collaborator Diddy.
[More Entertainment] Children's TV personality Gene London has died at 88 »
Another standing ovation during the nearly four-hour show came when The Exonerated Five — whose profiles were recently raised with the release of a Netflix series based on their lives — introduced a performance by R&B singer H.E.R. and rapper YBN Cordae. Korey Wise, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana and Antron McCray spoke onstage as audience members got out of their seats to cheer them on. Directed by Ava DuVernay, "When They See Us" tells of the wrongful conviction of five black and Latino teenagers for the 1989 assault on a white female jogger in Central Park.
H.E.R. performs onstage at the 2019 BET Awards on June 23, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty)
The audience also erupted in cheers for media mogul Tyler Perry, who earned the Ultimate Icon Award, presented to him by Taraji P. Henson.
"When I built my studio, I built it in a neighborhood that is one of the poorest black neighborhoods in Atlanta so that young black kids could see that a black man did that, and they could do it too," Perry said. "The studio was once a Confederate army base ... which meant that there were Confederate soldiers on that base plotting and planning on how to keep 3.9 million negroes enslaved. Now that land is owned by one negro."
Bruno Mars also got the loud applause from the crowd when he brought his global country-rap hit "Old Town Road" to life with a performance at a makeshift Western saloon alongside country singer Billy Ray Cyrus. In a yellow fringe jacket, yellow chaps and a black cowboy hat, Lil Nas X worked the stage as dancers in denim shorts, leather vests and cowboy hats performed behind him.
[More Entertainment] Steak and seafood restaurant coming soon to former JR's Smokehouse in Wind Gap »
Lizzo also had a fiery performance with "Truth Hurts," which featured her playing the flute while twerking. Cardi B, the most nominated act with seven, kicked off the show with an explosive performance. She won two prizes — best female hip-hop artist and album of the year for her major-label debut, "Invasion of Privacy."
Billy Ray Cyrus and Lil Nas X perform onstage at the 2019 BET Awards on June 23, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty)
"I'm glad I made an album that your sister, your mother, your grandmother (likes)," she said of the project, which also won the Grammy for best rap album earlier this year.
Childish Gambino, who didn't attend the show, won the top prize — video of the year — for "This Is America." Beyoncé was named best female R&B/pop artist, and Bruno Mars won best male R&B/pop artist.
Actress Regina Hall, who hosted the show, told a number of jokes throughout the night. She was hilarious after Regina King — who won an Oscar this year for her role in "If Beale Street Could Talk" — was announced as the winner of best actress, an award Hall was also nominated for.
[More Entertainment] Punk pioneer Bob Mould to bring power, melody and emotional honesty to ArtsQuest's Musikfest Cafe show »
"She said King? So I lost?" Hall asked when a producer followed with: "We need you to announce the next performance."
"Why am I announcing the next performance? That's why I hosted (the awards show)," Hall said. "You tell them I said, 'You can go to Beale Street and get the (girl) who won and you let her introduce it.'"
Nipsey Hussle's family and Lauren London accept the Humanitarian Award in honor of Nipsey Hussle onstage at the 2019 BET Awards on June 23, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty)
List of winners at the 2019 BET Awards
Video of the year: Childish Gambino, "This Is America"
Best female R&B/pop artist: Beyoncé
[More Entertainment] Rocker Ozzy Osbourne announces Parkinson's diagnosis »
Best male R&B/pop artist: Bruno Mars
Best female hip-hop artist: Cardi B
Best male hip-hop artist: Nipsey Hussle
Best new artist: Lil Baby
[More Entertainment] Restaurant Review: Tavola's Artisan Pizza dishes out delicious options at Downtown Allentown Market »
Best group: Migos
Best collaboration: Travis Scott featuring Drake, "Sicko Mode"
Album of the year: Cardi B, "Invasion of Privacy"
Viewers' choice award: Ella Mai, "Trip"
[More Entertainment] Comedian, talk show host Chelsea Handler coming to Wind Creek Event Center »
Lifetime achievement award: Mary J. Blige
Humanitarian award: Nipsey Hussle
Ultimate icon award: Tyler Perry
Dr. Bobby Jones best gospel/inspirational award: Snoop Dogg featuring Rance Allen, "Blessing Me Again"
[More Entertainment] Theater: Original play based on Walt Whitman's poetry opens at Ice House »
Best actress: Regina King
Best actor: Michael B. Jordan
Best movie: "Blackkklansman"
Youngstars award: Marsai Martin
[More Entertainment] Review: ASO scores a touchdown with Music and Sports concert »
Sportswoman of the year: Serena Williams
Sportsman of the year: Stephen Curry
BET HER award: H.E.R., "Hard Place"
Video director of the year: Karena Evans
[More Entertainment] How 'The Last Full Measure' director, a Delaware County native, uncovered true story of Vietnam War hero who saved more than 60 men »
Best international act: Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Best new international act: Sho Madjozi (South Africa)
Morning Call Arts & Entertainment Editor Craig Larimer can be reached at 610-778-7993 or at clarimer@mcall.com
How 'The Last Full Measure' director, a Delaware County native, uncovered true story of Vietnam War hero...