Culture's Biggest Night was one for the books. The BET Awards 2023 is officially in the rearview, and below, we've rounded up the best moments of the night and everything you might have missed from the nearly four hour-long ceremony. There were surprise performances, show-stopping medleys and guest appearances, and big wins for some of the biggest names in entertainment, including SZA, Latto, Beyoncé, Drake, Coco Jones, and more.
The BET Awards 2023 were held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 25. The awards show went without a host for the first time in its 23-year history, as a result of the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike. (More on that here.) Even without a script, the show did not disappoint. Throughout the night, Hip Hop's 50th anniversary was celebrated by artists from across the nation and the globe — Nigeria, South Africa, and Jamaica were all in the house. Special medley performances honored Hip Hop's life thus far, from its golden era all the way to its streaming age.
Related: All the Looks You Might Have Missed from the BET Awards 2023
A few of the most memorable moments of the evening included Patti LaBelle's tribute to Tina Turner, who passed in late May, and Busta Rhymes's passionate, teary-eyed, 13-minute long acceptance speech for the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award. Keep scrolling to check out our full highlight reel of the 2023 BET Awards below.
Quavo and Offset reunited onstage to pay tribute to Takeoff
Seven months after the fatal shooting of Takeoff, one-third of Migos, groupmates Quavo and Offset made a surprise reunion onstage to honor their late friend and nephew. Offset and Quavo have been rumored to be estranged for months, which makes this public reunion even more significant. The two were both present at a celebration of life for Takeoff last week, on what would have been the rapper's 29th birthday. Quavo and Offset played a part of Takeoff's opening verse in “Hotel Lobby" before declaring “Do it for Take," as a titan-sized image of Takeoff took up the stage screen behind them. The two remaining Migos then launched into their 2016 smash hit “Bad and Boujee" with the entire crowd on their feet.
Coco Jones teared up while accepting the award for Best New Artist
Coco Jones got her flowers last night. The “ICU” singer took home the trophy for 2023's Best New Artist and delivered an emotional speech that held a special message for Black girls. “I just wanna thank God so much for keeping me when I didn’t understand,” said Jones. “And for all of my Black girls, we do have to fight a little harder to get what we deserve, but don’t stop fighting. Even when it doesn’t make sense, you’re not sure how you’re going to get out of those circumstances. Keep pushing. ‘Cause we are deserving of great things, y’all. And I'ma continue to give y’all my everything.”
Sexyy Red performed her hit “Pound Town” from the audience
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What happens when you put a commercial break and a breakout star together? Magic, of course. As her song played in between the live broadcast, Sexyy Red delivered an impromptu “performance” of her viral hit “Pound Town,” hyping up the audience members around her and twerking in the aisle. We love to see it.
Ice Spice recreated her neighborhood in the Bronx for her medley performance
For a 3-song medley of her hits “Munch (Feelin’ U),” “Princess Diana,” and “In Ha Mood,” Ice Spice recreated her local subway stop from her hometown of the Bronx. The set design was immaculate, with her producing partner Riot playing DJ from the inside of a bodega. The June Teen Vogue cover star even recreated the basketball court scene from her “Munch” music video — descending from the air while sitting on a basketball hoop like a true Fordham fairy.
Latto shouted out other female rappers while accepting the Best Female Hip Hop Artist award — and wore only one shoe
Wardrobe malfunctions don't stop a B*tch From Da Souf. While accepting her award for Best Female Hip Hop Artist — which had previously gone to Megan Thee Stallion three years in a row — Latto's high heel got caught on the train of her gown. In a fitting move, she put it on the floor and left it there. “Child, I've got one heel on, one heel off,” she laughed. While expressing her gratitude, Latto also took the time to shout out a few of the female rappers she felt should have been included in this year's category, too. “Doechii, I love you, baby; Maiya The Don; Flo Milli… Mello Buckzz, TiaCorine. Shout-out to all the women. We killin' it. This is the year of the female, year of women. Hopefully, we gon' see an all-female tour. You feel me? Very soon. Keep killin' it.”
Teyana Taylor won Video Director of the Year, and accepted her award on FaceTime
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Busta Rhymes's moving Lifetime Achievement Award acceptance speech
When you're in the presence of a musical legend, you let them spout wisdom with no time limit. While accepting the biggest award of the night, the Lifetime Achievement Award, Hip Hop innovator Busta Rhymes spoke for a little over 13 minutes. "So, I'm gonna wear it on my sleeve. I do wanna cry," he started. Busta took the crowd through a brief reflection of his storied career, and then urged the new school of Hip Hop to prioritize unity. “…Stop these little petty beefs that we be doing… Y’all messing up the bag. Y'all messing up the energy,” said Busta. "I don't like when I talk to these dudes that run these streaming platforms and they talking about, ‘You know, we turning the consumer off because there's so much little this and little that going on with you rappers.’ We’re gonna stop that. We're gonna love each other, and we gonna get to this money." Period.
Busta's tribute performance featured artists like BIA, Cutty Ranks, Dexta Daps, M.O.P., Rah Digga, Scar Lip, Spice, Super Cat, Swizz Beatz, and Coi Leray. Speaking of…
Coi Leray paid tribute to more than 20 female rappers with her stage look
Coi Leray took the stage as a guest during Busta Rhymes's triumphant marquee performance, wearing arguably the most iconic 'fit of the night: a matching set emblazoned with the names of other female rappers, those both her elders and her peers. Leray wore the names of lady emcees like Missy Elliott, Salt-N-Pepa, City Girls, Young M.A., GloRilla, Doechii, Saweetie, Queen Latifah, Ice Spice, Roxanne Shanté, Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Latto, and many more. Leray commented on the design process of her stage look on Instagram: “Shout out @otheezycreatedit for pulling this look off!! I had an idea and the way she brought it to life I couldn’t even imagine!! HIPHOP 4EVER ❤️.”
Almost every rapper on Earth came out to celebrate Hip Hop's 50th anniversary in gigantic tribute
In the most full-bodied 50th anniversary tribute we've seen yet, led by Hip Hop giant Kid Capri, rappers from all over the nation graced the BET Awards stage to pay tribute to the genre that has changed the world forevermore: Sugarhill Gang, MC Lyte, D-Nice, Big Daddy Kane, E-40, Tyga, Yo-Yo, Trick Daddy, Trina, Uncle Luke, Doechii, Trillville, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Ja Rule, Fabolous, 69 Boyz, Chief Keef, DJ Unk, Fast Life Yungstaz, Kid 'n Play, Master P, Soulja Boy, Warren G, and Ying Yang Twins. Happy 50th birthday Hip Hop!
