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Teyana Taylor, BET’s Connie Orlando and more were honored at the eighth annual Culture Creators Innovators & Leaders Awards Brunch on Friday (June 28) at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Hosted by journalist Gia Peppers, the exclusive fête brought industry icons, influencers and thought leaders together to pay tribute to extraordinary individuals who have left an indelible mark on Black culture across various sectors, including technology, business, sports, fashion, music and more.
It also benefitted The Culture Creators Foundation, a non-profit that is dedicated to bridging the gap between high school and college as well as college to graduation for underrepresented students in industries lacking diversity. The foundation empowers these students to thrive academically and professionally by providing resources, curriculum supplementation and membership. Funds raised during the brunch will support the 2024 Academic School Year Scholarship Program for the Campus Changemakers, the foundation’s inaugural cohort of students across 35 colleges and universities.
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Taylor was honored as Innovator of the Year with a celebratory video montage that highlighted her incredible career in entertainment, from choreographing Beyoncé‘s “Ring the Alarm” music video and signing to Pharrell Williams‘ Star Trak Entertainment when she was only 16 years old (when the world also watched her epic birthday bash on MTV’s My Super Sweet 16) to later signing to Ye‘s GOOD Music when she was 21. Since then, the multihyphenate star has earned eight gold-certified singles from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), while “Gonna Love Me” from her 2018 album K.T.S.E. is certified platinum. She’s creative directed shows and tours for Usher, Latto, Summer Walker, Diddy, Glorilla, Lil Durk and Lil Baby.
She also won the video director of the year award at the 2020 and 2023 BET Awards. While Taylor’s gearing up for her directorial debut, Get Lite, she’s also had a successful run in front of the camera: Her starring role in A Thousand And One earned her the best breakthrough performance award at the 2023 National Board of Review Awards and 2023 Critics Choice Awards, and she’s set to star in Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest untitled feature and Tyler Perry’s Straw film.
“Teyana Taylor is a one of one. She’s a person who helps us mark time, a time in culture and different times of our lives. We’ve Googled her, we’ve celebrated her Sweet 16, we’ve watched her be our favorite baby mama next door, we’ve watched her slay rap battles (some of y’all remember that?), we’re watched her conquer choreography that would even make Janet Jackson blush,” said Emmy-winning screenwriter, producer and actress Lena Waithe while she was presenting the award to Taylor.
“She’s given us timeless music videos, unforgettable performances like the one she beautifully delivers in A Thousand And One. I’ve gotten a front row seat to her journey in becoming a serious actress. I’ve watched her break down both in front of and behind the camera. She let us watch her tears fall so others wouldn’t be afraid to cry.”
Taylor held back tears as she began her acceptance speech, which took the form of a prayer.
“Heavenly Father God, I thank you for who you are. All-seeing, all-knowing and all-powerful. Let me tell you something about your favor. Father God, your favor cannot be stopped, you hear me? I know you’re hear me, so let your daughter cook. Let me cook. Lord, you told me in John 8:12 that you are the light of the world and if I followed you, I wouldn’t have to walk in darkness because you would have the light that leads to life,” she said.
“Thank you for wiping away every tear away when I thought the weight was punishment, ’cause you’ve made it very clear now that it was just preparation. Thank you for never letting my crown fall because you keep my head high. Thank you for teaching me the power of grace as I walk in it.”
She thanked her 8-year-old daughter Junie, who stood on stage beside her, for her “protection” and “being so pure. Thank you for loving me the way that you do. Thank you for teaching me how to be fearless,” Taylor said. And to her 3-year-old daughter Rue, “she knocked out in the green room,” Taylor revealed, which was met with roaring laughter. “I love you too, girl! …. One thing Rue gon’ do is never make it to the table, you hear me. My girl be knocked out like she work five jobs.”
After thanking her parents, her longtime friend and The Aunties production company co-founder Coco Gilbert, “Auntie” Natina Nimene, executive vp of promotion and artist relations at Def Jam and the rest of her team, Taylor returned to her prayer.
“I want to thank you for having me in this room full of amazing, talented innovators and leaders. Thank you for using me as an affirmation to everybody and every hardworking person in this room today that we are here because we belong here in this moment, it was already written in the palm of your hand…. And thank you for telling us ‘yes’ when naysayers told us ‘no.’ In Jesus’ name, Amen.” But right before she left the stage, Junie took the microphone for a precious scene-stealing moment. “And I love my mom! I love my mom!” she exclaimed.
Former BET Networks CEO/chairman Debra Lee presented presented an award to her former colleague Orlando, BET’s EVP specials, music programming & music strategy.
“I don’t think anyone in this room would disagree with the statement that everybody loves Connie,” said Lee, who collected proof in the form of a four-page document filled with responses from Orlando’s friends and business contacts about why everyone loves her. “Jesse Collins, her producing partner on many BET specials, says, ‘Words that describe Connie: integrity, her word is her bond; patience, in a world of folks seeking instant gratification with very little effort, she stands out as someone who puts in the work in order to make sure whatever she is working on is perfect; style, just look at her; love, Connie is love. Her heart is always open for anyone that needs it. And that is probably her greatest talent because, please know, she is not to be taken lightly or toyed with and will gladly let you see the girl from Queens if she has to. But after she pops out and shows you, she will always send you on your way with a hug and a smile. And you gotta give her credit for the BET Awards and all the moments she creates.’”
After Lee continued singing her praises, Orlando took the stage and choked back tears while crediting Lee as the reason why she was there in the first place.
“I’m honored to accept this year’s Culture Creator Award and to receive your generous recognition of my contributions to the world of television and film. I stand before you filled with so much gratitude. It is a blessing to do the work that I love,” she said while addressing Culture Creators founder Joi Brown and the Culture Creators Advisory Council. “Working in the mediums of television and film, I am keenly aware of how much time the average person spends watching the screen of some kind, at any given moment. With billions of people consuming content everyday, there lies a unique opportunity to foster meaningful discussions, to create pathways of understanding, to uplift and to educate countless numbers of viewers. Though entertainment is at the core of what we do, we can use the power of media to speak life into our audiences, to tell authentic stories and ignite a light in the darkness that exists in our world today.”
CAA account executive Lorrie Bartlett — whose client roster includes Andra Day, Fantasia, Regina King, Rachel Zegler, Michael Keaton, Travis Kelce, Jeymes Samuel and more — received the Icon Award for her commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion within the entertainment industry, while spearheading initiatives promoting equity within Hollywood. Additional honorees included Reign Venture Capital’s co-founder Monique Idlett; Brown Girl Jane CBO and media personality Tai Beauchamp; FashionBombDaily CEO/founder Claire Sulmers; social impact and brand engagement strategist Alencia Johnson; WME Sports agent and executive Cecil White; celebrity stylist duo Wayman + Micah; AI innovator and immersive technology expert Alton Glass; and The Doux haircare brand creators Maya and Brian Smith.
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Source: Kevin Winter / Getty /Megan Thee Stallion
Get those knees ready hotties; Megan Thee Stallion is kicking off “Culture’s Biggest Night,” the 2024 BET Awards.
Megan Thee Stallion has been tapped to set the tone for the 2024 BET Awards on Sunday, June 30, starting at 8 p.m. ET when she hits the stage to perform one of her hits, or possibly a new track off her new album, MEGAN.
Taraji P. Henson returns for a second year to host the popular awards show everyone looks forward to in the summer.
Usher will also finally get his BET Awards flowers when he is honored with the Lifetime Achievement BET Award.
Thee Stallion will not be the only one gracing the stage that night. Will Smith, who is currently enjoying a resurgence thanks to his latest summer blockbuster Bad Boys: Ride or Die, will perform a new song.
Other performers include Megan Thee Stallion’s tourmate GloRilla, Ice Spice, Latto, Ms. Lauryn Hill &YG Marley, Muni Long, Sexyy Red (lord help us), Shaboozey, Tyla, and Victoria Monét. Additionally, Tanner Adell will perform on the BET Amplified stage.
2024 BET Award Nominations
Regarding awards, Kendrick Lamar’s favorite target, Drake, leads all nominations with seven, including Album of The Year, Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, and Best Male Hip Hop Artist.
Drizzy also earned double nominations in the Video of The Year category for “First Person Shooter” featuring J. Cole and “Rich Baby Daddy” featuring Sexyy Red and SZA.
Nicki Minaj has the second-most nominations coming into the 2024 BET Awards weekend. She will be up against her Young Money brethren in the Album of the Year category for Pink Friday 2 and nominated in the BET Her category and Best Female Hip-Hop Artist.
Other nominees in the BET Awards’ second biggest category, Video of The Year, include Doja Cat (“Agora Hills”) and Lil Durk ft. J. Cole (“All My Life”), Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice (With Aqua) (“Barbie World”), Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion (“Bongos”), Usher, Summer Walker & 21 Savage (“Good Good”), Victoria Monét (“On My Mama).
Sounds like it will be a lit night. Do you think Drake will be there or nah?
The 2024 BET Awards are quickly becoming more star-studded by the day. On Wednesday (June 26), it was announced that Megan Thee Stallion will join the list of A-list performers slated to hit the stage this Sunday night (June 30), as she’ll be kicking off what BET touts as “culture’s biggest night” in Los Angeles.
With her forthcoming studio album, Megan, dropping this Friday (June 28), the Houston Hottie will be only two days removed from her highly anticipated release. The album boasts features from UGK, GloRilla, Victoria Monet and more. The 18-track effort will include previously released singles such as “Cobra,” “Boa” and her Hot 100 chart-topper “Hiss.”
Currently, Megan is embarking on her worldwide trek for the Hot Girl Summer Tour. Initially expected to wrap this week on the domestic side, Megan added two more dates to the U.S. leg of the tour, including stops at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena on July 2 and PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte, N.C., on July 3. Tickets for the newly added shows will be available locally via the rapper’s website at noon.
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As for the 2024 BET Awards, with Megan’s entry on the performance side, viewers can now expect a starry event. This week, it was announced that Will Smith would also hit the stage to perform a new original song after landing the No. 1 movie in America with Bad Boys: Ride or Die earlier this month.
“From his start as a rapper to The Fresh Prince to being a box office king as one of the Bad Boys, Will Smith is truly a global icon, and we are honored to welcome him back to grace the BET Awards stage,” Connie Orlando, EVP specials, music programming and music strategy at BET, said in a statement this week. “We look forward to Will adding to yet another defining night for the culture that is not to be missed.”
Along with Megan and Smith, GloRilla, Ice Spice, Latto, Ms. Lauryn Hill with YG Marley, Muni Long, Sexyy Red, Shaboozey, Tyla and Victoria Monét will perform that night as well.
The 2024 BET Awards will broadcast from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles this Sunday, June 30, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The show will air live on BET, and streams on BET.com as well as various streaming services that offer the network.
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Will Smith and his slow but steady return to public life after the stirring Oscars incident has largely been received well by fans and the media and now there is a new development. Will Smith aka the Fresh Prince, will make a return to music by performing a new song at the 2024 BET Awards this coming weekend.
Details are scant but as Variety reports, Will Smith will deliver a new track to the masses but there isn’t much known about the sound or direction. Further, it isn’t known if DJ Jazzy Jeff will be on the 1s and 2s behind him as he hits the stages.
With the recent success of Bad Boys: Ride or Die and a run of press tours in support of the movie, Smith seems to be at ease with being back in the spotlight although the topic of the Chris Rock slap will always hover over him. Variety added in its post that Smith is reportedly working on new music, and mentioned Smith appearing alongside J Balvin at Coachella earlier this year.
The 2024 BET Awards will air live on Sunday, June 30 at 8 PM ET/PT. Taraji P. Henson will resume hosting duties and Usher will be given the Lifetime Achievement BET Award.
Learn more about the 2024 BET Awards here.
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Photo: Getty
Will Smith is just two years into a 10-year suspension from attending Academy Award events, a penalty for his well-documented behavior at the 2022 Oscars, but he’s being welcomed back to the 2024 BET Awards on Sunday, June 30, where he is set to debut a new original song.
Smith, 55, has a long history with the BET Awards. He and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, hosted the show in 2005. Smith is also a three-time BET winner for best actor — for Ali (2001), Hancock/Seven Pounds (a dual entry in 2009) and King Richard (2022).
“From his start as a rapper to The Fresh Prince to being a box office king as one of the Bad Boys, Will Smith is truly a global icon, and we are honored to welcome him back to grace the BET Awards stage,” Connie Orlando, EVP specials, music programming & music strategy at BET, said in a statement. “We look forward to Will adding to yet another defining night for the culture that is not to be missed.”
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This won’t be Smith’s first major TV appearance since the 2022 Oscars debacle. He and Jeff Townes, his partner in DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, reunited to perform on A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop, a two-hour CBS special which aired on Dec. 10.
Moviegoing audiences have also welcomed Smith back to their good graces. Bad Boys: Ride or Die, the fourth installment in the Bad Boys franchise, in which Smith stars with Martin Lawrence, has grossed nearly $147 million in the U.S. and Canada since its release on June 7, making it the sixth-highest-grossing film so far in 2024.
BET touts Smith’s performance as an “exclusive” and “a major addition to Culture’s Biggest Night.”
Previously announced performers are GloRilla, Ice Spice, Latto, Ms. Lauryn Hill & YG Marley, Muni Long, Sexyy Red, Shaboozey, Tyla and Victoria Monét. Additionally, Tanner Adell will perform on the BET Amplified stage.
Taraji P. Henson will host the show for the third year. Usher will receive BET’s lifetime achievement award — an award Smith has inexplicably yet to receive. The 2024 BET Awards will air live on Sunday, June 30 on BET at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
BET touts its annual awards show, which dates to 2001, as “the ultimate platform to showcase the best, brightest and most beautiful aspects of the Black experience — honoring the present and future of Black music, creativit and sportsmanship, by celebrating the culture and being a driving force for social change.”
Drake leads the 2024 nominations with seven nods. He is followed by Nicki Minaj with six; J. Cole, Sexyy Red, SZA, Victoria Monét, and Beyoncé with five each; and 21 Savage, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Tyla and Usher with four each.
Voting for the 2024 Viewer’s Choice Award ends June 30 at 6:30 p.m. PT/ 9:30 p.m. ET.
Orlando will oversee and executive produce the annual show, with Jamal Noisette, SVP of tentpoles & music community engagement, to also executive produce for BET. Jesse Collins Entertainment is the production company for the show, with Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay also serving as executive producers.
On April 8, 2022, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced that Smith will not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs for the next 10 years in the wake of his conduct at the 94th annual Oscars ceremony on March 27 of that year.
In one of the most infamous episodes in Oscars history, Smith rose from his seat and slapped presenter Chris Rock following a joke the comedian made about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. (Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia, which causes hair loss, though it’s unclear if Rock was aware of her condition.) After returning to his seat, Smith twice yelled at Rock, “Keep my wife’s name out your f—in’ mouth.”
Compounding the strangeness, Smith received a standing ovation when he subsequently won best actor. And he was allowed to give a nearly six-minute acceptance speech.
On April 1, 2022, just five days after receiving the biggest accolade in his profession, Smith resigned from the Academy.
“My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful and inexcusable,” Smith said in a statement. “The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance and global audiences at home. I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken. I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film.”
Ms. Lauryn Hill & YG Marley, Ice Spice and Tyla have been added as performers for the 2024 BET Awards, which will air live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 30, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
They join previously announced performers GloRilla, Latto, Muni Long, Sexyy Red, Shaboozey and Victoria Monét. Additionally, Tanner Adell, who guested on a new version of The Beatles’ “Blackbird” on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, will perform on the BET Amplified stage. Taraji P. Henson will host the show for the third time. Usher is set to receive the lifetime achievement award. He also has four nominations.
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Most of these performers have had stellar years. Usher headlined the Super Bowl halftime show in February, which set a new ratings record. Hill’s 1998 classic The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and also topped Apple Music’s list of the best albums of all time.
Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” conquered multiple charts. Billboard’s charts team reports this week that “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” is the first song to be rising in the top 25 simultaneously on the Country Airplay, Pop Airplay, Adult Pop Airplay and Rhythmic Airplay charts — which have coexisted for 28 years.
Monét won three Grammys in February, including best new artist. Tyla was the inaugural winner in the new best African music performance category for “Water,” which was a top 10 hit on the Hot 100. Ice Spice didn’t win a Grammy, but she went into the ceremony with an impressive four nominations.
GloRilla has two songs in the top 10 on this week’s Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart — “Yeah Glo!” and her “Wanna Be” collab with Megan Thee Stallion. Sexxy Red has one song (“Get It Sexyy”) in the top 10 and another, a collab with Drake (“U My Everything”), in the top 20. Muni Long is also in the top 20 with her soulful ballad “Made for Me.”
If these artists perform these hits on the show, it could not only give the hits a boost, but the records’ Grammy chances, because the audience will likely include Grammy voters who are starting to think of their Grammy choices. (The Grammys’ online entry period runs from July 17 to Aug. 31.)
Henson previously hosted the BET Awards in 2021 and 2022. The Oscar-nominated actress (for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) is one of only two performers to host the show three times (the other being Mo’Nique, who won an Oscar for Precious).
Drake leads the 2024 BET Awards nominations with seven nods, followed by Nicki Minaj with six; J. Cole, Sexyy Red, SZA, Monét and Beyoncé with five each; and 21 Savage, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Tyla and Usher with four each.
Voting for the 2024 Viewer’s Choice Award began last week and ends June 30 (at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT). Nominees in that category are Doja Cat’s “Agora Hills,” Lil Durk’s “All My Life” (featuring J. Cole), Gunna’s “Fukumean,” Jack Harlow’s “Lovin on Me,” Long’s “Made for Me,” Monét’s “On My Mama,” Drake’s “Rich Baby Daddy” (featuring Sexyy Red & SZA), Chris Brown’s “Sensational (featuring Davido & Lojay), Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” and Tyla’s “Water.”
Connie Orlando, BET’s EVP specials, music programming & music strategy,will oversee and executive produce the annual show. Jamal Noisette, SVP, tentpoles & music community engagement, will co-executive produce for BET. Jesse Collins Entertainment is the production company for the show, with Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay also serving as executive producers.
Here are the performers for the 2024 BET Awards. (Additional performers may be added. In that event, this list will be updated.)
2024 BET Awards Performers
Ms. Lauryn Hill & YG Marley
Ice Spice
Tyla
GloRilla
Latto
Muni Long
Sexyy Red
Shaboozey
Victoria Monét
Tanner Adell (BET Amplified stage)
Taraji P. Henson will host the 2024 BET Awards live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. She previously hosted the show in 2021 and 2022. The Oscar-nominated actress (for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) is one of only two performers to host the show three times (the other being Mo’Nique, who won an Oscar for Precious). The 2024 BET Awards will air live on the East Coast on Sunday, June 30, on BET at 8 p.m. ET/ PT.
“Taraji is a phenom, known for her vibrant personality and charisma, and we are excited to welcome her back to host Culture’s Biggest Night, [the] BET Awards, the ultimate celebration of Black creativity,” Connie Orlando, BET’s EVP specials, music programming & music strategy, said in a statement.
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Previously announced performers include GloRilla, Latto, Muni Long, Sexyy Red, Shaboozey and Victoria Monét. Sexyy Red, GloRilla and Long all have hits climbing the top 20 on Billboard’s current Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Sexyy Red’s “Get It Sexyy” jumps from No. 9 to No. 7, GloRilla’s “Yeah Glo!” jumps from No. 11 to No. 8 and Long’s “Made for Me” leaps from No. 25 to No. 17.
Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” holds at No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart after logging three weeks at No. 1.
If these artists perform these hits on the show, it could not only give the hits a boost, but the records’ Grammy chances, because the audience will likely include Grammy voters who are starting to think of their Grammy choices. (The Grammys’ online entry period runs from July 17 to Aug. 31.) Long’s “Made for Me” has the sophisticated R&B appeal of Monét’s “On My Mama,” which was nominated for record of the year at the Grammy ceremony that was held on Feb. 4.
Usher is set to receive the lifetime achievement award at this year’s BET Awards. He also has four nominations.
Drake leads the 2024 BET Awards nominations with seven nods, followed by Nicki Minaj with six; J. Cole, Sexyy Red, SZA, Monét and Beyoncé with five each; and 21 Savage, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Tyla and Usher, with four each.
Voting for the 2024 Viewer’s Choice Award begins Thursday June 6 and ends June 30. Nominees in that category are Doja Cat’s “Agora Hills,” Lil Durk’s “All My Life” (featuring J. Cole), Gunna’s “Fukumean,” Jack Harlow’s “Lovin on Me,” Long’s “Made for Me,” Monét’s “On My Mama,” Drake’s “Rich Baby Daddy” (featuring Sexyy Red & SZA), Chris Brown’s “Sensational (featuring Davido & Lojay), Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” and Tyla’s “Water.”
Orlando will oversee and executive produce the annual show. Jamal Noisette, SVP, tentpoles & music community engagement, will co-executive produce for BET. Jesse Collins Entertainment is the production company for the show, with Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay also serving as executive producers.
Usher will be the BET Awards’ 2024 Lifetime Achievement honoree. The R&B veteran is also nominated for four BET Awards at this year’s ceremony – album of the year for Coming Home, best collaboration and video of the year for “Good Good” and best male R&B/pop artist. Usher won in the latter category last year […]
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Source: Frazer Harrison / Getty
Drake again leads the pack in nominations at the upcoming 2024 BET Awards, with Nicki Minaj behind him.
The 2024 BET Awards looks to be another intriguing affair, as the full list of nominees was released by the network on Thursday (May 16) with Drake once again topping the list with seven nominations. It’s the second year in a row that he’s accomplished this feat. Nicki Minaj came in second with six nominations. J. Cole, Sexyy Red, SZA, and Victoria Monet tied for third place with five nominations. 21 Savage, Beyoncé, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Tyla and Usher bring up the rear with four nominations. The nominations came from the BET Voting Academy, composed of multiple figures in music, sports journalism, and media.
Among Drake’s nominations are those for Album of The Year with For All The Dogs, Best Collaboration of the Year for his track “Rich Baby Daddy” with SZA and Sexyy Red. All eyes will be on the Best Male Hip-Hop artist category where he’ll face off against Kendrick Lamar, who he’s had a hotly contested beef that has dominated the news in the last two weeks. For Nicki Minaj, she’s also in the running for Album of the Year with Pink Friday 2, Video of the Year, and two nominations for different singles for Best Collaboration of the Year – “Barbie World” with Ice Spice and Aqua, and “Everybody” with Lil Uzi Vert. Nicki Minaj is also nominated for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist.
The 2024 BET Awards will be held in Los Angeles on June 30 and aired live at 8 P.M. ET on BET. The theme for this year’s awards is “Standing On Culture”. The show will be produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment, with Collins also serving as an executive producer along with Dionne Harm, Jeannae Rouzan-Clay, and Connie Orlando. Orlando is BET’s executive vice president of music programming and strategy.
Drake has had a tumultuous month, engaging in an increasingly personal diss battle with Kendrick Lamar that has seemingly ended in his defeat, but Thursday (May 16) brought some good news: He leads the nominations for the 2024 BET Awards.
Drake received seven nods, followed closely by Nicki Minaj with six. J. Cole, Sexyy Red, SZA and Victoria Monét each have five nominations. 21 Savage, Beyoncé, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Tyla and Usher each have four.
The 2024 BET Awards, which bills itself Culture’s Biggest Night, will air live from Los Angeles on BET on Sunday, June 30, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. This year’s theme is Standing on Culture.
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BET also announced the first artists confirmed to perform on the show: GloRilla, Latto, Muni Long, Sexyy Red, Shaboozey and Victoria Monét.
Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” is in its third week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ’Em,” which headed that chart for 10 weeks immediately preceding Shaboozey’s smash, is nominated for the Viewer’s Choice Award. So, as genre walls blur, a performer and a nominee on the BET Awards could find themselves nominated for CMA Awards later this year.
Monét’s Jaguar II, which won a Grammy in February for best R&B album, and Killer Mike’s Michael, which won a Grammy for best rap album, are among the BET nominees for album of the year, along with Chris Brown’s 11:11, Gunna’s A Gift & A Curse, 21 Savage’s American Dream, Usher’s Coming Home, Drake’s For All the Dogs (Scary Hours Edition) and Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday 2.
Monét’s “On My Mama,” which was Grammy-nominated for record of the year, is nominated here for the Viewer’s Choice Award. Other nominees in that category include two tracks that won Grammys in February – Lil Durk featuring J. Cole’s “All My Life,” which won best melodic rap performance; and Tyla’s “Water,” which won the inaugural award for best African music performance.
Drake and Burna Boy are both nominated for BET Awards for both best male R&B/pop artist and best male hip-hop artist. Doja Cat is nominated in the equivalent categories for female artists, a sign of all three artists’ broad appeal.
A musical biopic, Bob Marley: One Love, and a concert film, Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, are among the nominees for best movie.
Blue Ivy Carter, the 12-year old daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z, is nominated for the YoungStars Award.
Halle Bailey is nominated for best actress and also for the Dr. Bobby Jones best gospel/inspirational award for “Angel.”
Nominations were determined by the BET Voting Academy, which is comprised of entertainment professionals and influencers in the fields of music, media, digital marketing, sports journalism, public relations and creative arts.
Voting for the BET Awards’ 2024 Viewer’s Choice Award begins June 6 and ends June 30.
Connie Orlando, EVP, specials, music programming & music strategy, will oversee and executive produce the annual show, with Jamal Noisette, SVP, tentpoles & music community engagement to co-executive produce for BET. Jesse Collins Entertainment is the production company for the show, with Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay also serving as executive producers.
Here’s the complete list of nominees for the 2024 BET Awards:
Album of the year
Chris Brown, 11:11
Gunna, A Gift & A Curse
21 Savage, American Dream
Usher, Coming Home
Drake, For All the Dogs (Scary Hours Edition)
Victoria Monét, Jaguar II
Killer Mike, Michael
Nicki Minaj, Pink Friday 2
Best female R&B/pop artist
Beyoncé
Coco Jones
Doja Cat
H.E.R.
Muni Long
SZA
Tyla
Victoria Monét
Best male R&B/pop artist
Brent Faiyaz
Bryson Tiller
Burna Boy
Chris Brown
Drake
Fridayy
October London
Usher
Best group
¥$, Ye, Ty Dolla $ign
2 Chainz & Lil Wayne
41
Blxst & Bino Rideaux
City Girls
Flo
Maverick City Music
Wanmor
Best collaboration
Lil Durk feat. J. Cole, “All My Life”
Beyoncé feat. Kendrick Lamar, “America Has a Problem (Remix)”
Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice (With Aqua), “Barbie World”
Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion, “Bongos”
¥$, Ye, Ty Dolla $ign feat. Rich The Kid, Playboi Carti, “Carnival”
Lola Brooke feat. Latto & Yung Miami, “Don’t Play With It (Remix)”
Nicki Minaj feat. Lil Uzi Vert, “Everybody”
Usher, Summer Walker & 21 Savage, “Good Good”
Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA, “Rich Baby Daddy”
Best female hip-hop artist
Cardi B
Doja Cat
GloRilla
Ice Spice
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion
Nicki Minaj
Sexyy Red
Best male hip-hop artist
21 Savage
Burna Boy
Drake
Future
Gunna
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar
Lil Wayne
Best new artist
41
4Batz
Ayra Starr
Bossman Dlow
Fridayy
October London
Sexyy Red
Tyla
Video of the year
Doja Cat, “Agora Hills”
Lil Durk feat J. Cole, “All My Life”
Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice (With Aqua), “Barbie World”
Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion, “Bongos”
Drake feat. J. Cole, “First Person Shooter”
Usher, Summer Walker & 21 Savage, “Good Good”
Victoria Monét, “On My Mama”
Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA, “Rich Baby Daddy”
Video director of the year
Benny Boom
Child.
Cole Bennett
Dave Meyers
Janelle Monáe & Alan Ferguson
Offset
Tems
Tyler, The Creator
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
Shirley Caesar, “Award All of the Glory”
Kirk Franklin, “All Things”
Halle Bailey, “Angel”
CeCe Winans, “Come Jesus Come”
Erica Campbell, Do You Believe in Love?”
Maverick City Music, Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore, “God Problems”
Tems, “Me & U”
Kirk Franklin, “Try Love”
Viewer’s choice award
Doja Cat, “Agora Hills”
Lil Durk feat. J. Cole, “All My Life”
Gunna, “Fukumean”
Jack Harlow, “Lovin on Me”
Muni Long, “Made for Me”
Victoria Monét, “On My Mama”
Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA, “Rich Baby Daddy”
Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay, “Sensational”
Beyoncé, “Texas Hold ‘Em”
Tyla, “Water”
Best international act
Asake (Africa)
Aya Nakamura (France)
Ayra Starr (Africa)
Bk’ (Brazil)
Cleo Sol (UK)
Focalistic (Africa)
Karol Conká (Brazil)
Raye (UK)
Tiakola (France)
Tyla (Africa)
Viewer’s choice: best new international act
Bellah (UK)
Cristale (UK)
Duquesa (Brazil)
Holly G (France)
Jungeli (France)
Makhadzi (Africa)
Oruam (Brazil)
Seyi Vibez (Africa)
Tyler Icu (Africa)
BET Her
Beyoncé, “16 Carriages”
Nicki Minaj feat. Tasha Cobbs Leonard, “Blessings”
Ayra Starr, “Commas”
Flo feat. Missy Elliott, “Fly Girl”
Megan Thee Stallion, “Hiss”
Victoria Monét, “On My Mama”
SZA, “Saturn”
GloRilla, “Yeah Glo!”
Best movie
American Fiction
Bob Marley: One Love
Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
The Book of Clarence
The Color Purple
The Equalizer 3
The Little Mermaid
Best actor
Anthony Mackie
Colman Domingo
Damson Idris
Denzel Washington
Donald Glover
Idris Elba
Jeffrey Wright
Lakeith Stanfield
Best actress
Angela Bassett
Ayo Edebiri
Coco Jones
Danielle Brooks
Fantasia
Halle Bailey
Issa Rae
Regina King
YoungStars Award
Akira Akbar
Blue Ivy Carter
Demi Singleton
Heiress Diana Harris
Jabria McCullum
Jalyn Hall
Leah Jeffries
Van Van
Sportswoman of the Year Award
A’ja Wilson
Angel Reese
Coco Gauff
Flau’jae Johnson
Juju Watkins
Naomi Osaka
Sha’carri Richardson
Simone Biles
Sportsman of the Year Award
Anthony Edwards
Gervonta Davis
Jalen Brunson
Jalen Hurts
Kyrie Irving
Lebron James
Patrick Mahomes
Stephen Curry