The BET Hip Hop Awards 2023 brought the hottest names in Hip Hop back to Atlanta, GA, for the annual taping of the trailblazing award show paying homage to 50 years of Hip Hop. Kendrick Lamar ruled the night with four wins, including ‘Lyricist of the Year,’ ‘Best Live Performer,’ ‘Hip Hop Artist of the Year’ and ‘Video Director of the Year’ with Dave Free. GRAMMY®-nominated recording artist, actor, entrepreneur, and media personality Fat Joe hosted this year’s awards from The Cobb Energy Centre.
Sexyy Redd opened the show with a medley of her smash hits “Pound Town,” “Shake Yo Dreads'' and “SkeeYee” which brought the crowd to its feet. Host Fat Joe, DJ Kid Capri, and D-Nice kicked off the first deejay battle of the night before Scott Storch and Spinderella took the stage. GloRilla performed “Pop It” before being joined by Fivio Foreign on their latest single, “Cha Cha Cha.” Rap queens City Girls performed a dance-heavy rendition of “No Bars'' and “Face Down.” DaBaby hit the stage with a mashup of “Ghetto Girls,” “Shake Sumn Remix” with Sexyy Redd, and “Project Chick '' featuring Juvenile and Mannie Fresh.
Hip Hop titans LL COOL J and Rakim performed a special tribute to this year’s “I Am Hip Hop Award” honoree Marley Marl alongside Jazzy Jeff, DJ Technician, and the Adam Blackstone Band.
An all-star 30th Anniversary tribute to the iconic So So Def and its founder Jermaine Dupri featured a blazing lineup of Bonecrusher, Chingy, Lil Jon, Ludacris, Nelly, Bow Wow, Da Brat, Dem Franchize Boyz and Tyrese.
This year’s cypher, presented by Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, was deejayed by DJ E Feezy and DJ Runna, with lyricists Bun B, Cassidy, Foggieraw, Gloss Up, Lady London, Lola Brooke, Scar Lip, and Symba battling head-to-head. The digital cypher features DJ Hed, LaNell Grant, Maiya The Don, and That Mexican OT.
Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes was honored with the “Global Visionary Award” posthumously for his profound impact on the global Hip-Hop landscape. Family members Lynn and Tony Forbes accepted the award on his behalf during a tribute segment for the International airings of the “BET Hip Hop Awards” 2023.
The Award show also featured special appearances by DJ Envy of “The Breakfast Club,” host of “Celebrity Squares” DC YoungFly, the cast of “The Impact: ATL” (Ari Fletcher, Lakeyah) and “Basketball Wives: LA” and “Basketball Wives: Orlando” stars (Brooke Bailey, Nique Brown, Mehgan James).
The complete list of “BET Hip Hop Awards” 2023 winners are:
HIP HOP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
DRAKE & 21 SAVAGE - “HER LOSS”
BEST HIP HOP VIDEO
LIL UZI VERT - “JUST WANNA ROCK”
BEST COLLABORATION
LIL DURK FEAT. J. COLE - “ALL MY LIFE”
BEST INTERNATIONAL FLOW
BLACK SHERIF (GHANA)
BEST DUO OR GROUP
DRAKE & 21 SAVAGE
BEST LIVE PERFORMER
KENDRICK LAMAR
LYRICIST OF THE YEAR
KENDRICK LAMAR
VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
DAVE FREE & KENDRICK LAMAR
SONG OF THE YEAR
LIL UZI VERT - “JUST WANNA ROCK”
HIP HOP ARTIST OF THE YEAR
KENDRICK LAMAR
BEST BREAKTHROUGH HIP HOP ARTIST
ICE SPICE
HUSTLER OF THE YEAR
50 CENT
SWEET 16: BEST FEATURED VERSE
JAY-Z - “GOD DID” (DJ KHALED FEAT. RICK ROSS, LIL WAYNE, JAY-Z , JOHN LEGEND & FRIDAYY)
IMPACT TRACK
LIL DURK FEAT. J. COLE - “ALL MY LIFE”
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR (DIGITAL)
METRO BOOMIN
DJ OF THE YEAR
METRO BOOMIN
BEST HIP HOP PLATFORM
“CARESHA PLEASE”