The BET Hip Hop Awards aired Tuesday night, with the creme de la creme of the hip-hop industry on hand to celebrate the young turks and honor the legends.
Here are five highlights of the show:
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It was political with a capital P
Perhaps the most political BET Hip Hop Awards yet, presenters and performers alike peppered the show with calls to vote in next month’s election and support of the Black Lives Matter movement. From BIG KRIT’s raptastic monologue to T.I.’s moving performance, the whole night was full of woke moments.
.@BIGKRIT wasn't playing no games! #HipHopAwards @BET @HipHopAwards pic.twitter.com/IPbOlgeGv2
— XXL Magazine (@XXL) October 5, 2016
DJ Khaled “major keyed” the whole night
As both the host and an award winner, DJ Khaled continued what has already been a seminal year of keys that has seen him open for Beyonce’s “Formation World Tour” to becoming a snapchat icon.
The Cyphers
The Hip Hop awards’ cyphers won’t break your career, but it is a chance to showcase your lyrical skills to a national audience. This year’s versions saw the likes of Beanie Sigel and Dead Prez to Jidenna and Young M.A. (who accused BET of editing her cypher). But the highlight was of course the one-one-one cypher between Lil Wayne and Chocolate Droppa, Kevin Hart’s rapper alter ego.
Desiigner’s joy
Social media had a field day over the amount of fun Desiigner appeared to be having at the show. Whenever the camera panned to him, he was always having the best time at the show.
#HipHopAwards That @LifeOfDesiigner performance was one of the best performances of the night and I don't know why. pic.twitter.com/Nx20HE0YJC
— THE RAPFEST™ (@TheRapFest) October 5, 2016
Snoop the Legend
Dr. Dre, Pharrell and Kendrick Lamar were the few who shared their admiration of Snoop Dog during for his “I am Hip Hop” award. When Snoop took the stage, he showed he wasn’t an “old bitter rapper” by showing his love and support towards the younger generations of rappers in the room.
What was your favorite moment of the award show?