Usher accepted the lifetime achievement award at the 2024 BET Awards — even when the famous person mused it is perhaps a bit early.
The Grammy winner stayed on his toes as a parade of artists carried out his hits — Childish Gambino kicked it off with U Don’t Have to Call, joined by Keke Palmer, who took the lead on You Make Me Wanna…. Coco Jones appeared within the viewers for a sultry rendition of There Goes My Baby, serenading Usher and his spouse, Jenn Goicoechea.
Summer Walker hit the stage for Good Good, Tinashe did Nice & Slow, Marsha Ambrosius tackled Superstar and Chlöe carried out Good Kisser. Teyana Taylor and Victoria Monet teamed up for Bad Girl, mirroring Usher and Beyonce’s choreography from their efficiency of the track. Latto introduced the power for Yeah!. In some methods, the homage underscored the ladies that carried a lot of the evening, dominating the performances.
After introductions by Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam, Usher accepted the award from music government L.A. Reid.
‘I’m nonetheless operating and gunning’
“Getting here has definitely not been easy, but it has been worth it,” Usher started his prolonged speech, reflecting on his profession, which has spanned over three many years. He questioned the timing, saying, “I’m still running and gunning and I still love this [expletive] like I did when I was eight years old,” he mentioned.
Much of his speech could not be heard to audiences at dwelling as a result of it was censored.
“I forgive each and every person who had anything to say negative about me because it only motivated me to be who I am,” he mentioned at one level.
Earlier within the evening, Will Smith stood in a circle of fireside — joined by Fridayy and the gospel choir Sunday Service — to make the stay debut of his newest single, You Can Make It.
“I don’t know who needs this right now,” Smith opened his set. “But I am here to tell you, you can make it.”
Midway by means of, Kirk Franklin joined, after which the 2 rapped collectively. “Nobody gets an easy ride,” Smith, who’s within the midst of his comeback from slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars two years in the past, instructed the room. “There is wisdom in that fire. Dance in your darkest moments.”
Killer Mike feedback on his Grammy arrest
The forthcoming presidential election was an enormous matter of dialog all through the present. After Childish Gambino introduced Killer Mike with the album of the yr award for Michael, the rapper used his acceptance speech to handle his Grammys arrest and voting.
“Technically, I was not supposed to be here. I was put in handcuffs, and I was marched out of this building. But I want to tell you, look at God. ‘Cause I’m back, baby. I’m back and I’m winning,” he mentioned in his speech. Killer Mike was arrested at the Grammys earlier this yr over a bodily altercation he mentioned was attributable to an “overzealous” safety guard; he was not charged over the incident.
“They going to tell you who we vote for is important,” he continued his speech, “And it is who we vote for on the big stage. It’s important, but it’s more important you know who your city council person is, who your prosecutor is.”
Megan Thee Stallion opened the present by rising from an egg — a metaphor for her new musical rebirth — earlier than diving into with an lively medley of her new singles Hiss and Boa.
“BET, Where my girls at?” she mentioned, shouting out Monet and Jones within the crowd earlier than launching into Where Them Girls At — a monitor that is been an instantaneous fan favorite since Friday’s launch of her third studio album, Megan.
Taraji P. Henson hosted the present at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Her opening monologue was a efficiency, with Henson rapping It’s about us, in a free parody of Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us, which he launched within the midst of his reignited feud with Drake.
“No beef in here tonight,” she joked, “Can we say plant-based?”
Tyla wins greatest worldwide act
Tyla, the Johannesburg , South African amapiano famous person, received two honours on the present, beginning with greatest worldwide act.
Later within the evening, she’d take dwelling the award for greatest new artist. “This is crazy,” she mentioned. “I just want to dedicate this one to Africa.”
Monet, who earlier this yr received the Grammy for greatest new artist, made her BET debut and set a excessive bar for performances, condensing a full set into a couple of minutes with three costume modifications and a pair of songs, On My Mama and Alright.
Then Sexyy Red took the stage, performing her clean bed room ballad U My Everything earlier than shifting to a different stage and a dressing up change — tackling Get It Sexyy in entrance of an LED display depicting the White House and dancers dressed just like the Secret Service.
The present took a tonal shift when VanVan and Heiress Harris, two baby rappers, carried out their empowerment anthem Be You in a lecture room set. Harris is the daughter of rapper T.I. and singer Tiny Harris.
Best feminine R&B/pop artist went to SZA and greatest actress to Regina King, each of whom weren’t in attendance; the BET HER award went to Monet for On My Mama. She introduced her mom as much as settle for it.
Country musician Tanner Adell introduced her Buckle Bunny and her new track, Cowboy Break My Heart. GloRilla emerged from above, descending to affix her dancers for Yeah Glo! and Wanna Be — the latter of which noticed a shock look from Megan Thee Stallion. Shaboozey stored the nation coming with A Bar Song (Tipsy) and was joined by rapper J-Kwon, who seems on the monitor, creating an sudden collaboration throughout genres.
Lauryn Hill closed the evening, starting with The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill going into Lost Ones, earlier than introducing her son YG Marley for his reggae tracks Survival and Praise Jah In The Moonlight. Wyclef Jean appeared, and the trio — in entrance of a full-band — carried out Fugees’ Fu-Gee-La. Pras, the third member of Fugees, was not current. The rapper, who was accused in multimillion-dollar political conspiracies spanning two presidencies, was convicted in April.