The “BET AWARDS” continues to showcase the best, brightest, and most beautiful aspects of the Black experience, while elevating the culture and driving people to be more engaged in social justice and change. This year is no different. After going virtual last year, the 2021 BET Awards is back with a live show audience at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles and will air LIVE on Sunday, June 27 on BET at 8 pm ET/PT.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR AFTER HOURS – THE WEEKND BLAME IT ON BABY – DABABY GOOD NEWS – MEGAN THEE STALLION HEAUX TALES – JAZMINE SULLIVAN KING’S DISEASE – NAS UNGODLY HOUR – CHLOE X HALLE
BEST COLLABORATION CARDI B FT. MEGAN THEE STALLION – WAP DABABY FT. RODDY RICCH – ROCKSTAR DJ KHALED FT. DRAKE – POPSTAR JACK HARLOW FT. DABABY, TORY LANEZ & LIL WAYNE – WHATS POPPIN (REMIX) MEGAN THEE STALLION FT. DABABY – CRY BABY POP SMOKE FT. LIL BABY & DABABY – FOR THE NIGHT
BEST FEMALE R&B / POP ARTIST BEYONCÉ H.E.R. JAZMINE SULLIVAN JHENÉ AIKO SUMMER WALKER SZA
BEST MALE R&B / POP ARTIST 6LACK ANDERSON .PAAK CHRIS BROWN GIVEON TANK THE WEEKND
BEST NEW ARTIST COI LERAY FLO MILLI GIVEON JACK HARLOW LATTO POOH SHIESTY
BEST GROUP 21 SAVAGE & METRO BOOMIN CHLOE X HALLE CHRIS BROWN & YOUNG THUG CITY GIRLS MIGOS SILK SONIC
BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST CARDI B COI LERAY DOJA CAT MEGAN THEE STALLION LATTO SAWEETIE
BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST DABABY DRAKE J. COLE JACK HARLOW LIL BABY POP SMOKE
DR. BOBBY JONES BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD BEBE WINANS – IN JESUS NAME CECE WINANS – NEVER LOST H.E.R. – HOLD US TOGETHER KIRK FRANKLIN – STRONG GOD MARVIN SAPP – THANK YOU FOR IT ALL TAMELA MANN – TOUCH FROM YOU
BET HER AWARD ALICIA KEYS FT. KHALID – SO DONE BRANDY FT. CHANCE THE RAPPER – BABY MAMA BRI STEVES – ANTI QUEEN CHLOE X HALLE – BABY GIRL CIARA FT. ESTER DEAN – ROOTED SZA – GOOD DAYS
BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT AYA NAKAMURA (FRANCE) BURNA BOY (NIGERIA) DIAMOND PLATNUMZ (TANZANIA) EMICIDA (BRAZIL) HEADIE ONE (UK) WIZKID (NIGERIA) YOUNG T & BUGSEY (UK) YOUSSOUPHA (FRANCE)
VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD CARDI B FT. MEGAN THEE STALLION – WAP CHRIS BROWN & YOUNG THUG – GO CRAZY DABABY FT. RODDY RICCH – ROCKSTAR DJ KHALED FT. DRAKE – POPSTAR DRAKE FT. LIL DURK – LAUGH NOW CRY LATER LIL BABY – THE BIGGER PICTURE MEGAN THEE STALLION FT. BEYONCÉ – SAVAGE (REMIX) SILK SONIC – LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN
VIDEO OF THE YEAR CARDI B – UP CARDI B FT. MEGAN THEE STALLION – WAP CHLOE X HALLE – DO IT CHRIS BROWN & YOUNG THUG – GO CRAZY DRAKE FT. LIL DURK – LAUGH NOW CRY LATER SILK SONIC – LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN
VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR BENNY BOOM BRUNO MARS AND FLORENT DÉCHARD COLE BENNETT COLIN TILLE DAVE MEYERS HYPE WILLIAMS
BEST MOVIE COMING 2 AMERICA JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI SOUL THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY
BEST ACTRESS ANDRA DAY ANGELA BASSETT ISSA RAE JURNEE SMOLLETT VIOLA DAVIS ZENDAYA
BEST ACTOR ALDIS HODGE CHADWICK BOSEMAN DAMSON IDRIS DANIEL KALUUYA EDDIE MURPHY LAKEITH STANFIELD
YOUNGSTARS AWARD ALEX R. HIBBERT ETHAN HUTCHISON LONNIE CHAVIS MARSAI MARTIN MICHAEL EPPS STORM REID
SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD A’JA WILSON CANDACE PARKER CLARESSA SHIELDS NAOMI OSAKA SERENA WILLIAMS SKYLAR DIGGINS-SMITH
SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD KYRIE IRVING LEBRON JAMES PATRICK MAHOMES RUSSELL WESTBROOK RUSSELL WILSON STEPHEN CURRY
Minaj originally submitted the track — which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in August — to the rap categories at the Grammys, but the decision was overturned by the Recording Academy’s rap committee, according to a source. That group determined that Minaj’s playful and pop-sounding song sampling Rick James’ 1981 classic “Super Freak” should compete for best pop solo performance instead of rap awards.
TheHollywoodreporter
In my honest opinion, this was the right move! The song was produced by a Pop producer and it was also promoted as a Pop song. This isn’t an attack on Nicki Minaj, as it has happened across all genres. Some of the more notable people to have this happen would be Kacey Musgraves, The Weeknd, Iggy Azalea, Lil Nas X and so many more.
However, Nicki took to twitter to share her thoughts, per usual:
I have no prob being moved out the RAP category as long as we r ALL being treated FAIRLY. If SFG has 2B moved out RAP then so does Big Energy! ANY1 who says diff is simply a Nicki hater or a troll. I’d actually LUV 2 c a more street record win- male OR female! IJS rightIsRight 🫡
At this time, Big Energy by Latto, hasn’t been announced which category it will be in. It will likely be in the running for the same Pop awards, based on the fact that Dr. Luke also produced it and the Remix featured Mariah Carey’s rendition of Fantasy, which was also nominated in the Pop category.
R&B showstopper Aaron Fresh has come a long way from when he was first introduced to the word back in 2010. The former Teen heartthrob made a huge splash with his Def Jam debut singles ‘Spending All My Time’ & ‘Dirty Girl’ which was in heavy rotation across BET, MTV, VH1 & Nickelodeon. The Trini native was truly born to do this and as a kid watching some of his idols like Michael Jackson, Usher , Chris Brown & Machel Montano was all the inspiration he ever truly needed. When Aaron hit the stage his electrifying performances compared him to the greats the came before him which is exactly why Nick Cannon and so many others saw the star power in him. In no time he was co-hosting ‘The Night Life’ alongside Nick on Nickelodeon where the also gave him the opportunity to become a special celebrity correspondent on Teen Nick. It was clear that his star was steady on the rise, but as label politics changed his time at Def Jam was over, but that only fueled him to continue his success as an indie artist. Over the years he’s also found success as a songwriter working with K-Pop stars EXO and NU’EST which kept him fulfilled, but his fans were ready for him to return to music. Now he’s back and better than ever with the release of his latest single ‘Tabanca’ as he teamed up with Ronnie Young Jr and Micky Monday on the track. The buzz worthy single is just the re-introduction he needed to show the world his new and refreshing sound. Watch the accompanying video for the track which is only just a taste of so much more in store.