S. Samuel
Jay-Z, Diddy, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Alicia Keys and more ignited Sunday night's BET Awards 2010 with wins and performances.
The annual ceremony kicked off with a fire-powered set by Kanye West.
West, decked out in all red and a bawdy necklace, took to the stage for “Power,” the lead single from his forthcoming untitled album. The Chicago MC powered through the anthem alone o stage, with no band and no background singers. West opened the awards show and said no words prior to performing, nor any comment once he finished. The rapper was solemn and fired throughout the thumping track. (MTV)
Award winners from the ceremony included Drake, Nicki Minaj, Alicia Keys and Beyonce.
Best Female R&B Artist: Alicia Keys, Best Male R&B Artist: Trey Songz, Best Female Hip Hop Artist: Nicki Minaj, Best Male Hip-Hop Artist: Drake, Best Collaboration: Jay-Z & Alicia Keys’s “Empire State of Mind,” Video of the Year: Beyonce & Lady Gaga‘s “Video Phone,” Centric Award: Monica. (Shallow Nation)
There were also star-studded performances from artists like T.I. and Diddy.
T.I. and Queen Latifah mocked the Atlanta rapper’s 2007 arrest as the pair introduced B.O.B. and Keyshia Cole, who performed “Airplanes” with a special appearance by Eminem. Em continued with D12 group member Kon Artis after Keshia Cole and B.o.B. left the stage and performed his hit single “Not Afraid” with a full choir. Diddy followed with a performance medley of “O Let’s Do It” featuring Rick Ross, followed by “Hello, Good Morning” featuring Dirty Money and T.I. (All Hip Hop)
BET chairwoman Debra Lee honored R&B singer John Legend with the show’s Humanitarian Award.
“”I do a lot of work fighting poverty in Africa, but even here in America in our communities, there is a fight we must win. we know we can do better, we know there are solutions,” Legend said during his acceptance. “Poverty doesn’t have to be a trap. There’s a lot of money, fame and influence and millions of people watching around the world. I say to all of us, we can do better.” (BET Awards 10)
Check out footage from the show below:
