BET Hip Hop Awards 2022

10.5.22

BET Hip Hop Awards 10.4.22

The 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards last night was nothing short of incredible. From the performances, to the nominees and winners, and of course the host with the most, Fat Joe. It was a night to celebrate our favorite artists, and one of our favorite things: hip-hop. I think this time around, the show was solid through and through.

To start, having Fat Joe host the awards was perfect timing. He has a new show coming out on STARZ next month, as well as a book, so he might as well drop off some new music, too. Joe had several outfit changes throughout the night, from a tailored brown leather top and bottom set, to a red pant with large red puffer, taking us back to BK. Joe used his platform as the host, to talk about what is going on in the world. How to help Florida after Hurricane Ian, easy ways to register to vote, remembering all those we’ve lost of the years, and honoring those that are here today, including Remy Ma and the founder of his label, who signed him and Pun off of a freestyle.

The performances were great. Every one of them. Armani White brought all the energy we wanted from his viral single, Billie Eilish. Christian aka King Combs danced his heart out to his latest single, with his brother Justin singing all the words in the crowd. Yo Gotti did the same for his artists, as Glo Rilla and EST Gee took the stage. EST Gee began sitting on a dark thrown, and performed along side of Jeezy to perform their single The Realest. Glo Rilla entered in next with a whole crew of her “Ratchet Ass Friends” all dressed up in glitter cheer suits and Glo Rilla as the main player. They came in from the top of the seats and twerked their way down the stairs and onto the stage. The pure joy and happiness in her face was enough to make the night for me, but there was so much more to come. Fivio Foreign closed out the night with Lil TJay, who similarly was visibly thrilled to be on stage performing, rightfully so. Pusha T performed and brought No Malice along with him for a Clipse throwback special. Joey Badass had a killer message with male dancers in black hoodies, writing the names of all of the notorious hip-hop legends we’ve lost to gun violence. The performance of the night had to go to earlier era of hip-hop, where we saw Fat Joe and Remy, Mobb Deep, Three 6 Mafia, Redman and Method Man, Wu Tang Clan, Lil Kim, and so much more.

When it came to the awards, it was definitely Kendrick Lamar’s night. There are certain people that are just going to take all the wins they are in the category for, but there are a few notable wins to take from the night. Firstly, Latto wins Song of the Year. Latto goes up against Jack Harlow’s First Class, she goes against Kanye, she goes against Drake and Future - TWICE. Latto takes Song of the Year for Big Energy, and I could not be more thrilled to see this outcome. Latto dropped her sophomore album, and I did not think it could be better than the first, but it was. She showed even more versatility than the first one, especially though the Big Energy track which not only went crazy in the hip-hop community, but would give her an entire new fan base across pop culture and radio stations that would play her song on repeat.

The second would be best breakthrough artist, which was won by Glo Rila. The thing about best breakthrough artist, or best new artist awards, is they seem to always give it to someone who has been around for a bit, but maybe took a minute to get their breakthrough record. Latto won best new artist at the last awards, and while it was well-deserved, I figured she should have won that award two years prior. This seems to be pattern with these awards, so after seeing the nominees include artists like Blxst, Fivio Foreign and Baby Keem, I was sure their co-signs alone would take them to the W. We have known Glo Rilla for maybe three months now, and these other artists, we’ve known for 2-3 years and have built up extensive catalogs, records and features. Glo Rilla made so much of impact with her record FNF. We have already seen an insanely massive improvement in the work of her recordings and her music videos, after recording the FNF Remix with Latto and JT, and the Tomorrow 2 track and music video with Cardi B. When I saw Glo Rilla sign to CMG, I knew Yo Gotti would make sure she was nothing less than a star. This night overall was a massive win for Glo Rilla, and I cannot wait to see where she goes from here.

The BET Awards was able to honor Young Dolph, and artist gone too soon who was known for giving back to his community. More recently we lost PNB Rock, who every artist was sure to pray for when the subject matter was present.

BET is known for including cyphers as a part of the fun, which is always one of my favorite parts. Artists like Baby Tate, Guapdad 4000 and others participated in showing off their skills, while new artists will are sure to wake up to plenty of extra followers this morning. On a bit of a different acapella note, BET even brought us the URL, a live hip-hop rap battle with two heavy-weights in the game, DNA and T Shyne.

In addition, Trina was honored as the I Am Hip Hop Award. The montage of the male and female perspective on how amazing of an artist she grew into would bring tears to your eyes. As Trina accepted her flowers, she did get emotional, but ended her speech with “I’ll always be the original baddest bitch from the 305 - but when one of us wins, we all win.” Trina offered her award to all the female artists that came after her, empowering females in hip-hop.

An overall powerful, wonderful night of hip-hop. Below is a list of the award winners and nominees.

Best Hip Hop Video

A$AP Rocky: “D.M.B.”
WINNER: Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar: “Family Ties”
City Girls ft. Usher: “Good Love”
Cardi B, Kanye West & Lil Durk: “Hot Shit”
BIA & J. Cole: “London”
Future ft. Drake & Tems: “Wait for You”
Drake ft. Future & Young Thug: “Way 2 Sexy”

Best Collaboration

Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar: “Family Ties”
City Girls ft. Usher: “Good Love”
Cardi B, Kanye West & Lil Durk: “Hot Shit”
Drake ft. 21 Savage: “Jimmy Cooks”
Benny the Butcher & J. Cole: “Johnny P’s Caddy”
WINNER: Future ft. Drake & Tems: “Wait for You”
Drake ft. Future & Young Thug: “Way 2 Sexy”

Best Duo or Group

42 Dugg & EST Gee
Big Sean & Hit-Boy
Birdman & Youngboy Never Broke Again
Blxst & Bino Rideaux
DaBaby & Youngboy Never Broke Again
WINNER: EARTHGANG
Styles P & Havoc

Best Live Performer

Cardi B
Doja Cat
Drake
J. Cole
Kanye West
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar
Tyler, the Creator

Lyricist of the Year

Baby Keem
Benny the Butcher
Drake
J. Cole
Jack Harlow
Jay-Z
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar

Video Director of the Year

Benny Boom
Burna Boy
Cole Bennett
Colin Tilley
Director X
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar & Dave Free
Teyana Taylor

Song of the Year

WINNER: Latto: “Big Energy”
Hitkidd & Glorilla: “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)”
Jack Harlow: “First Class”
Cardi B, Kanye West & Lil Durk: “Hot Shit”
Kodak Black: “Super Gremlin”
Future ft. Drake & Tems: “Wait for You”
Drake ft. Future & Young Thug: “Way 2 Sexy”

Hip Hop Album of the Year

Latto: 777
Drake: Certified Lover Boy
Kanye West: Donda
Future: I Never Liked You 
Pusha T: It’s Almost Dry
Nas: King’s Disease II 
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar: Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers 

Hip Hop Artist of the Year

Cardi B
Doja Cat
Drake
Future
Kanye West
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar
Megan Thee Stallion

Producer of the Year

ATL Jacob
Baby Keem
Hit-Boy
WINNER: Hitmaka
Kanye West
Metro Boomin
Pharrell Williams

Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist

Baby Keem
Blxst
Doechii
Fivio Foreign
WINNER: Glorilla
Nardo Wick
Saucy Santana

DJ of the Year

D-Nice
DJ Cassidy
WINNER: DJ Drama
DJ Kay Slay
DJ Premier
Kaytranada
Mustard
Nyla Symone
L.A. Leakers: DJ sourMILK & Justin Credible

Best Hip Hop Platform

Big Boy’s Neighborhood 
Breakfast Club
WINNER (tie): Caresha Please 
Complex
WINNER (tie): Drink Champs
HipHopDX
Million Dollaz Worth of Game
NPR Tiny Desk
Verzuz

Hustler of the Year

WINNER: 50 Cent
Cardi B
DJ Khaled
Drake
Jay-Z
Kanye West
Megan Thee Stallion

Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse

WINNER (tie): Drake: “Churchill Downs” (Jack Harlow ft. Drake)
J. Cole: “Poke It Out” (Wale ft. J. Cole)
J. Cole: “London” (BIA & J. Cole)
Lil Baby: “Girls Want Girls” (Drake ft. Lil Baby)
Kanye West: “City of Gods” (Fivio Foreign, Kanye West & Alicia Keys)
WINNER (tie): Drake: “Wait for You” (Future ft. Drake & Tems)
Jadakiss: “Black Illuminati” (Freddie Gibbs ft. Jadakiss)

Impact Track

WINNER: Lizzo: “About Damn Time”
Fivio Foreign, Kanye West & Alicia Keys: “City of Gods”
Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar: “Family Ties”
Nas ft. Ms. Lauryn Hill: “Nobody”
Latto: “Pxssy”
Kendrick Lamar: “The Heart Part 5”
Doja Cat: “Woman”

Best International Flow

WINNER: Benjamin Epps (France)
Black Sherif (Ghana)
Blxckie (South Africa)
Central Cee (UK)
Haviah Mighty (Canada)
Knucks (UK)
Le Juiice (France)
Nadia Nakai (Zimbabwe)
Tasha & Tracie (Brazil)THE YEAR