Killer Mike
Will Smith at 2024 BET Awards in Los Angeles.
Kevin Winter/Getty Photos
In between the explosive performances and touching speeches, the BET Awards had been evangelized with an emotional efficiency by Will Smith, a killer speech by Killer Mike and host Taraji P. Henson reminding viewers to get out and vote within the upcoming presidential election.
Performing in a circle of fireside backed by the Sunday Service Choir and R&B singer Friday, Smith rapped his new tune “You Can Make It,” seeming to handle the tough patch he skilled personally and professionally after slapping Chris Rock on the Academy Awards two years in the past. “I’m right here to inform you, you can also make it,” he advised the viewers on the Peacock Theater on the high of the efficiency, which ended with this message: “Dance in your darkest moments.”
Rain poured down throughout the redemption efficiency on Sunday, which additionally featured gospel star Kirk Franklin and his phrases of braveness and knowledge. “No one will get a straightforward experience, all of us have a cross to bear, however there’s knowledge within the fireplace, and each second is a chance,” Smith stated. “Embrace the journey.”
The Grammy-winning rapper and Oscar-winning actor earned a standing ovation from the viewers, together with actress Ms. Pat. Henson was excited as she launched Smith, calling him “my brother.”
Mike additionally supplied one of many present’s emotional and charging moments after profitable album of the yr for Michael — the same award he gained on the Grammys in February however was detained moments later following a scuffle with a safety guard exterior Crypto.com Enviornment in Los Angeles. The brand new win comes days after prosecutors within the Los Angeles Metropolis Legal professional’s Workplace elected to not file expenses for the incident.
“Technically, I used to be not alleged to be right here. I used to be put in handcuffs and I used to be marched out of this constructing. However I wish to inform you, take a look at God, as a result of I’m again, child. I’m again and I’m profitable. And I wish to inform Black people who due to BET, I’m again. Not as a result of no white particular person calling no one. A Black man runs his enterprise. A Black firm put this present on they usually obtained my Black ass again in right here. Thank y’all,” Mike stated, incomes a loud applause from the gang.
“Lots of people [are] going to say, ‘Who was he? Why did he get it?’ I’m a illustration of one of many best issues God has ever made, and that’s one half of the Black household, Black women and men, I’m you. Whether or not you younger, whether or not you’re outdated, whether or not you want me, whether or not you don’t like me, I’m completely you. And this win is totally ours,” he continued.
Mike additionally obtained political: “They’re going to inform you who we vote for is vital, and it’s. Who we vote for on the massive stage is vital, but it surely’s extra vital you realize who your metropolis council particular person is, who your prosecutor is. And in the event you don’t just like the individuals operating, run your Black ass to the ballot and run your self.”
Henson reminded viewers all through the night time to vote, even showing in a recorded video with Vice President Kamala Harris. At one level, Henson turned extraordinarily severe. “They’re making an attempt to convey the draft again — who do you suppose they’re going to draft first? I’m not making an attempt to scare us. I’m making an attempt to tell us,” she stated.
“I’m speaking to all of the mad people who don’t wish to vote,” she added.
The actress kicked off the present rapping over Kendrick Lamar’s Drake diss observe “Not Like Us,” carrying a purple hoodie, denims and grillz in her enamel.
“I’m rooting for all of us — heavy on the us, heavy on the all. No beefing right here tonight. Can we keep plant-based?” she stated to laughs from the viewers.
Feminine acts dominated the night time in performances, with finest new artist winner Tyla, Sexyy Purple, Megan Thee Stallion, GloRilla and Ice Spice shining. The duo of five-year-old VanVan and eight-year-old Heiress Harris — the daughter of Grammy winners T.I. and Tiny – had the present’s cutest second after they carried out the anthem “Be You” on a stage replicating a classroom.
And when Victoria Monet — who additionally had a profitable efficiency — collected the BET HER honor for “On My Mama,” she introduced her mom to the stage and inspired the ladies within the room to proceed to work collectively. “I simply wish to say that we actually want one another. We have to help one another. We have to collaborate with a contented face. So anyone on this room that may be a Black feminine artist, I might like to collaborate and make that anthem that’s going to interrupt the web collectively,” stated Monet, who additionally gained video of the yr.
Kevin Winter/Getty Photos
Girls additionally joined forces to honor Usher by varied performances as he earned the Lifetime Achievement Award, months after headlining the Tremendous Bowl halftime present throughout his thirtieth yr in music.
KeKe Palmer was in high notch type as she introduced his “You Make Me Wanna” music video to life onstage, and Coco Jones was a vocal powerhouse whereas singing “There Goes My Child,” even dancing in entrance of Usher and his spouse throughout her efficiency. Teyana Taylor sang “Dangerous Lady” whereas Monet danced beside her, Tinashe was seductive throughout “Good & Gradual,” Chloe introduced the vitality throughout “Good Kisser,” Latto rapped Ludacris’ verse on “Yeah!” and Summer season Walker sang “Good Good,” her collaboration with Usher. Infantile Gambino kicked off the tribute — with what gave the impression to be the assistance of a technical system to clean out his voice — for a sensual efficiency of “U Don’t Need to Name,” whereas Marsha Ambrosius sang “Celebrity” although she struggled with the opening riff.
Usher warned the gang that he “likes to speak” and gave a 14-minute speech, a few of his phrases minimize off as he started to curse to totally specific himself.
He eliminated his glasses as his phrases obtained severe — mentioning his father’s missteps and honoring the supportive males who stood behind him, together with executives and producers Babyface, L.A. Reid, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Jermaine Dupri and others.
Usher additionally referred to as on the gang to forgive those that have wronged you. “We gotta be prepared to forgive. We gotta be prepared to be open. I’m telling you — you’re standing earlier than a person who needed to forgive a person who by no means confirmed up, ever, and take a look at what I made with it,” Usher stated because the viewers cheered. “Take a look at what I used to be capable of usher in. That’s what’s actual and that’s what makes us human.”
Lauryn Hill closed the almost four-hour present with a number of performances: She celebrated her basic 1998 album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill; she joined her 22-year-old son, YG Marley, as he carried out his TikTok hit “Reward Jah Within the Moonlight”; and she or he reunited with Wyclef Jean for a (type of) Fugees reunion (sans Pras) with a efficiency of “Fu-Gee-La.”
