ATLANTA, GEORGIA: Kendrick Lamar, the acclaimed rapper and artist, emerged as the star of the night at the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards. He clinched four prestigious awards, leaving fans both delighted and puzzled.
Lamar's triumphs in the categories of Hip Hop Artist of the Year, Best Live Performer, Lyricist of the Year, and Best Video Director, shared with his creative partner Dave Free, have etched his name in history.
Kenrick Lamar sets records with four wins
Lamar's victory marked a momentous occasion. Notably, he secured the title of Hip Hop Artist of the Year for the third time, an achievement unprecedented in the history of the awards.
As a four-time winner of Best Live Performer, he now stands shoulder to shoulder with hip-hop heavyweights Kanye West and Jay-Z, who also hold four wins in this category. Additionally, his ninth win in the Lyricist of the Year category solidified his reign as lyricist extraordinaire.
Collaborating with Dave Free, they repeated their triumph in the Best Video Director category for the second consecutive year, a feat not accomplished since Hype Williams' four-year streak from 2009-12.
Surprising victories amid silence
The 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards ceremony, held at Atlanta's Cobb Energy Center and aired on BET, was met with bewilderment by fans and observers alike. Lamar, known for his incredible talent, didn't release any solo material in 2023.
The only projects associated with Lamar were his collaboration with Beyonce on a surprise remix of 'America Has a Problem,' a track from her 2022 album 'Renaissance,' and his contribution to 'The Hillbillies,' a publication under PG Lang and Columbia Records. In response, fans took to social media to express their surprise and confusion.
One fan humorously remarked, "Are we in 2012?" referencing the release of Lamar's best-selling studio album, 'Good Kid, M.A.A.D City.' Others questioned the recognition he received, with comments like "He ain't even drop" and "What did bro do this year?" echoing across various platforms.
However, amidst the confusion, there were those who supported and celebrated Lamar's accolades. One user on social media stated, "A well-deserved W from the GOAT Lamar," while another simply commented, "As he should."
Other standout winners
Lamar wasn't the only artist to shine at the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards. Successful collaborations took the spotlight, with Drake & 21 Savage and Lil Durk featuring J Cole each winning two awards, alongside Lil Uzi Vert and Metro Boomin.
Drake & 21 Savage's album 'Her Loss,' which dominated the Billboard 200 in November 2022, was honored with the title of Hip Hop Album of the Year. This marked the third collaboration to achieve this distinction, following Jay-Z & Kanye West's 'Watch the Throne' in 2012 and Beyoncé & Jay-Z's 'Everything Is Love' in 2018. Additionally, Drake & 21 Savage secured Best Duo or Group.
Lil Uzi Vert's chart-topping hit, 'Just Wanna Rock,' claimed the Song of the Year award, surpassing larger crossover hits, 'All My Life' by Lil Durk featuring J Cole and 'Rich Flex' by Drake & 21 Savage. This track also snagged the Best Hip Hop Video award.
However, 'All My Life' didn't leave empty-handed, securing two additional awards for Best Collaboration and Impact Track. The Impact Track award recognizes songs that contribute to social commentary, political discourse, or thought-provoking lyrics, marking J Cole's fourth win in this category.
Notably, Metro Boomin made history as the first producer to clinch the Producer of the Year award thrice, having previously secured the title in 2015 and 2017. Other accomplished producers such as Kanye West, DJ Mustard, and Hit-Boy have each won the award twice.
In the Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist category, Ice Spice emerged victorious, becoming the second woman in a row to win this accolade, following GloRilla's win last year.
Fans can expect to see Ice Spice as a frontrunner for a Grammy nomination in the Best New Artist category when the 66th Annual Grammy Award nominations are announced on November 10.
Notably, previous winners of the BET Breakthrough Award have gone on to receive Grammy nods, including Drake, Nicki Minaj, Iggy Azalea, and Chance the Rapper, with the latter winning the prestigious award.
The 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards have undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the music industry, with Lamar standing as the night's biggest sensation.
