2021 BET Awards: Full List of Winners and Nominees

by Onyeka June 28, 2021, 7:53 am 1.5k Views 1 Comment

Anchored by award-winning actress Taraji P. Henson, the 21st annual Black Entertainment TV awards was live from the Microsoft Theatre on Sunday June 27. The occasion was themed “Year of the Black Woman.”

“Celebrating Black women isn’t a fad or a trend it’s a forever mood,” Henson said, opening up the show. “There is more than enough room for all of us to thrive, because can’t nobody be like me and can’t nobody be you like you.”

Critically acclaimed rapper and actress Queen Latifah received this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her “amazing success” throughout her decades-long career. Rappers Lil Kim, Rapsody, MC Lyte and Monie Love honoured Latifah with a performance of her songs “Ladies First” and “U.N.I.T.Y..” Queen Latifah then gave a speech, expressing her gratitude.

“I want to thank BET for creating an outlet for beautiful Blackness to thrive, to shine,” Queen Latifah said while accepting her award. “When we couldn’t get played on the radio in other places, we couldn’t get our videos played in other places, there was BET that allowed us to be in our fullness.”

America’s female rap sensation Megan Thee Stallion was tied with fellow hot American rapper DaBaby for the most nominations on the night and took home awards for “Best Female Hip Hop Artist,” “Best Collaboration,” “Viewer’s Choice” and “Video of the Year. Cardi B also made headline at the ceremony, revealing she’s pregnant during her performance. The 28-year-old rapper won the Best Collaboration award alongside Megan with their joint project, “WAP”.

Rap legend DMX, who died from a heart attack earlier this year, was honoured at the ceremony with a special tribute performance from Busta Rhymes, Method Man, Swizz Beatz and Michael K. Williams. Andra Day, the City Girls, DJ Khaled, Jazmine Sullivan, Lil Nas X, Kirk Franklin and Migos were among stars who performed at the annual award ceremony.

From the African perspective, Burna Boy beat fellow Nigerian Wizkid, Tanzanian Diamond Platnimz, and five other international acts to the Best International Act Award, making it three consecutive wins since 2019. Receiving his Award, Burna started by pointing out he made it this year to collect his Award, before calling his mother who accompanied him to the ceremony “the most beautiful woman on earth.” He ended his speech by teaching th audience a bit of Nigerian pidgin. Watch the full speech below:

Meanwhile, Nigerian starlet Tems also missed out on landing her first BET statuette with the inaugural Viewer’s Choice: Best New International Act award. The award went to Bree Runway of the United Kingdom.

Late American actor Chadwick Boseman beat Daniel Kaluuyah, Eddie Murphy, etc. to the Best Actor award, while “Judas and the Black Messiah” was the best movie at this year’s BET award

Check out the full list of winners below: