The BET 2018 Hip Hop Awards aired Tuesday night from Miami, Florida with comedian DeRay Davis hosting. Here’s a recap via ABC Air Power Prep:
Lil Pump opened up the show with a variety of songs, including “ESKEETIT,” “Gucci Gang,” and the Gucci Mane-assisted “Kept Back.”
Other performance that night included Cardi B., T.I., Yo Gotti, YG and A$AP Rocky.
Drake, who dominated the nominations with 11 nods, won just one award.
Cardi B, who was a close second with 10 noms, took home four — the most of any artist last night.
One of the major highlights of the night was Lil Wayne who was recognized with the special I Am Hip-Hop Award. His long-awaited album, Tha Carter V, released September 28, achieved the second-biggest streaming week ever for an album. In a heartfelt speech he gave flanked by his daughter Reginae and mom Jacida Carter, Wayne thanked his friends, family and fans for refusing to give up on him. On that note, he paid particular attention to a homicide detective he called “Uncle Bob,” who refused to give up on the recording artist after his brush with death — even after the EMTs apparently did.
Additionally, the show featured several highly anticipated cyphers, from the likes of Vic Mensa, G Herbo, Taylor Bennett and Erykah Badu who closed out the all woman cypher featuring Bri Steves and Neelam Hakeem. Pre-taped , Vic Mensa’s freestyle was notable for his dissing of XXXTentacion. Mensa directly addressing allegations of domestic abuse against the late rapper: “Only time you bear arms is in a wife beater, loser/Your favorite rapper’s a domestic abuser.”(Later he did apologize.)
The show ended on a high note, with comedian Lil Duval preforming his viral hit song “Smile (Living My Best Life),” feat. Snoop Dogg & Ball Greezy, with the help of some of his friends.
Here’s the 2018 BET Hip Hop Awards winners list:
Best Hip-Hop Video
Childish Gambino — “This Is America”
Hot Ticket Performer
Drake
Album of the Year
The Carters — Everything Is Love
Video Director of the Year
Karena Evans
Lyricist of the Year
Kendrick Lamar
MVP of the Year
Cardi B
Producer of the Year
Pharrell Williams
Best Collabo, Duo or Group
The Carters — “Apesh**”
Single of the Year
“Apesh**” — Produced by Pharrell (The Carters)
Best New Hip-Hop Artist
XXXTentacion
Best Mixtape
BlocBoy JB — Simi
Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse
Cardi B — “Motorsport” (Migos feat. Cardi B & Nicki Minaj)
Impact Track
Childish Gambino — “This Is America”
DJ of the Year
DJ Khaled
Made-You-Look Award (Best Hip Hop Style)
Cardi B
Hustler of the Year
Cardi B
Best Hip Hop Online Site/App
Worldstar
(Photo credit: BET)