Cardi B is pregnant! Let’s start there.
The 21st BET Awards aired live from Los Angeles June 27, 2021 on BET. The BET Awards annually recognizes Black excellence in music, sports, television, and film. This year the ceremony was hosted by actress, Taraji P. Henson. The theme for the Award ceremony was “Year of the Black Woman” and host Taraji dressed as iconic Black women like Tina Turner (as you can see below), throughout the show. Henson opened the ceremony by saying, “Tonight you’ll get 100% of our full Blackness. This is where we matter. Where our Black entertainment matters. This is 2021, and we’re celebrating the year of the Black woman. Celebrating Black women is not a fad or a trend, it’s a forever mood.”
There were many great performances, fashion do’s (and fashion huh’s?), funny moments, WOW moments, and a surprise from a certain rapper. Keep scrolling to see all of the best moments at the 2021 BET Awards.
WOW Moments + Best Performances
The biggest WOW moment of the night! Migos performed two tracks from their latest album Culture III, “Straightenin'” and “Type Sh*t” featuring Cardi B. Cardi B came out for the performance of “Type Sh*t” wearing a black sheer body hugging jumpsuit covered in big crystals except for on the belly which revealed that without a doubt, she”s pregnant! I don’t know a more badass way of announcing your pregnancy than by way of an Award show performance. Congratulations to the rap couple Cardi B and Offset on expecting their second child together.
Make sure you grab a tissue because this will bring tears to your eyes. One of the best, if not THE best moment of the night was the DMX tribute performance. Method Man opened the tribute by reciting a rap mimicking the voice of DMX. Griselda performed “Where The Hood At” then transitioned to a medley of “Ruff Ryder’s anthem” and “Party Up (Up In Here)” performed by Swizz Beats, The Lox, and Busta Rhymes. In between the music, actor, Michael K. Williams played the role of DMX embodying his voice, tone, and spirit perfectly.
Andra Day as Billie Holiday in the Golden Globe Award winning film, The United States vs. Billie Holiday was one of the most moving performances in film…ever. Andra Day portrayed Billie Holiday in such a real and raw way you could’ve thought that she was her. The BET performance of “Strange Fruit” was no different. The song itself is haunting and the history behind it with the suffering the U.S government put upon Holiday because of the song makes hearing it live in present day, chilling. Day transitioned from “Strange Fruit” to “Tigress & Tweed” from The United States vs. Billie Holiday soundtrack.
It’s important to celebrate the people we love while they’re still here to receive it. That’s why BET presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Hip-Hop legend Queen Latifah. Rapsody, Lil’ Kim, MC Lyte, and Monie Love performed a medley of Queen Latifah’s hit songs “Just Another Day”, “Ladies First”, and “U.N.I.T.Y.” Lil’ Kim became a trending topic from this not because of her performance but because of her bangs. Lil’ Kim had a Prada label on her V cut bangs starting a is it hot or not debate on social media.
Watch the full Queen Latifah tribute performance.
Maxine Waters opened Jazmine Sullivan’s performance of her new song “Tragic”. This was the first performance of the newest track from Sullivan. Ari Lennox joined her on stage to perform their song “On It” from Sullivan’s latest album that was released last year, Heaux Tales. The vocals on these ladies are something serious!
Tyler, the Creator replicated the music video for “LUMBERJACK”, a track from his new album Call Me If You Get Lost. This was his first BET Awards performance and the first performance of a song from the album.
Rapper, Lil Nas X performed his controversial song “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” and had one of the biggest WOW moments of the night when he and one his dancers shared an unexpected kiss to end the performance. Of course, this part of the performance became a trending topic as viewers debated about its appropriateness or lack thereof but it’s nothing that TV hasn’t seen before. Who could forget the legendary Madonna and Britney Spears 2003 VMAs kiss? Oh, society with its double standards.
There was a cute moment on the red carpet between rapper Jack Harlow and Saweetie. Jack Harlow low key was shooting his shot at Saweetie on the red carpet during her interview with The Shade Room. He stepped in and introduced himself letting her know his name when Saweetie responded, “I know”. Later, it was Harlow’s turn to be interviewed and when asked about his smooth approach to Saweetie he said, “thats a friend vibe”. Hmm, sure it was Jack.
GOOD Fashion Moments
Some of the BET Awards guests did not come to play when it comes to fashion! Euphoria star, Zendaya showed up and showed out in a longer version of the dress Beyonce wore at the 2003 BET Awards when she performed “Crazy in Love” for the first time. One of the most popular styles on the red carpet seemed to be sheer nude garments covered with crystals like Sevyn Streeter’s matching bralette and skirt set inspired by Cher, Ashanti’s aztec patterned dress with pronounced shoulder pads and fringe, and KJ Smith’s elegant Yousef Al Jasmi gown with brighter crystals covering every inch. Another noticeable trend on the red carpet was the color white. Issa Rae had the best white look, a Balmain blazer dress with pointy shoulder pads and white strappy heels.
Zendaya in Versace.
KJ Smith in Yousef Al Jasmi.
Ashanti in Julien Macdonald.
Sevyn Streeter in La Roxx.
Issa Rae in Balmain.
The Winners + Nominees
Album of the Year
- After Hours” – The Weeknd
- “Blame It On Baby” – DaBaby
- “Good News” – Megan Thee Stallion
- “Heaux Tales” – Jazmine Sullivan (WINNER)
- “King’s Disease” – Nas
- “Ungodly Hour” – Chloe X Halle
Best Collaboration
- Cardi B Ft. Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP” (WINNER))
- DaBaby Ft. Roddy Ricch – “Rockstar”
- DJ Khaled Ft. Drake – “Popstar”
- Jack Harlow Ft. DaBaby, Tory Lanez & Lil Wayne – “What’s Poppin” (Remix)
- Megan Thee Stallion Ft. DaBaby – “Cry Baby”
- Pop Smoke Ft. Lil Baby & DaBaby – “For The Night”
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
- Beyoncé
- H.E.R. (WINNER)
- Jazmine Sullivan
- Jhené Aiko
- Summer Walker
- SZA
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
- 6lack
- Anderson .Paak
- Chris Brown (WINNER)
- Giveon
- Tank
- The Weeknd
Best New Artist
- Coi Leray
- Flo Milli
- Giveon (WINNER)
- Jack Harlow
- Latto
- Pooh Shiesty
Best Group
- 21 Savage & Metro Boomin
- Chloe X Halle
- Chris Brown & Young Thug
- City Girls
- Migos
- Silk Sonic (WINNER)
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
- Cardi B
- Coi Leray
- Doja Cat
- Megan Thee Stallion (WINNER)
- Latto
- Saweetie
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
- DaBaby
- Drake
- J. Cole
- Jack Harlow
- Lil Baby (WINNER)
- Pop Smoke
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel / Inspirational Award
- Bebe Winans – “In Jesus Name”
- Cece Winans – “Never Lost”
- H.E.R. – “Hold Us Together”
- Kirk Franklin – “Strong God” (WINNER)
- Marvin Sapp – “Thank You For It All”
- Tamela Mann – “Touch From You”
BET Her Award
- Alicia Keys Ft. Khalid – “So Done”
- Brandy Ft. Chance The Rapper – “Baby Mama”
- Bri Steves – “Anti Queen”
- Chloe X Halle – “Baby Girl”
- Ciara Ft. Ester Dean – “Rooted”
- SZA – “Good Days” (WINNER)
Best International Act
- Aya Nakamura (France)
- Burna Boy (Nigeria) (WINNER)
- Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
- Emicida (Brazil)
- Headie One (Uk)
- Wizkid (Nigeria)
- Young T & Bugsey (Uk)
- Youssoupha (France)
Viewer’s Choice Award
- Cardi B Ft. Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP”
- Chris Brown & Young Thug – “Go Crazy”
- DaBaby Ft. Roddy Ricch – “Rockstar”
- DJ Khaled Ft. Drake – “Popstar”
- Drake Ft. Lil Durk – “Laugh Now Cry Later”
- Lil Baby – “The Bigger Picture”
- Megan Thee Stallion Ft. Beyoncé – “Savage” (Remix) (WINNER)
- Silk Sonic – “Leave The Door Open”
Video of the Year
- Cardi B – “Up”
- Cardi B Ft. Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP” (WINNER)
- Chloe X Halle – “Do It”
- Chris Brown & Young Thug – “Go Crazy”
- Drake Ft. Lil Durk – “Laugh Now Cry Later”
- Silk Sonic – “Leave The Door Open”
Video Director of the Year
- Benny Boom
- Bruno Mars And Florent Déchard (WINNER)
- Cole Bennett
- Colin Tilley
- Dave Meyers
- Hype Williams
Best Movie
- “Coming 2 America”
- “Judas And The Black Messiah” (WINNER)
- “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”
- “One Night In Miami”
- “Soul”
- “The United States Vs. Billie Holiday”
Best Actress
- Andra Day (WINNER)
- Angela Bassett
- Issa Rae
- Jurnee Smollett
- Viola Davis
- Zendaya
Best Actor
- Aldis Hodge
- Chadwick Boseman (WINNER)
- Damson Idris
- Daniel Kaluuya
- Eddie Murphy
- Lakeith Stanfield
Youngstars Award
- Alex R. Hibbert
- Ethan Hutchison
- Lonnie Chavis
- Marsai Martin (WINNER)
- Michael Epps
- Storm Reid
Sportswoman of the Year Award
- A’ja Wilson
- Candace Parker
- Claressa Shields
- Naomi Osaka (WINNER)
- Serena Williams
- Skylar Diggins-Smith
Sportsman of the year Award
- Kyrie Irving
- Lebron James (WINNER)
- Patrick Mahomes
- Russell Westbrook
- Russell Wilson
- Stephen Curry
