At the 2023 BET Hip-Hop Awards — which took place at Atlanta’s Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on October 3, 2023 and then broadcast Tuesday night (October 10, 2023) — Kendrick Lamar became the night’s biggest winner, taking home all four awards.
The rapper swept every category he was nominated in, winning hip-hop artist of the year, lyricist of the year, best live performer and video director of the year, alongside his collaborator Dave Free.
A slew of artists went home with two awards, including Drake & 21 Savage (hip hop album of the year for Her Loss and best duo or group); Lil Durk feat. J. Cole (best collaboration and impact track for “All My Life”); Lil Uzi Vert (song of the year and best hip hop video for “Just Wanna Rock”); and Metro Boomin (producer of the year and DJ of the year).
Cardi B and 21 Savage entered the show as the lead nominees, with 12 apiece; Cardi was shut out, while Savage scored the two awards above.
BET Hip-Hop Awards also honored legendary DJ Marley Marl with “I AM HIP-HOP” award during the ceremony. In the video dedicated to Queens, New York-born producer, Eminem also appeared alongside LL Cool J, Swizz Beatz and others.
“He has produced some of the greatest hip-hop beats of all time. He kind of composed it and caught that moment. They were about to explode. The energy that LL had mixed with Marley’s production lit a fire under LL to make that album what it was. Marley, man, one of the greatest. What can I say? He deserves the award because he’s f–king Marley Marl. So what are you gonna do about it?” says Eminem in the pre-recorded video clip.
You can watch it below:
