This year’s 2023 BET Hip-Hop Awards were more than a simple night of music. The ceremony celebrated hip-hop’s golden anniversary. It also delved into the genre’s current state of affairs. It posed existential questions for the future of the rap genre.
The 2023 BET Hip-Hop Awards and the Future of Rap
Rappers and other performers celebrated the night that honors the genre’s earliest voices and newest talents. The event featured performances from artists like GloRilla, Ice Spice and Lil Uzi Vert. It also featured old school artists including LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane and the Sugarhill Gang.
Other highlights included a tribute to the late talent XXXTentacion. The most memorable moment of the night came when Quavo and Offset of Migos performed “Bad and Boujee.” They performed in front of a photo of their late groupmate Takeoff, who was shot and killed last December.
It was a powerful moment that brought the audience to tears. But the night also took a somber turn for its in memoriam tributes to Black celebrities. This includes actors and athletes, as well as musicians and activists.
It has been a rough few months for the hip-hop community. The rap community often struggles with sexual harassment and other allegations of misconduct. This year’s awards were also marred by the sudden death of Houston rapper YNW Sakura, who died last week at age 34.
The biggest winner of the night was Cardi B, who recently won artist of the year and hip-hop album. She entered Hollywood with a bang when she won for her breakout debut album, Invasion of Privacy. Drake, Burna Boy and DJ Khaled all received multiple nominations.
