Food Without the Flavor of Gravy but Still, an Unknown Delight The surprise hit breakout star at this years 2024 BET Awards After all, nearly everyone had a general idea of who the familiar faces would be on Saturday night but no one expected for it to strike as often and surely not those number of times Drake did (or didn’t) this year.
Drake, who lead the pack with 7 nominations went home empty handed. Album of the Year “For All The Dogs (Scary Hours Edition),” Video of the Year – “First Person Shooter” featuring J. Cole and Video of the Yea- Rich Baby Daddy,” by Sexyy Red & SZA feat. Despite that incredible performance, “Just Hold On” was widely predicted to be Drake’s only round of the night. Yet the sought-after moonman statuettes escaped, with fans and industry insiders sounding crestfallen.
Despite having the most nominations with 7 nods, Drake did not win in any category at the 2024 BET Awards‼️
Kendrick Lamar won over Drake for the Best Male Hip-Hop Artist award‼️ PIC.TWITTER.COM/WEIZM5X8AA
— RapTV (@Rap) JULY 1, 2024
A determined Kendricky Lamar triumphed to the cheers of all and sundry in one of the most hotly contested categories – Best Male Hip-Hop Artist. Lamar’s win was no anomaly his work received widespread acclaim and he has had a profound influence on the genre. This is a talent merging great lyricism and explosive performances that has secured his place as hip hop’s figurehead. Lamar’s win has proven that quality and a genuine, solid fan base can still hold value out of the amount of money an artist brings in.
The BET Awards is known for setting and reflecting trends in music, getting the best from a fully diversified audience. This year was no exception with the fans upping their involvement significantly. The Viewer’s Choice Award and Best International Act categories allowed viewers the opportunity to vote, which brought a different energy to the show. Audience engagement increased, a sign that the bond between artists and their fanbases continued to evolve.
Drake’s none-too-many victories here may be a surprise but it serves to illustrate two essential points about the BET Awards. First of all it shows the extent to which competition within this industry has become bitchier. Of course, you can make the argument that there are talented artists out their fighting for recognition (which is true), and even many of biggest names could be shut out themselves. Secondly, the fact that Drake is nowhere near a winner supports Kendrick Lamar’s unarguable argument for his existence and impact in hip-hop. The victory serves as a testament to how Lamar still an artist ultimately, and proof that he can always count on his fan base.
If you the 2024 BET Awards are anything to go by, one thing’s for certain: music as a whole is overflowing and in flux. That is why things like these and eye-catching performances are the only reasons that an award show will become a memorable night.
