Kendrick Lamar has chalked up yet another landmark moment within the music industry—his 7th career BET Award—further cementing the rapper as one of his era’s most critically acclaimed authors. Deemed among the most respected annual ceremonies ensuring that talent gets its proper reward, the BET Awards rewarded Lamar on June 30, 2024, in this regard.
Kendrick Lamar wins the award for the Best Male Hip Hop Artist at tonight’s BET Awards. He now holds the most wins for this category (7x) 🏆
Previous winners of this award:
2023 – Kendrick
2022 – Kendrick
2021 – Lil Baby
2020 – DaBaby
2019 – Nipsey Hussle
2018 – Kendrick
2017… PIC.TWITTER.COM/KWFW00MA6K— Joey (@gothamhiphop) JULY 1, 2024
The incomparable and charismatic Taraji P. Henson hosted the 2022 BET Awards, and it was one for the books. She opened the show with a parody of Lamar’s famous Drake diss track “Not Like Us,” setting up the evening that truly put Kendrick’s enormous cultural impact into perspective. Even U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris used the song when campaigning for Joe Biden in one of his ads, where she accentuated, “The majority of us believe in freedom and equality. However, these extremists—as they say— are not like us.”
The 2024 BET Awards win for Best Male Hip-Hop Artist is another underlining of brilliant work, matchless talent, and undeniable effort. Among the many great artists competing in the same category—Drake, 21 Savage, Burna Boy, Future, Gunna, J. Cole, and Lil Wayne—Lamar stood out with his unique ability to depict stories through words backed by intense meaning that fueled his music.
In his acceptance speech, Lamar thanked his fans for their continued support.
“It’s all about the message,” he said. I only want my music to inspire, to make one think, to bring change. That is what keeps me rolling.”
This victory will add to his excellent record at the BET Awards. Lamar has won this category for several years and produced works unmatched in ability and imagination. This is his seventh win in such a category, which secures him as an artist with the most wins in the BET Awards’ history.
Previous winners of this award:
2023 – Kendrick
2022 – Kendrick
2021 — Lil Baby
2020 – DaBaby
2019 — Nipsey Hussle
2018 — Kendrick
2017 — Kendrick
2016— Drake
2015 — Kendrick
2014 – Drake
2013 – Kendrick
2012 – Drake
2011 – Kanye West 2010 — Drake
Lamar‘s success is due to his commitment to the creative process, working hard enough to produce some fantastic lyrics related to his theme and vibe that made sense to his followers. He has received numerous awards during his career because of his ability to connect with audiences through storytelling and powerful messages. From the Grammy Awards to the BET Hip Hop Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, American Music Awards, Juno Awards, and MOBO Awards, Lamar’s art has been critically acclaimed and celebrated in its own right across societies.
Aside from his musical success, Lamar has equally made some societal impact beyond music. In 2018, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Music for his album “Damn,” thus becoming the very first artist outside of classical music and jazz to be given this distinction.
His work on the soundtrack album for the superhero film Black Panther won him a Grammy Award in the category of Best Rap Performance and a Golden Globe and Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. It shows that Lamar is versatile and can pave the way through genres and media.
The 2024 BET Awards were not only a record-breaker for Lamar, but the event packed brilliance and talent representing Black people in their respective categories. Usher, a legend in his own right, went home with the Lifetime Achievement Award as the Best Male R&B/Pop Artist. SZA, the new star blazing up the music scene, added Best Female R&B/Pop Artist to her credits in securing a place in that fraternity.
The BET Awards honor Black artists’ contributions to music, television, film, and sports. The event had over 20 categories, from Best Actress to Best Male Hip-Hop Artist. It was star-studded and representative of the entertainment industry’s depth and multifold talent task. From an emotional acceptance speech by Usher to the energetic opening act by Megan Thee Stallion, the 2024 BET Awards proved to be a night worth reminiscing about.
