The wait for Kendrick Lamar‘s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers was well worth it, according to BET.
On Tuesday (Oct. 4), the annual BET Hip-Hop Awards aired, honoring the best highlights in the genre from the past year. But, although there have been some excellent studio releases and captivating releases in rap since last year’s ceremony, few were more impactful than Kendrick’s run in the month of May, which led to him raking in six of the 17 available awards given such as Album of the year, Artist of the year, Best live performer and more.
Unfortunately, Lamar was not able to be in attendance to accept his trophies, but that did not stop the crowd in Atlanta from having a blast. Led by host Fat Joe, the award show welcomed many of the year’s brightest stars onto the stage for performances.
Whether it was Joey Bada$$ honoring fallen icons with “Head High,” Armani White tributing the man he sampled on “Billie Eilish” in N.O.R.E., Lil Tjay making his triumphant return to stage with Fivio Foreign, GloRilla making her 2022 even hotter after bringing in the Best breakthrough hip-hop artist award, Kodak Black going “Super Gremlin” or Pusha T “Grindin” with his brother for a Clipse reunion, BET pulled out all the stops for a wonderful show.
Sometimes it can be difficult to recall all the beloved hip-hop moments that occur in a calendar year, but this year’s BET Hip-Hop Awards certainly did the star-studded 2022 justice.
View the complete list of nominees and winners at the 2022 BET Hip-Hop Awards below:
Hip-hop album of the year
777, Latto
Certified Lover Boy, Drake
Donda, Kanye West
I Never Liked You, Future
It’s Almost Dry, Pusha T
King’s Disease II, Nas
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
Song of the year
“Big Energy,” Latto — WINNER
“F.N.F. (Let’s Go),” GloRilla & Hitkidd
“First Class,” Jack Harlow
“Hot Shit,” Cardi B feat. Kanye West & Lil Durk
“Super Gremlin,” Kodak Black
“Wait For U,” Future feat. Drake & Tems
“Way 2 Sexy,” Drake feat. Future & Young Thug
Hip-hop artist of the year
Cardi B
Doja Cat
Drake
Future
Kanye West
Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
Megan Thee Stallion
Best hip-hop video
“D.M.B.,” A$AP Rocky
“Family Ties,” Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
“Good Love,” City Girls feat. Usher
“Hot Shit,” Cardi B feat. Kanye West & Lil Durk
“London,” BIA feat. J. Cole
“Wait for You,” Future feat. Drake & Tems
“Way 2 Sexy,” Drake feat. Future & Young Thug
Best breakthrough hip-hop artist
Baby Keem
Blxst
Doechii
Fivio Foreign
GloRilla — WINNER
Nardo Wick
Saucy Santana
Best collaboration
Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar, “Family Ties”
City Girls feat. Usher, “Good Love”
Cardi B feat. Kanye West & Lil Durk, “Hot Shit”
Drake feat. 21 Savage, “Jimmy Cooks”
Benny The Butcher feat. J. Cole, “Johnny P’s Caddy”
Future feat. Drake & Tems, “Wait For U” — WINNER
Drake feat. Future & Young Thug, “Way 2 Sexy”
Best duo or group
42 Dugg & EST Gee
Big Sean & Hit-Boy
Birdman & NBA YoungBoy
Blxst & Bino Rideaux
DaBaby & NBA YoungBoy
EARTHGANG – WINNER
Styles P & Havoc
Best live performer
Cardi B
Doja Cat
Drake
J. Cole
Kanye West
Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
Tyler, The Creator
Lyricist of the year
Baby Keem
Benny The Butcher
Drake
J. Cole
Jack Harlow
JAY-Z
Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
Best international flow
Benjamin Epps (France) — WINNER
Black Sherif (Ghana)
Blxckie (South Africa)
Central Cee (UK)
Haviah Mighty (Canada)
Knucks (UK)
Le Juiice (France)
Nadia Nakai (Zimbabwe)
Tasha & Tracie (Brazil)
Video director of the year
Benny Boom
Burna Boy
Cole Bennett
Colin Tilley
Director X
Kendrick Lamar & Dave Free — WINNER
Teyana Taylor
DJ of the year
D-Nice
DJ Cassidy
DJ Drama — WINNER
DJ Kay Slay
DJ Premier
Kaytranada
Mustard
Nyla Symone
L.A. Leakers (DJ Sourmilk & Justin Credible)
Producer of the year
ATL Jacob
Baby Keem
Hit-Boy
Hitmaka — WINNER
Kanye West
Metro Boomin
Pharrell Williams
Hustler of the year
50 Cent — WINNER
Cardi B
DJ Khaled
Drake
JAY-Z
Kanye West
Megan Thee Stallion
Best hip-hop platform
Big Boy’s Neighborhood
The Breakfast Club
Caresha Please — WINNER (Tie)
Complex
Drink Champs — WINNER (Tie)
HipHopDX
Million Dollaz Worth of Game
NPR Tiny Desk
Verzuz
Sweet 16: best featured verse
Drake, “Churchill Downs” (Jack Harlow feat. Drake) — WINNER (Tie)
J. Cole, “Poke It Out” (Wale feat. J. Cole)
J. Cole, “London” (BIA feat. J. Cole)
Lil Baby, “Girls Want Girls” (Drake feat. Lil Baby)
Kanye West, “City of Gods” (Fivio Foreign feat. Kanye West & Alicia Keys)
Drake, “Wait For U” (Future feat. Drake & Tems) — WINNER (Tie)
Jadakiss, “Black Illuminati” (Freddie Gibbs feat. Jadakiss)
Impact track
Lizzo, “About Damn Time” — WINNER
Fivio Foreign, Kanye West & Alicia Keys, “City of Gods”
Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar, “Family Ties”
Nas feat. Ms. Lauryn Hill, “Nobody”
Latto, “Pxssy”
Kendrick Lamar, “The Heart Part 5”
Doja Cat, “Woman”
