Kendrick Lamar reaffirmed his status as “King Kendrick” at the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards, emerging as the evening’s top winner.
The Grammy Award-winning rapper secured a total of four accolades at the annual awards ceremony, which took place at Atlanta’s Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center on October 3 and was televised on Tuesday.
Kendrick swept every category in which he was nominated, clinching titles for Hip Hop Artist of the Year, Lyricist of the Year, Best Live Performer, and Video Director of the Year, shared with his long-time collaborator Dave Free.
These wins hold historical significance, with Kendrick becoming the first rapper to claim the Hip Hop Artist of the Year title three times and extending his dominance in the Lyricist of the Year category with his ninth victory. He now shares the record for the most Best Live Performer wins with Kanye West and JAY-Z, each having four wins.
Additionally, Kendrick is the first director to secure back-to-back Video Director of the Year awards since Hype Williams, who achieved this feat four times consecutively between 2009 and 2012.
Kendrick’s impressive collection of awards can be attributed to the success of his 2022 album, “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers,” and its accompanying Big Steppers Tour. His music videos for “Count Me Out” and “Rich Spirit” and his collaboration with Baby Keem on “The Hillbillies” also played pivotal roles in his victories.
In other categories, Drake and 21 Savage each earned two awards, with honors for Hip Hop Album of the Year (“Her Loss”) and Best Duo or Group. Lil Durk and J. Cole received accolades for Best Collaboration and Impact Track (both for “All My Life”). Lil Uzi Vert also claimed two victories, taking home awards for Song of the Year and Video of the Year (both for “Just Wanna Rock”). Metro Boomin was recognized as Producer of the Year and DJ of the Year.
Furthermore, Ice Spice received the Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist award, JAY-Z won Best Featured Verse for “God Did,” 50 Cent was named Hustler of the Year, and Yung Miami earned the Best Hip Hop Platform accolade for “Caresha Please.”
Apart from celebrating achievements from the past year, the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards paid tribute to some of the genre’s most iconic figures, a fitting homage as hip-hop celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. Swizz Beatz and Timbaland were honored with the Rock The Bells Cultural Influence Award for their remarkable careers as hip-hop hitmakers and the success of their Verzuz battle series.
Marley Marl, another renowned producer, received the I Am Hip Hop Award, with tributes from fellow artists, including LL COOL J and Rakim, who delivered a tribute performance. Eminem, Swizz Beatz, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and others sang his praises in a video montage.
