Culture’s Biggest Night is set to make a grand return to Los Angeles with the 2023 BET Awards. Taking place on Sunday, June 25, at the esteemed Microsoft Theater, this year’s awards ceremony will celebrate 50 years of hip-hop while honoring music artists, actors, athletes, and more for their impactful work and achievements.
The 23rd annual BET Awards will pay tribute to legendary rapper Busta Rhymes with the Lifetime Achievement Award. This influential MC, producer, songwriter, and actor will be celebrated with a special tribute featuring performances by a star-studded lineup including Bia, Coi Leray, Cutty Ranks, Dexta Daps, M.O.P., Rah Digga, ScarLip, Spice, Supercat, Swizz Beatz, and others.
Speaking about the significance of hip-hop in American and global culture, Connie Orlando, BET’s evp of specials, music programming, and music strategy, said in an April statement, “For five decades, hip-hop has not only influenced American culture but has become a global phenomenon and one of the most influential musical genres of our lifetime. From music to fashion, art, and entertainment, we are honored to have always provided a platform for hip-hop to thrive. We look forward to paying tribute to the pioneers and innovators as we amplify the new generation of hip-hop artists like only BET can.”
While the focus of the BET Awards has historically been on the music industry, this year the ceremony includes categories in film and sports as well. Nominees for Best Movie include highly anticipated titles such as “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” “The Woman King,” “Till,” “Creed III,” “Emancipation,” “Nope,” and “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”
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Drake leads the pack of nominees with an impressive seven nods, including recognition for Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, and Best Collaboration for his song “Wait for U” with Future and Tems. He is also nominated for Album of the Year for his collaborative release, “Her Loss,” with 21 Savage.
Breakthrough rapper GloRilla, who received her first Grammy nomination this year, follows closely with six nominations. She is in the running for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, Best New Artist, Album of the Year for her EP “Anyways, Life’s Great,” and Video of the Year for her collaboration with Cardi B on “Tomorrow 2.”
Other notable nominees include 21 Savage and Lizzo, who earned five nominations each. Beyoncé, SZA, Ice Spice, Chris Brown, and Burna Boy all scored four nods. The Album of the Year category features competition between Drake, 21 Savage, GloRilla, Beyoncé, SZA, Kendrick Lamar, Chris Brown, and DJ Khaled.
In the realm of film and television, talented actresses Angela Bassett, Viola Davis, Zendaya, Keke Palmer, Janelle James, Janelle Monáe, and Coco Jones are nominated for Best Actress. The Best Actor nominees include Michael B. Jordan, Donald Glover, Damson Idris, Brian Tyree Henry, Daniel Kaluuya, Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr., and Amin Joseph.
The YoungStars award category is one to watch, with rising star Alaya High, also known as That Girl Lay Lay, earning a well-deserved nomination. BET continues to recognize and support the up-and-coming talent in the industry.
The 2023 BET Awards promises to be a non-stop hip-hop extravaganza. From West Coast to East Coast, Trap to Bounce, Afro Beats and Dancehall, the ceremony will showcase the finest talent in the culture. In addition to the nominees performing, the stage will be graced by 69 Boyz, Big Daddy Kane, Chief Keef, DJ Unk, Doechii, E-40, Fast Life Yungstaz & Easton (F.L.Y.), Fat Joe, Ja Rule, Kid ‘N Play, Lil Uzi Vert, MC Lyte, Percy “Master P” Miller, Remy Ma, Soulja Boy, The Sugarhill Gang, Trick Daddy, Trina, Tyga, Uncle Luke, Warren G, Ying Yang Twins, and Yo-Yo, with more performances to be announced.
For fans eager to witness Culture’s Biggest Night, the BET Awards will air live on Sunday, June 25, at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET on the BET channel. The ceremony will also be livestreamed simultaneously on BET.com, BET+, and Paramount+. Traditional cable subscribers can tune in by accessing the BET channel on their TV or by signing into their TV provider account on BET.com.
Cord-cutters have multiple options to stream the 2023 BET Awards. They can visit BET.com, BET+, or any live TV streaming service that carries the network, such as DirecTV Stream, FuboTV, Hulu with Live TV, Philo, or YouTube TV. These services require a monthly fee, but some offer free trials or viewing passes for limited periods.
Additionally, fans can experience the BET Awards for free by signing up for a 24-hour Viewing Pass on BET.com (ensuring registration within 24 hours of the show’s expected end time) or by availing a new subscription to select live TV streaming platforms that offer free trial periods.
Launching on June 25, BET’s new ad-free Essential plan on BET+ is priced at $6 per month or $54 annually. BET+ also offers an ad-free Premium tier for $10 monthly or $95 per year. Both packages grant access to over 2,000 hours of original BET+ shows, Tyler Perry films, and more engaging content.
For those looking to catch the BET Awards while enjoying a wider range of channels and content, DirecTV offers packages starting from $65 per month, including access to BET, MTV, and other popular channels. FuboTV provides a Pro Plan for $75 per month, featuring over 120 news, entertainment, and sports channels, while Hulu with Live TV combines BET and more than 75 other major cable channels with Disney+ and ESPN+ for $70 per month.
Paramount+ subscriptions start at $5 per month for the Essential plan, which includes BET, CBS, MTV, and more. Philo offers a live TV subscription for $25 per month, providing access to BET, MTV, and over 50 other classic TV, lifestyle, and news channels. YouTube TV offers more than 85 channels, including BET, for $65 per month.
The 2023 BET Awards promises to be an unforgettable celebration of culture, music, film, and sports. With its star-studded lineup of nominees and performers, the show aims to honor the past, amplify the present, and inspire the future of hip-hop. Whether watching at home or streaming online, fans will have the opportunity to witness the magic of Culture’s Biggest Night and join in the celebration of the artists, actors, athletes, and influencers who continue to shape and influence our world.
