Season 12
The BET Awards 2012 was billed as "Too Big To Miss" and the network brought out the big guns for hosting the 2012 Awards ceremony. During a press conference held at BET's New York studios, it was announced that actor Samuel L. Jackson would be this year's host.
The selection of Jackson was a departure from years past when comedians like Mo'Nique and Kevin Hart hosted the show. But BET's President of Music Programming and Specials, Stephen G. Hill, was confident that The Avengers star would more than fit the bill.
In addition, the members of Maze featuring Frankie Beverly received the Cadillac Lifetime Achievement Award and Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj performed.
As for nominees, Kanye West led the pack with seven, followed by Beyonce and Jay-Z with six and five respectively. The extended Carter family dominated the Video of The Year category with Countdown, Love On Top, Otis and N*ggas In Paris crowding the list, leaving only Usher's Climax as the lone outsider.
West was closely followed by Beyonce, with six nominations, and his Watch the Throne collaborator (and Beyonce's husband) Jay-Z, who snagged five nominations.
The awards were held on 1 July at Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium with performances from Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj, among others.
2012 Winners
Best International Act: Africa
Camp Mulla (Kenya)
Ice Prince (Nigeria)
Lira (South Africa)
Mokobe (Mali)
Sarkodie (Ghana)
Wizkid (Nigeria)
Best Female R&B Artist
Marsha Ambrosius
Beyoncé
Mary J. Blige
Melanie Fiona
Rihanna
Best Male R&B Artist
Chris Brown
Bruno Mars
Miguel
Trey Songz
Usher
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
Big Sean
Drake
J. Cole
Lil Wayne
Rick Ross
Young Jeezy
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Nicki Minaj
Diamond
Trina
Brianna Perry
Best Group
Bad Meets Evil
Diddy-Dirty Money
Maybach Music Group
Mindless Behavior
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West)
Best New Artist
A$AP Rocky
Big Sean
Diggy
Future
Meek Mill
Best Collaboration
Beyoncé ft. J. Cole – "Party"
Big Sean ft. Kanye West & Roscoe Dash – "Marvin & Chardonnay"
DJ Khaled ft. Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne – "I'm On One"
Drake ft. Lil Wayne and Tyga – "The Motto"
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) ft. Otis Redding – "Otis"
Wale ft. Miguel – "Lotus Flower Bomb"
Video of the Year
Beyoncé – "Countdown"
Beyoncé – "Love on Top"
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) – "Ni**as in Paris"
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) – "Otis"
Usher – "Climax"
Video Director of the Year
Beyoncé and Alan Ferguson
Benny Boom
Chris Brown and Godfrey Tabarez
Kanye West
Hype Williams
Best Gospel
Yolanda Adams
Kim Burrell
James Fortune & FIYA
Fred Hammond
Trin-I-Tee 5:7
YoungStars Award
Astro
Diggy
Jacob Latimore
Keke Palmer
Willow Smith
Viewers' Choice Award
Drake ft. Lil Wayne & Tyga – "The Motto"
Beyoncé – "Love on Top"
Chris Brown – "Turn Up the Music"
Mindless Behavior – "Hello"
The Throne ft. Otis Redding – "Otis"
Wale ft. Miguel – "Lotus Flower Bomb"
Centric Award
Common
Estelle
Robert Glasper
Robin Thicke
Tyrese
Best International Act: U.K.
Estelle
Labrinth
Emeli Sande
Sway
Wretch 32
Best Actress
Angela Bassett
Viola Davis
Taraji P. Henson
Regina King
Zoe Saldana
Best Actor
Don Cheadle
Common
Idris Elba
Kevin Hart
Denzel Washington
Best Movie
Good Deeds
Jumping the Broom
Laugh at My Pain
Red Tails
The Help
Sportswoman of the Year
Skylar Diggins
Candace Parker
Brittney Griner
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Sportsman of the Year
Carmelo Anthony
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Victor Cruz
Kevin Durant
FANdemonium Award
Chris Brown
BET Lifetime Achievement Award
Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
BET Humanitarian Award
Rev. Al Sharpton
About the BET Awards
The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports and other fields of entertainment over the past year.
The awards are presented annually, and they are broadcast live on BET.
BET commissioned Artist/Sculptor and Hip Hop culture icon Carlos Mare139 Rodriguez to design the Award sculpture.
The BET Lifetime Achievement and Humanitarian Award recipients, along with the nominees for other categories are announced in a press conference. At the awards ceremony a mini-documentary is shown covering the honorees' life. The awards are given out separately.
The BET Lifetime Achievement Award is given a veteran artist or group who has made notable contributions to the music industry. The honoree is paid tribute to by current popular singers who perform the honoree's most recognized songs. The honoree will usually perform themselves after being paid tribute.
In 2002, at the second annual BET Awards, the category for the BET Award Humanitarian Award was created. The Humanitarian Award is given to a celebrity philanthropist who donates their time and money to a charitable cause.