Season 13
Hosted by actor and comedian Chris Tucker, the BET Awards '13 took place at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles on Sunday 30 June.
The show also included exciting performances by Mariah Carey, R. Kelly, Nicki Minaj, Miguel, India.Arie, Ciara, Chris Brown and Kendrick Lamar.
Hollywood actresses Angela Bassett, Gabrielle Union, Paula Patton and La La Anthony were among the talented line-up of presenters.
Miami Heat basketball star Dwyane Wade was honoured with the Humanitarian Award, while R&B singer/songwriter Charlie Wilson received the prestigious Cadillac Lifetime Achievement Award.
This year, the activity and excitement expanded with the first ever BET Experience at L.A. LIVE! This three-day festival filled with comedy, gospel and soulful music concerts, seminars, film screenings, 106 & Park tapings and so much more built anticipation for the finest BET Awards show yet.
For the fourth year in a row, BET Music Matters artists had the distinction of gracing the BET Awards stage. BET's Music Matters again cast the spotlight on new talent who are on their way to being the next BET superstars.
Austin Brown and Curtis Fields took the stage during BET Awards '13 to give the world a sneak peek of their talents.
Austin Brown is a 27-year-old musician, singer, and songwriter based in Los Angeles, California. His stunning sound combines the soul and harmony of late 70s R&B with the rhythms of modern electronic pop. Among his major influences are ground breaking music legends Prince, George Michael and his family, The Jacksons.
Hailing from Montgomery, Alabama, Curtis Fields is a singer whose songs are the perfect blend of soul-searching and emotion.
While attending Fisk University he joined up with the Fisk Jubilee Singers, with whom he travelled to Africa, India and Europe. Today, he is signed to Epic Records and working on his debut album.
Leading the pack of A-list nominees were hip hop artist Drake, with an impressive 12 nominations including Best Male Hip Hop Artist and Video of the Year; close behind was breakthrough hip hop artist Kendrick Lamar and rapper 2 Chainz tied with 8 nominations.
A$AP Rocky had 5 nominations; while Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake and Miguel face off with 4 nominations each in the categories of Best Collaboration, Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice Award and Video of the Year.
This year's Video of the Year Award had a phenomenal line-up of 10 nominees including Kanye West, Justin Timberlake, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, 2 Chainz, A$AP Rocky, Miguel and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, all vying to get their hands on the sought-after trophy.
Six African musicians were nominated for honours in this year's awards in the Best International Act: Africa category: 2Face Idibia (Nigeria), Toya Delazy (South Africa), Donald (South Africa), Ice Prince (Nigeria), R2Bees (Ghana) and Radio and Weasel (Uganda).
Miami Heat basketball star Dwyane Wade was honoured at this year's awards with the Humanitarian Award while R&B singer/songwriter Charlie Wilson received the prestigious Cadillac Lifetime Achievement Award.
2013 Winners
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Beyoncé
Tamar Braxton
Alicia Keys
Rihanna
Elle Varner
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Chris Brown
Bruno Mars
Miguel
Justin Timberlake
Usher
Best Group
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Mary Mary
Mindless Behavior
Slaughterhouse
The Throne (Kanye West & Jay-Z)
Best Collaboration
2 Chainz f/ Drake – No Lie
A$AP Rocky f/ Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar – Problems
French Montana f/ Rick Ross, Drake and Lil Wayne – Pop That
Kendrick Lamar f/ Drake – Poetic Justice
Justin Timberlake f/ Jay-Z – Suit & Tie
Kanye West f/ Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz – Mercy
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
2 Chainz
A$AP Rocky
Drake
Future
Kendrick Lamar
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Azealia Banks
Eve
Nicki Minaj
Rasheeda
Rye Rye
Video of the Year
2 Chainz f/ Drake – No Lie
A$AP Rocky f/ Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar – Problems
Drake – Started From The Bottom
Drake f/ Lil Wayne – HYFR
Kendrick Lamar f/ Drake – Poetic Justice
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis f/ Wanz – Thrift Shop
Miguel – Adorn
Rihanna – Diamonds
Justin Timberlake f/ Jay-Z – Suit & Tie
Kanye West f/ Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz – Mercy
Video Director of the Year
A$AP Rocky & Sam Lecca
Benny Boom
Director X
Dre Films
Hype Williams
Best New Artist
Azealia Banks
Joey Bada$$
Kendrick Lamar
Trinidad Jame$
The Weeknd
Best Gospel Artist
Deitrick Haddon
Lecrae
Tamela Mann
Mary Mary
Marvin Sapp
Best Actress
Angela Bassett
Halle Berry
Taraji P. Henson
Gabrielle Union
Kerry Washington
Best Actor
Don Cheadle
Common
Jamie Foxx
Samuel L. Jackson
Denzel Washington
YoungStars Award
Gabrielle Douglas
Jacob Latimore
Keke Palmer
Jaden Smith
Quvenzhané Wallis
Best Movie
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Django Unchained
Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap
Sparkle
Think Like A Man
Subway Sportswoman of the Year
Gabrielle Douglas
Brittney Griner
Candace Parker
Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Subway Sportsman of the Year
Victor Cruz
Kevin Durant
Robert Griffin III
LeBron James
Ray Lewis
Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice Award
A$AP Rocky f/ Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar – Problems
Drake – Started From The Bottom
Kendrick Lamar – Swimming Pools (Drank)
Miguel – Adorn
Rihanna – Diamonds
Justin Timberlake f/ Jay-Z – Suit & Tie
Centric Award
Tamar Braxton – Love and War
Fantasia – Lose To Win
Miguel – Adorn
Nas – Daughters
Charlie Wilson – My Love Is All I Have
Best International Act: Africa
2Face Idibia (Nigeria)
Toya Delazy (South Africa)
Donald (South Africa)
Ice Prince (Nigeria)
R2Bees (Ghana)
Radio and Weasel (Uganda)
Best International Act: UK
Marsha Ambrosius
Estelle
Labrinth
Rita Ora
Emeli Sandé
Wiley
BET Lifetime Achievement Award
Charlie Wilson
BET Humanitarian Award
Dwyane Wade
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.