Cardi B’s ‘WAP’ had new meaning at the BET Awards: winning and pregnant.
The Grammy-winning star debuted her baby bump during a live performance Sunday alongside husband Offset as well as Quavo and Takeoff of Migos. She also won video of the year for her Megan Thee Stallion-assisted No. 1 hit ‘WAP’.
Cardi B didn’t stay to accept the honor at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, but Megan Thee Stallion rushed to the stage to pick up the award, forgetting to thank Cardi during her speech.
But the Savage rapper made up for it when she won best female hip-hop artist moments later.
Along with celebrating female artists, the BET Awards also highlighted gay pride with a seductive performance by Lil Nas X and Queen Latifah, who thanked her reported partner and son when she accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award.
As she rattled on thank you’s, she said: “Ebony, my love, Rebel, my love.” The 51-year-old ended with “Peace! Happy pride!”
Queen Latifah was honored for her illustrious career as a Grammy-winning rapper, a Golden Globe-winning actor, and an Emmy-winning TV producer. Rapsody and Monie Love kicked off the tribute with a performance of ‘Ladies First’, which was followed by Lil Kim and MC Lyte rapping the classic ‘U.N.I.T.Y’.
Lil Nas X won over the crowd with his No. 1 hit ‘Call Me By Your Name‘ at BET awards.
His stage was set in Ancient Egypt, much like Michael Jackson’s ‘Remember the Time’, which Lil Nas X paid tribute to with a skilled dance break during the performance.
BET Awards ceremony dedicated to mothers
Mothers were also saluted during the three-hour-plus BET Awards gala : Queen Latifah, who attended with her father, held a photo on her mother onstage; Megan Thee Stallion remembered her mother, who died in 2019, during her speech: “She can’t be here with me today but I still think about her everyday and she is the reason why I keep going.” And Jazmine Sullivan — who won album of the year for her critically acclaimed EP Heaux Tales — attended the show with her mother, who is battling cancer.
“My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago so we didn’t see any of this happening, but God has been so faithful to us and my mom is in remission,” she said. This is my prize. This is my gift.
The ceremony was dedicated to “the year of the Black woman,” as actor and host, Taraji P. Henson put at the top of the show.
Henson went on to recognize several Black women in the audience, including Issa Rae, Zendaya, and Sullivan, as well as “political trailblazers” including Maxine Waters. She also gave shoutouts to Stacey Abrams and Kamala Harris.
Other honors at the BET AWARDS
Frazier didn’t attend the awards show but the honor came weeks after she was awarded a special citation by the Pulitzer Prizes for her video that helped to launch a global movement to protest racial injustice.
H.E.R., who also wowed the audience with her performance, won best female R&B/pop artist.
Rapper Lil Baby won best male hip-hop artist and joined forces with gospel artist Kirk Franklin to kick off the show with a performance that got Issa Rae, Queen Latifah, DJ Khaled, and Zendaya bouncing in their seats.
Swizz Beatz curated the tribute to DMX, who died in April at age 50. Performers included Busta Rhymes, Method Man, The Lox, Michael K. Williams, and Griselda.
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Other winners at BET awards included Burna Boy, who won best international act; Given, named best new artist; and Silk Sonic — the duo of Bruno Mars and Anderson. Paak — took home the best group honor.