Make a Bet on B.E.T

This past Sunday the BET Awards premiered a live show on TV with the celebration of their 10 year anniversary as the theme. Now personally I love award shows…there is something about the fact that there is only a handful of amount of times that a large collection of stars and fame and celebrity can gather for a unified reason. In my most naïve state of mind, I like to believe that the one unified reason is because they all share a passion and love for the business they all “worked” so hard to become apart of. Despite it being singing, or dancing, or acting, or professional athleticism. I also like to believe that they [celebrities] like to come together because at one point they have all met and worked with each other and still treat one another as if they were fans of the person standing next to them. Something about that is inspiring for me. And well this year, BET thankfully didn’t do anything to ruin that feeling for me, so kudos to them for actually making a successful show.

In the showcase they pulled off:

Top Performances
• Chris Brown’s MJ Tribute: which was definitely moving and heartfelt. Hands down it shares the number #1 spot for best performance of the night. Considering how long it’s been since he’s even been to an award show, let alone performed at one, as a result of the Rihanna incident. (BET last year would not LET him come and pay tribute to the falling of MJ—and now…) Him being on stage like this, tear-ridden and all, served as his final public testimony of his wrongs, he’s sorry damnit! Miss you, Chris. Definitely miss you MJ.
• Kanye opened with Power: statement piece for sure. He stood on top of a pseudo mountain on that stage with no shirt and the biggest “di-a-mond encrusted piece” he possibly owns and rocked it out. He just wanted all those mo-fo’s and nay-sayers out there to know…he has arrived.
• B.o.B w/ Keyshia Cole and Eminem: perfect announcement because the world needs to see more of B.o.B and Keyshia needs to come back. Them performing “Airplanes pt. 2” was great becuzzz Eminem spit his verse surprisingly out of nowhere and then carried it into a “Not Afraid” performance. Wonderful.
• Prince tribute: Janelle Monae (who was embodying the spirit of both Prince and James Brown tore up that stage with her crazy footwork), Esperanza Spalding (played the hell out of the Jazz bass guitar), Alicia Keys (pregnant and on top of an effin piano—ok Prince’s look at Swizz was priceless), Patti LaBelle KILLED it (kicked her shoes off, and Prince caught one). The other performance that shares the #1 spot. Without a doubt.

Good Moments
• Monica performed her latest hit “Everything To Me” as a reunion for Deniece Williams, I mean Monica sampled her song to the T, it was the right thing to do.
• El DeBarge performed, he’s making a comeback.
• Teddy Pendergrass memorial tribute was nicely done by Tyrese, he will be missed.

Deserved Awards
• Trey Songz, Drake, Nicki Minaj: I’ll only say this once, they deserve the recognition for being absolutely all in your face for the last year…why not get an award for it.

Mentionable
• Alicia Keys performed: at the time, her even performing pregnant was a feat in itself, we had no idea what was to come a little later during the Prince tribute.
• Queen Latifah hosting: did a good job, had a lot of character skits involving Cleo from Set It Off.
• Drake performed.
• Trey Songz’ miniature tribute to Prince…wasn’t too bad.
• Finale performance: “My Chick Bad” and “Winner”, Ludacris and DJ Khaled etc…everybody and they mama, once again Diddy and Rick Ross and Nicki Minaj graced the stage for the umpteenth time, T-Pain runnin around aimless, Busta Rhymes surprise. Good ending.

WTF
• Diddy-Dirty Money: yea you maybe supporting Waka Flocka, but that coulda been left at home. And are you tryin to make Rick Ross your new oversized on-stage bff? He had everybody from the audience performing for him, not with him. SMH.
• Jada Pinkett-Smith: wardrobe mistake, can’t be a malfunction if it was intentional. She looked like she forgot that she wasn’t wearing pants. But I guess if you look that good after some kids, why not?

Good show, though.