Kendrick Lamar Snags Top Spots at the 2025 BET Awards Showcase
Kendrick Lamar swept the BET Awards in spectacular fashion, dominating the 2025 edition of the illustrious ceremony honoring Black artists and influencers across various fields. The "30 For 30" rapper claimed the coveted titles for Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Best Album of the Year for his groundbreaking album GNX, and Video of the Year for "Not Like Us." Lamar and filmmaker Dave Free also bagged the prestigious Video Director of the Year award.
Accepting his awards, Lamar expressed gratitude towards BET for their continued support and dedication to showcasing the cultural essence of Black artists.
Hosted by comedian Kevin Hart, the event marked the BET Awards' 25th anniversary, paying homage to the multitude of achievements that have graced the stage throughout over two decades. Hart opened the ceremony with a series of hilarious jokes, while also acknowledging the BET Ultimate Icon Award recipients of the night.
Some of the winning legends included Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, Kirk Franklin, and Snoop Dogg, who were shown incredible respect for their immense contributions to music, entertainment, advocacy, and community impact.
Stevie Wonder presented the Ultimate Icon Award to Jamie Foxx, who used the platform to address his recovery journey following a stroke in 2023. Foxx admitted that he felt a sense of vulnerability upon seeing the memorial section of the ceremony, reflecting on how fortunate he is to have been granted a second chance at life.
Another breakout talent at the awards was Doechii, who snagged the Best Female Hip Hop Artist award. In her heartfelt acceptance speech, Doechii voiced her concerns about the potential suppression of democratic rights during anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles, where the National Guard and U.S. Marines were deployed to quell the uprising.
"Trump is using military forces to stop protest," Doechii declared, encouraging viewers to thoughtfully consider the nature of the current government when citizens exercise their democratic rights to protest, only to be met with a heavy-handed military response.
The BET Awards 2025 also showcased a fantastic selection of performances, including Ashanti, Mustard, Amerie, Bow Wow, Lil Wayne, Teyana Taylor, GloRilla, Playboi Carti, and Leon Thomas. Closing the evening with a bang, Kirk Franklin delivered an unforgettable, power-packed performance featuring special guests such as Muni Long and Tamar Braxton.
- Kendrick Lamar, being a renowned figure in pop-culture and music, dominated the 2025 BET Awards, winning awards for Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Best Album of the Year, Video of the Year, and Video Director of the Year.
- Stevie Wonder presented the Ultimate Icon Award to Jamie Foxx, who, in his acceptance speech, spoke about his stroke recovery journey in 2023 and felt a sense of vulnerability upon seeing the memorial section of the ceremony.
- Addressing the BET Awards 2025 audience, Doechii expressed her concerns about democratic rights being potentially suppressed during anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles, as Trump was using military forces to quell the uprising.
- The 25th anniversary BET Awards ceremony, hosted by Kevin Hart, was a celebration of Black artists, influencers, and their achievements in music, entertainment, advocacy, and community impact, as exemplified by legends like Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, Kirk Franklin, and Snoop Dogg.
