The string of performances spanned the more-than three and one-half hour BET broadcast, which was hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson from Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater.
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The show then introduced his old friends the Roots and their longtime friends and collaborators Erykah Badu and Bilal.
If the musician is big enough, like our dearly-departed Prince, than the quality of the tribute itself might come in to question, like Madonna’s ill-fated attempt at “Nothing Compares 2 U” last month at the Billboard Music Awards.
Also paying tribute to the late Prince were – Stevie Wonder and Tori Kelly and Jennifer Hudson – who all performed Take Me With U, also from Purple Rain. Her medley, which included “Kiss”, “Pop Life” and “I Would Die 4 U”, had the whole audience on their feet.
Instead, Sheila led a ten-minute medley of some the Purple Rain singer’s most beloved songs including Sign O’ the Times and Erotic City. Beyonce is nominated for five BET Awards, including best female R&B/pop artist. “We really need to pull together and turn this country around”.
BET Awards attendees were pleasantly shocked when Beyonce took the stage unannounced for the inaugural performance of the night, partnering with rapper Kendrick Lamar to deliver a lively rendition of the anthem “Freedom” from her latest album, Lemonade (which Paste just named the best album of 2016 so far). “Don’t get tricked like they got tricked in London!” said Samuel L. Jackson, accepting a lifetime achievement award.
The superstar didn’t stick around to find out if she’d won any awards as her mother Tina Knowles accepted her trophies on her daughter’s behalf.
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She was joined on stage by Kendrick Lamar who rapped his verse on the track while covered in water. Flaunting purple jewelry in honour of Prince, along with hoop earrings and a bold red lip, Janelle topped off her ever-so-cool BET ensemble with a wide-brimmed hat. Bryson Tiller also picked two awards and Nicki Minaj won Best Female Hip-Hop Artist for the seventh straight year. He died on June 3 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
