BET Awards 2010 Recap

The BET awards 10th anniversary show opened with a performance of "Power" by Kanye West, whose been keeping a low profile since his last award show malfunction.



With MC Lyte announcing and host Queen Latifah, the BET Awards rolled along with Queen singing with a comedic routine to introduce some performances of the night referencing a tribute to Prince and Drake, who Queen Latifah took several splices of his songs' during her intro monologue.


Jada Pinkett Smith gave out the first award of the evening, reminiscing about the past 10 years of the show and presenting Best Female R&B Artist. Nominees included: Beyonce, Mary J Blige, Melanie Fiona, Alicia Keys and Rhianna, with Alica Keys taking home the prize. Alicia dedicated her award to all "superwomen" who "rise like a Phoenix".

First performance of the night came from Usher. In true form, Usher did it up well with smoke, MJ style dance moves and sweet vocals, doing what only Usher knows how to do.


Tajah Henson and Mike Epps, who wore a throwback outfit from the '90s and giving a shout out to B2K who was "opening for NSYNC" tonight. The crowd enjoyed the joke. The duo present the award to Best Female Hop Hop artist to Nikki Manaj, who was sporting a BRIGHT, BRIGHT "red?" (looking more like orange) wig. She looked great except for the hairdo as she gave a head's up to all the female rappers who came before, including the host of the evening, Queen Latifah. Manaj wanted to celebrate "a positivity among women".


For her third segment, Queen came out it true Latifah style with her basketball and jersey in tow to introduce T.I.'s performance, which received an A for AWESOME with Travis Barker on the drums. Camera's caught Jada Pinkett Smith's daughter jammin in her seat to the performance.


Nia Long presented the next award, quoting lines from her movie "Loves Jones" looking into the audience for her costar in the movie, Larenz Tate, who finished up the "heated" speech. The two present Best Male Hip Hop award to Drake, who truly deserved the win. Drake won over several superstar nominees, such as Jay-Z, Ludacris, B.O.B. and Fabolous . Drake gave shout outs to God, his mom, and Lil' Wayne for putting him on stage. This was the second award of the night going to the Young Money family, the label created by Lil' Wayne who is currently in jail on a weapons charge.


13 year old Gabi Wilson sang, "Fallin' to introduce the next performance by Alicia Keys. Gabi did it up well, with the crowd getting into it clapping the beat of "Fallin". Queen introduced Keys saying that she is one of the only performers who can mesmerize an arena of 20,00o with only her voice and a piano, and proclaimed Alicia was just given the title of Billboards Top R&B/Hip Hop's artist of the decade. Keys then opened her performance on the piano with "No One". As she moved away from the piano for her song, "Make It Without You", her baby bump was clearly visible and Alicia looked stunning. Though she quickly moved back to the piano for a rendition of "If I Ain't Got You". Alicia finished her performance with "I'm Ready".

For every costume change throughout the night, Queen came out in a different outfit representing each of her character from the films she did. Queen Latifah's next interlude included her costume from her movie, "Set It Off". She did a bit with T.I. where she went to take "something" out of her pocket. T.I. stopped her saying that he had "done did this befor'. Guns at an award shows was a bad idea." Referencing his 2007 arrest during the BET Hip Hop awards. Latifah told him to relax as she pulled out a camera to take a quick pic. The audience loved the humor.

The next performance was B.O.B and Keisha Cole singing "Airplane", later they were joined by Eminem. This led up to a solo for Eminem singing, "Not afraid". Though his mic seemed to being going in and out, the crowd was not noticing. Cameras caught "The Green Mile" star Michael Clark Duncan definitely feel Em's vibe, rockin in his seat.


Monica performed for the audience as she presented the award for Best Collaboration. Nominees included: Beyonce ft. Lady Gaga's "Video Phone", B.O.B ft. Bruno Mars "Nothin' on You", Drake & Trey Songz's "Successful", Drake's "Forever" ft Lil' Wayne, Kanye West and Eminem and Trey Songz ft Fabolous with "Say Aah". But the award went to Jay -Z and Alicia Keys for "Empire State of Mind".


Diddy and Dirty Money hit the stage next amid lots of smoke for his performance of "Hello, Good Morning". Though you really couldn't see the performers due to the smoke, Diddy was joined on stage by Rick Ross, T.I. and Nicki Minaj, still sporting that orange hair. She was also obviously lip syncing her part, very badly I might add. Though later in the show, she won her second award for Best New Artist.


After the commercial break, Jermaine Jackson came on stage to thanks fans for the love and support throughout the difficult year as he and his family recovered from Michael's death. This was followed by an outstanding and VERY emotional tribute to Michael by Chris Brown.


Brown began his tribute without being introduced by name. Jermaine only announced that "There was one tribute performance that we've yet to see." clearly referencing Chris' performance being pulled from last year's show after he plead guilty to assault charges. Jackson then announced, "Tonight on the BET Awards, here he is..."



Behind a sheet lit up with back light in a standard MJ pose, Brown stood. For a moment, you really thought it was Michael. Hitting several Jackson poses and continuing with classic MJ moves, Chris began his performance with "The Way You Make Me Feel", decked out in Michael's signature outfit of black pants, white T, blue shirt and black fedora hat from the video. Brown also sported Jackson's signature silver glove. During the tribute, Brown seem to channel Jackson as he danced exact movements from the "Remember the Time" video. Next came a blackout on the stage and white lights outlined six dancers who could be seen as they danced to Jackson's "Smooth Criminal". It was an amazing performance, until Brown reappeared again, after a quick costume change. This time, wearing a black suit as the first beats from "Billie Jean" began to play. The audience was transported to the Motown 25th show, wear Jackson first did his signature, Moonwalk. Brown replicated all the moves from the show and left the crowd amazed at the accuracy of his movements. But Brown certainly saved his best for last!

As emotional pictures of heroic rescues showed on the screen, the music for "Man in the Mirror" began to play. Brown began to sing, but couldn't make it through the first line of the song, as his voice cracked with emotion of the words: "I'm gonna make a change for once in my life..." and Brown cried. Right there, on stage in front of millions, Brown broke down. It was emotional and heartfelt as he allowed his venerability to show as he struggled to get the words of the song out. The audience helped him out by singing the verse, and Chris, though unable to sing, began screaming out the lyrics without his mic, "I'm starting with the man in the mirror. I'm asking him to change his ways. And no message could've been any clearer. If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make the change."



Emotional and raw, with tears streaming down his face, Chris received a standing ovation from the audience as he finished the song and walking off stage, a hug from Jermaine. Cameras caught members of the audience clearly stunned and amazed, many seen just saying, "Oh my God!" and WOW!" This feeling was felt by all. Later returning to the stage to accept the Fandemonium award, Brown told the audience, "I let you all down before, but I won't do it again. I promise."



Queen Latifah returned wearing a tribute to South Africa to introduce the performer. Announcing that she "changed the game for women in 1989 with "Ladies first. This next performer changed the game with a mixed tape....give it up for Drizzy Drake." Drake lit up the stage with his anthem, "Over", singing the lyrics "I'm doing me," then was joined on stage with Jeezy.


Black-Eyed Peas came to stage next to present the award for Best Male R&B Artist. Nominees included: Chris Brown, Raheem DeVaughn, Maxwell, Usher, and Trey Songz, who took the award, thanking and bringing his mother onstage. Trey Songz returned to the stage to perform his steamy “Your Side Of The Bed” and attempted to cover Prince’s “Purple Rain,” a good effort but Prince clearly did not look happy considering his tribute was coming up with his hand-picked artist singing the same song.

Blast from the past, El DeBarge surprised fans next singing a medley of his classic hits, wrapping up with "Rhythm of the Night".

Coming back from commercial, the stage was pictured with a huge photo of Gary Coleman coupled with sincere shout out from his co-star, Todd Bridges. He stated that Gary was responsible for one of the biggest sayings of all time, proclaiming "that thing haunted me my entire life. Even when I was in prison, I heard that mess." But he got the audience involved when he wanted to honor Gary by asking them to say Coleman's famous saying. The audience obliged by yelling on three in unison, "Whatch you talkin' bout, Willis?" This introduced the In Memoriam segment which included pictures of Lena Horne, and Teddy Pendergrass with Tyrese singing Teddy's songs.



Humanitarian Service Award went to John Legend for all his work in music and in South Africa.

Toward the end of the nearly 3 and 1/2 hour show, was a musical tribute to Prince who was awarded with the Lifetime Achievement Award. The medley began with Janelle Monae, seeming to literally "go crazy" on stage as she sang, "Let's Go Crazy". This was followed by Esperanza Spaulding, and Alicia Keys who received a standing ovation from Prince himself. Legendary singer, Pattie La Belle contributed her vocals by singing a rendition of "Purple Rain" which was incredible, especially when she kicked off her shoes in the middle of the performance and sang right to Prince himself. He was tearfully moved. When accepting his award Prince stated, “I was pretty wild in my younger days and you don’t have to do what I did…you don’t have to make any of the mistakes I made. The future is in your hands now, the world is really yours.”

The last performance of the night was Ludacris’s “My Chick Bad” joined with DJ Khaled, Nicki Minaj (wearing a white wig, still lip-syncing) T-Pain and Rick Ross, as well as Tommy Lee on drums. The show ended with a remix of “All I Do Is Win,” bringing in Diddy and the Dirty Money gang again, this time with Nicki Minaj wearing a pink wig but still lip-syncing.


Other awards included: Young Money (best group) and Marvin Sapp (best gospel). Absentees Beyoncé and Lady Gaga picked up the video of the year award for "Video Phone." Rihanna and Young Jeezy won the viewer's choice award for "Hard."