2025 BET Awards Recap
The 2025 BET Awards took place in Los Angeles on Monday evening, with Kendrick Lamar emerging as the top winner. The rapper took home several awards, including Album of the Year for "Gnx", Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, Video of the Year for "Not How We", and Best Collaboration alongside SZA for "Luther". Lamar also shared the award for Video Director of the Year with his long-time creative partner Dave Free.
Winners of the Night
Other notable winners included SZA and Chris Brown, who won Best Female and Male R&B/Pop Artists, respectively. Doechii took home the award for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist. During her acceptance speech, Doechii addressed the recent protests against illegal immigration attacks in Los Angeles, calling for an end to "ruthless attacks that cause fear and chaos in our communities in the name of law and order".
Additional Winners
Other winners of the night included Leon Thomas for Best New Artist, Denzel Washington for Best Actor, and Cynthia Erivo for Best Actress. Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, Kirk Franklin, and Snoop Dogg were also recognized with the Ultimate Icon Award.
Performances and Presenters
The ceremony featured performances by Glorilla, Ledisi, Leon Thomas, Lil Wayne, Playboi Carti, and Teyana Taylor, among others. The night’s presenters included Annie Ilonzeh, Ashley Nicole Moss, Big Tigger, Busta Rhymes, Cam Newton, Ciara, and many more.
25th Anniversary Tribute
A special tribute marked the 25th anniversary of 106 & Park, with appearances by Ashanti, B2K, Bow Wow, Jim Jones, Keyshia Cole, Mya, and Ti.
Nominees and Winners
Kendrick Lamar led the nominations with 10, followed by Doechii, Drake, Future, and Glorilla with six nods each. The complete list of winners is as follows:
Album of the Year
- Drake and partynextdoor, "$ Some $ sexy $ song 4 u"
- Chris Brown, "11:11 Deluxe"
- Doechii, "Alligator bites never heal"
- Beyoncé, "Cowboy Carter"
- Glorilla, "Splendid"
- Kendrick Lamar, "Gnx" (WINNER)
- The Weeknd, "Sow tomorrow"
- Future and Metro Boomin, "We don’t trust you"
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
- Ari Lennox
- Ayra trrrrrr.
- Coco Jones
- Kehlani
- Muni Lang
- Summer hiker
- SZA (WINNER)
- Victoria Monét
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
- Bruno Mars
- Chris Brown (WINNER)
- Drake
- Friday
- Leon Thomas
- Teddy swims
- The Weeknd
- Usher
Best Group
- 41
- Common and Pete Felsen
- Drake and partynextdoor
- Flo
- Future and Metro Boomin (WINNER)
- Jaquees and Dej Loaf
- Larry June and 2 Chainz, The Alchemist
- Maverick City Music
Best Collaboration
- Sza with Kendrick Lamar, "30 for 30"
- Doechii with JT, "Alter ego"
- Teddy swims with Givēon, "You are real at all"
- Dee Billz with Kyle Richh, Kai Swearvo, KJ Swervo, Beckham
- Lil Wayne, Grows and Young Thug, "Blessing"
- Future, Metro Boomin, and Kendrick Lamar, "Like that"
- Kendrick Lamar and Sza, "Luther" (WINNER)
- Tyler, The Creator with Glorilla, Sexxy Red, and Lil Wayne, "Sticky"
- The Weeknd with Playboi Carti, "Timeless"
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
- Cardi B
- Doecchii (WINNER)
- Doja Cat
- Glorilla
- Latto
- Megan Thee Stallion
- Nicki Minaj
- Rapsody
- Sexxy Red
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
- Bigxthaplug
- Bossman Dlow
- Burna Boy
- Drake
- Future
- Kendrick Lamar (WINNER)
- Key Glock
- Lil Wayne
- Tyler, The Creator
Video of the Year
- Key Glock, "3 a.m. in Teyo"
- Shaboozey, "A bar song (tipsy)"
- Kehlani, "After hours"
- Doechii, "Rejection is a river"
- Drake, "Family matters"
- Kendrick Lamar, "Not like us" (WINNER)
- The Weeknd with Playboi Carti, "Timeless"
- Future, Metro Boomin, Travis Scott, and Playboi Carti, "Type shit"
Video Director of the Year
- Anderson .Paak
- B Pace Productions and Jacquees
- Benny Boom
- Cactus Jack
- Cole Bennett
- Dave Free and Kendrick Lamar (WINNER)
- Dave Meyers
- Fog
- Tyler, The Creator
Best New Artist
- 41
- Ayra trrrrrr.
- Bigxthaplug
- Bossman Dlow
- Dee Billz
- Leon Thomas (WINNER)
- October London
- Shaboozey
- Teddy swims
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
- Common and Pete Rock with Jennifer Hudson, "A god (there is)"
- Pastor Mike Jr., "Amen"
- Friday, "Better days"
- Yolanda Adams with Sir the Baptist and Donald Lawrence, "Church doors (Terry Hunter Remix)"
- Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore, and Anthony Gargiula, "Constant"
- Tamela Mann, "Deserve to win"
- Rapsody, "Belief"
- Glorilla with Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music, "Encourage me" (WINNER)
Viewer’s Choice Award
- Chris Brown, "Residuen" (WINNER)
- Doechii, "Rejection is a river"
- Drake, "Nokia"
- Future and Metro Boomin with Kendrick Lamar, "Like that"
- Glorilla, "TGIF"
- Kendrick Lamar, "Not like us"
- Kendrick Lamar and Sza, "Luther"
- Latto, "Brokey"
BET Her
- Mary J. Blige, "Beautiful people"
- Beyoncé with Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts, "Blackbird"
- Doechii, "Flower"
- Tems, "Burning"
- Cynthia Erivo with Ariana Grande, "Defies the graphicity"
- Summer Walker, "Heart of a woman" (WINNER)
- Tems, "Stop"
- Flo and Glorilla, "In my pocket"
Best Film
- "Bad guys: driving or dying"
- "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F."
- "Luther: never too much" (WINNER)
- "Mufasa: The Lion King"
- "One of them days"
- "Rebel Ridge"
- "The piano lesson"
- "The six triple eight"
Best Actor
- Aaron Pierre
- Aldis Hodge
- Anthony Mackie
- Colman Domingo
- Denzel Washington (WINNER)
- Jamie Foxx
- Joey the sea $$
- Kevin Hart
- Sterling K. Brown
- Will Smith
Best Actress
- Second day
- Angela Bassett
- Coco Jones
- Cynthia Erivo (WINNER)
- KKE Palmer
- Kerry Washington
- Quinta Brunson
- Viola Davis
- Zendaya
Youngstars Award
- Akira Akbar
- Blue Ivy Carter (WINNER)
- Graceyn "Gracie" Hollingsworth
- Erbin Harris
- Melody Hurd
- Thaddeus J. Mixson
- Tyrik Johnson
- From
Athletes of the Year Award
- A’ja Wilson
- Angel Reese (WINNER)
- Claressa Shields
- Coco Gauff
- Dawn Staley
- Embarrassed Johnson
- Juju Watkins
- Sha’carri Richardson
- Simone Biles
Athlete of the Year Award
- Aaron Richter
- Anthony Edwards
- Deion Sanders
- Jalen Hurts (WINNER)
- Jayson Tatum
- LeBron James
- Saquon Barkley
- Stephen Curry
