From standout performances from Beyonce to a legendary moment between Michael Jackson and James Brown, the BET Awards is responsible for 18 years of live broadcasted Black excellence.
Every year, BET orchestrates the BET Awards, and every year, families sit back and enjoy a wide spectrum of entertainment. From all-star tributes to energetic eight counts, the BET Awards have produced some of live television’s greatest performances. This year, fans can expect debut performances from Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus, Lizzo, and Yung Miami of City Girls. Favorites including Cardi B, Meek Mill, Fantasia, and others, will also take the stage.
Hosted by Regina Hall, the 2019 BET Awards air June 23. And of course, with the live show on the horizon, true pop culture fanatics take a moment to reminiscence on performances from the past. We scoured the internet for footage of our favorite moments of BET Awards 1-18. Check them out below:
1.) Mo’Nique Opening and Performing Beyonce
https://www.instagram.com/p/BsvqwAhBZsg/?utm_source=ig_embed
Although booked as a host, not as a performer, Mo’Nique consistently delivers iconic moments of song and dance on the BET stage. A favorite moment is her homage to Beyonce, opening the 2003 BET Awards by performing “Crazy In Love” with a troupe of dancers worthy of a standing ovation from Bey herself. Hopefully, Mo’Nique brings her talents to the BET stage once more and delivers a new Beyonce inspired performance. While the full clip remains in BET’s possession, Instagram page @90sGirlsGroups shared a snippet. – DeMicia
2.) Kanye West Performing “Jesus Walks” with Yolanda Adams
One of Kanye’s most notable and loved songs of Kanye’s career, “Jesus Walks” served as a staple record of 2004. Having the honor to open the BET Awards that year, as with most Kanye West performances, the star had a few surprises and shock factors in store. Equipped with a choir, pulpit, and the surprising appearance and vocals from Yolanda Adams, Kanye brought the house down with the rousing opening number of the night. – Travis
3.) Janelle Monae and Erykah Badu Performing “Queen”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZGugTVBMEU
Janelle Monae and Erykah Badu joined forces during the 2013 BET Awards to perform their record “Queen.” The pair closed out the show hosted by Chris Tucker, with a bang. Backed by a live band, Monae and Badu brought a vibrant energy to the crowd. It was a perfect way to end the night. – Fatima
4.) Kendrick Lamar Bringing out Erykah Badu
Today, Kendrick Lamar is widely recognized as one of the fifty greatest MCs of all-time. However, this wasn’t always the case. For much of his early career, Kung Fu Kenny was seen as a 5’6, underground rapper from Compton that had been signed and then dropped all before the age of 20. Things changed during the early part of this decade. Shortly after Drake arrived with his debut album, Thank Me Later, Kendrick Lamar popped up with Section .80. Then, he came back with what is possibly the best album of the decade, Good Kid, m.a.a.d City. Along his victory lap, Kendrick Lamar stopped at the 2013 BET Awards to perform one of the project’s biggest hits, “B*tch Don’t Kill My Vibe.” To make things even better, the Compton native brought out Erykah Badu to sing the hook. The only thing that would have made the moment more incredible is if he had brought out Jay-Z to do the remix. – Ryan
5.) Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar Performing “Freedom”
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Beyonce in all of her post Lemonade glory opened the 2016 BET Awards and was joined by Compton’s own Kendrick Lamar. The two hit the stage channeling ancestral energy kicking through water and performing the charged up anthem. Both Kendrick Lamar and Beyonce clearly gave this performance their all and watching it STILL gives me chills. – DeMicia
6.) Prince Tribute Featuring Janelle Monae and Sheila E.
When Prince passed away, a lasting moment of silence fell over the music community. His iconic life and career will forever be remembered and the tribute performance during the 2016 BET Awards served as a testament to the great talents inspired by his legacy. Bilal, Erykah Badu, and more talented acts performed their best rendition of Prince classics. Favorite performances include Sheila E. and Janelle Monae respectively. Each delivered top tier showmanship giving due homage to a medley of Prince’s greatest hits. – DeMicia
7.) Destiny’s Child Performing “Cater 2 U”
There was a point in time when music hit differently. As a young kid growing up in northern New Jersey, I wasn’t checking for Destiny’s Child growing up. However, that all changed when Destiny’s Child took the stage at the 2005 BET Awards to perform “Cater 2 U” in front of a live audience. In addition to a phenomenal live performance, the group delivered one of the most pre-Twitter meme-able moments when they brought Magic Johnson, Terrence Howard, and Nelly on stage for a live dance routine. There is nothing funnier than watching Terrence Howard sweat and look uncomfortable as Beyonce danced around him and eventually hop onto his lap. -Ryan
8.) Bad Boy Reunion Performance
The BET Awards are good for many things, but reunions and performances that take us back to prior years are amongst the top. A major moment of the 2015 BET Awards, attendees and viewers got to relive the Bad Boy era with a performance that saw the likes of Diddy, Lil Kim, Faith Evans and more come together to showcase the hits and memorable records that helped shape their respective era. A 10-minute medley laced with massive nostalgia, the respective reunion tour that followed a year later continued on with the greatness that the Bad Boy family left on the BET Awards stage. – Travis
9.) Michael Jackson Honoring James Brown
Michael Jackson’s imprint on Pop music is felt today and will be felt for some time. His legacy can be seen in the work of Bobby Brown, Usher, Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, and many more. However, there was a legend that once influenced the work of the King of Pop. During the 2003 BET Awards, the King of Pop met up with the King of Soul for a tribute performance that is the stuff of legends. Watching the two on stage is a memory that we will hold near as the two are no longer here to dazzle crowds. – Ryan
10.) Beyonce and JAY-Z Debut Performance of “Deja Vu”
Factually, the greatest performer of this generation (and potentially of all time), it’s always an exciting time when a Beyonce performance is thrown into the mix. Knowing how to always set the bar high, Beyonce did just that as she opened the 2006 BET Awards. Killing the opening slot with her “Deja Vu” lead single from her B’Day album, the performance is one of the earlier moments of Beyonce’s solo career that shows just how she’s in a league of her own. With the icing on the cake being JAY-Z’s appearance to perform his featured verse, Bey’s 2006 BET Awards performance goes down as one of her best to date. – Travis
