The 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards took place at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia last Friday (September 30).
This year’s ceremony, which aired on Tuesday night (October 4), was hosted by Fat Joe and featured performances from legends like Lil Kim, Wu-Tang Clan, Jeezy, Clipse and Three 6 Mafia, as well as current stars such as Kodak Black, Moneybagg Yo and Joey Bada$$.
As for the awards themselves, Drake and Kanye West headed into the show as the most nominated artists with 14 and 10 nods, respectively, but it was Kendrick Lamar who walked away as the night’s biggest winner after scooping six awards.
The Compton native cleaned up in categories such as Hip Hop Artist of the Year, Best Hip Hop Album of the Year and Lyricist of the Year thanks to his chart-topping Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers LP, as well his collaborative relationship with Baby Keem.
Drake didn’t walk away empty handed, though. The OVO hitmaker added two trophies to his collection for Best Collaboration and Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse, tying with himself in the latter category for his show-stealing cameos on Jack Harlow’s “Churchill Downs” and Future’s “Wait For U.”
Kanye, who stirred up more controversy this week after wearing a “White Lives Matter” shirt at his Yeezy Season 9 show in Paris, went 0 for 10.
Jim Jones Blasts BET For Refusing Him Access To Hip Hop Awards
Hip Hop’s southern sisters were recognized for their achievements as Latto’s “Big Energy” was crowned Song of the Year, while “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” star GloRilla won Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist. Trina was the recipient of this year’s “I Am Hip Hop Award” thanks to her impact and legacy over the last two decades.
Elsewhere, Hitmaka beat out the likes of Pharrell, Metro Boomin and Hit-Boy in the Producer of the Year category, Gangsta Grillz impresario DJ Drama won his first DJ of the Year award in almost a decade, and 50 Cent won Hustler of the Year thanks to his continued success in film, TV and the alchohol industry.
Check out the full list of winners at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards below.
Hip Hop Artist of the Year
Cardi B
Doja Cat
Drake
Future
Kanye West
Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
Megan Thee Stallion
Hip Hop Album of the Year
Latto – 777
Drake – Certified Lover Boy
Kanye West – Donda
Future – I Never Liked You
Pusha T – It’s Almost Dry
Nas – King’s Disease II
Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers — WINNER
Song of the Year
Latto – “Big Energy” — WINNER
GloRilla & Hitkidd – “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)”
Jack Harlow – “First Class”
Cardi B f. Kanye West & Lil Durk – “Hot Shit”
Kodak Black – “Super Gremlin”
Future f. Drake & Tems – “Wait For U”
Drake f. Future & Young Thug – “Way 2 Sexy”
Lyricist of the Year
Baby Keem
Benny The Butcher
Drake
J. Cole
Jack Harlow
JAY-Z
Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
Best Hip Hop Video
A$AP Rocky – “D.M.B.”
Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar – “Family Ties” — WINNER
City Girls f. Usher – “Good Love”
Cardi B f. Kanye West & Lil Durk – “Hot Shit”
BIA f. J. Cole – “London”
Future f. Drake & Tems – “Wait for You”
Drake f. Future & Young Thug – “Way 2 Sexy”
Best Collaboration
Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar – “Family Ties”
City Girls f. Usher – “Good Love”
Cardi B f. Kanye West & Lil Durk – “Hot Shit”
Drake f. 21 Savage – “Jimmy Cooks”
Benny The Butcher f. J. Cole – “Johnny P’s Caddy”
Future f. Drake & Tems – “Wait For U” — WINNER
Drake f. Future & Young Thug – “Way 2 Sexy”
Best Duo or Group
42 Dugg & EST Gee
Big Sean & Hit-Boy
Birdman & NBA YoungBoy
Blxst & Bino Rideaux
DaBaby & NBA YoungBoy
EarthGang – WINNER
Styles P & Havoc
Best Live Performer
Cardi B
Doja Cat
Drake
J. Cole
Kanye West
Kendrick Lamar — WINNER
Tyler, The Creator
Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist
Baby Keem
Blxst
Doechii
Fivio Foreign
GloRilla — WINNER
Nardo Wick
Saucy Santana
Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse
Drake – “Churchill Downs” (Jack Harlow f. Drake) — WINNER (Tie)
J. Cole – “Poke It Out” (Wale f. J. Cole)
J. Cole – “London” (BIA f. J. Cole)
Lil Baby – “Girls Want Girls” (Drake f. Lil Baby)
Kanye West – “City of Gods” (Fivio Foreign f. Kanye West & Alicia Keys)
Drake – “Wait For U” (Future f. Drake & Tems) — WINNER (Tie)
Jadakiss – “Black Illuminati” (Freddie Gibbs f. Jadakiss)
Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom
Burna Boy
Cole Bennett
Colin Tilley
Director X
Kendrick Lamar & Dave Free — WINNER
Teyana Taylor
Producer of the Year
ATL Jacob
Baby Keem
Hit-Boy
Hitmaka — WINNER
Kanye West
Metro Boomin
Pharrell Williams
Hustler of the Year
50 Cent — WINNER
Cardi B
DJ Khaled
Drake
JAY-Z
Kanye West
Megan Thee Stallion
DJ of the Year
D-Nice
DJ Cassidy
DJ Drama — WINNER
DJ Kay Slay
DJ Premier
Kaytranada
Mustard
Nyla Symone
L.A. Leakers (DJ Sourmilk & Justin Credible)
Best Hip Hop Platform
Big Boy’s Neighborhood
The Breakfast Club
Caresha Please — WINNER (Tie)
Complex
Drink Champs — WINNER (Tie)
HipHopDX
Million Dollaz Worth of Game
NPR Tiny Desk
Verzuz
Impact Track
Lizzo – “About Damn Time” — WINNER
Fivio Foreign, Kanye West & Alicia Keys – “City of Gods”
Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar – “Family Ties”
Nas f. Ms. Lauryn Hill – “Nobody”
Latto – “Pxssy”
Kendrick Lamar – “The Heart Part 5”
Doja Cat – “Woman”
Best International Flow
Benjamin Epps (France) — WINNER
Black Sherif (Ghana)
Blxckie (South Africa)
Central Cee (UK)
Haviah Mighty (Canada)
Knucks (UK)
Le Juiice (France)
Nadia Nakai (Zimbabwe)
Tasha & Tracie (Brazil)
BASED ON THE NOMINATIONS, I’M FINE WITH KENDRICK WINNING HIP HOP ARTIST AND ALBUM. HOWEVER, KENDRICK’S ARTISTRY SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH QUALITY LYRICISM. AS GOOD AS HE IS AT PUTTING TOGETHER AN ALBUM, I NEVER THOUGHT HE WAS A GREAT LYRICIST.
Stop SHOUTING
TRON, I WILL TELL U ONCE AND NEVER AGAIN. DON’T EVER TELL ANOTHER MAN WHAT TO DO. SAVE THAT FOR YOUR SAME SEX RELATIONSHIP YOU BITCH.
You know nothing about lyricism if you think kendrick is not a great lyricist ..
SHARE SOME OF HIS BARS OR QUOTABLES. I’LL BE WAITING.
Aye man, shoutout to 50 Cent for winning something there in 2022 over some real tough contenders too, unexpected!
This was the best hip hop award show I have seen in years.