Tyler, the Creator at the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center in Atlanta on October 1, 2021 (Photo by Leon Bennett/2021 BET Hip Hop Awards/Getty Images)
The following is a press release from BET:
The 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards brought the hottest names in Hip Hop back to Atlanta, for the annual taping. Comedy supergroup 85 South (Karlous Miller, DC Young Fly, and Chico Bean) hosted this year’s awards from The Cobb Energy Centre which premiered on Tuesday, October 5 on BET, BET Her, MTV2 and VH1. Watch an encore airing of the award show Tuesday, October 7 at 9 PM ET/PT on BET. Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion ruled the night by jointly snagging three wins each including Song of the Year, Best Hip Hop Video and Best Collaboration for their smash hit “WAP.” [Editor’s note: Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion did not attend the ceremony.] Tyler, The Creator took home two wins for Hip Hop Album of the Year and Best Live Performer in addition to his Rock the Bells Cultural Influence Award presented by LL Cool J. Jay Z scored double wins in the Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse and Impact Track [cagtegories] for his Nipsey Hussle collaboration “What It Feels Like.” Newcomer Yung Bleu was crowned Best New Hip Hop Artist while rap sensation Saweetie took home Hustler of the Year. Music icon Missy Elliott was voted Video Director of the Year and Lyricist of the Year went to J. Cole. UK rapper Little Simz took home the Best International Flow award.
Young Thug kicked off the night with an explosive performance of “Tick Tock” followed by Gunna with “Too Easy” before coming together with their hit collaboration “Ski.” Hot new rapper Bia performed her smash single “Whole Lotta Money,” then brought out Atlanta icon Lil Jon for “Bia Bia” to close it out. Baby Keem made his award show debut with “Family Ties.” Hip Hop sensation Latto brought the house down with a sparkling, high energy performance of “SoufSide” and new song “Big Energy” while Tobe Nwigwe made it a family affair with Fat and Nell on their song “Fye Fye.” Isaiah Rashad performed alongside Doechii and Kal Banx for “Wat U Sed” before ending the set with his solo single “From the Garden.” The hotly anticipated cyphers were hosted by DJ Hed and featured a bevy of emcees dropping hot sixteens including Grip, D Smoke, Smino, Tierra Whack, Rico Nasty, Sleepy Hallow, Erica Banks, Fivio Foreign, Toosii, Lakeyah, Kidd Kenn and Symba. Presenters for the evening included a trio of Hip Hop powerhouses Trina, Remy Ma, and Rapsody. “I Am Hip Hop Award” recipient Nelly closed out the show with a performance of his greatest hits including “Country Grammar,” “Hot In Herre,” “Air Force Ones,” “Dilemma,” “Grillz” with an appearance by Paul Wall and more.
The following is the complete list of nominees and winners of the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards:
*=winner
HIP HOP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
A GANGSTA’S PAIN MONEYBAGG YO
CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST TYLER, THE CREATOR*
CULTURE III MIGOS
GOOD NEWS MEGAN THEE STALLION
KHALED KHALED DJ KHALED
SAVAGE MODE II 21 SAVAGE & METRO BOOMIN
THE OFF-SEASON J. COLE
SONG OF THE YEAR
BACK IN BLOOD PRODUCED BY YC (POOH SHIESTY FEAT. LIL DURK)
LATE AT NIGHT PRODUCED BY MUSTARD (RODDY RICCH)
LAUGH NOW CRY LATER. PRODUCED BY G. RY, CARDOGOTWINGS, ROGET CHAHAYED & YUNG EXCLUSIVE (DRAKE FEAT. LIL DURK)
UP PRODUCED BY YUNG DZA, SEAN ISLAND, DJ SWANQO (CARDI B)
WAP PRODUCED BY AYO & KEYZ (CARDI B FEAT. MEGAN THEE STALLION)*
WHOLE LOTTA MONEY (REMIX) PRODUCED BY LONDON JAE, BEATGODZ, TEE ROMANO (BIA FEAT. NICKI MINAJ)
HIP HOP ARTIST OF THE YEAR
CARDI B
DRAKE
J. COLE
LIL BABY*
MEGAN THEE STALLION
TYLER, THE CREATOR
BEST HIP HOP VIDEO
CARDI B UP
CARDI B FEAT. MEGAN THEE STALLION WAP*
CHRIS BROWN & YOUNG THUG GO CRAZY
DRAKE FEAT. LIL DURK LAUGH NOW CRY LATER
LIL NAS X MONTERO (CALL ME BY YOUR NAME)
SAWEETIE FEAT. DOJA CAT BEST FRIEND
BEST NEW HIP HOP ARTIST
BLXST
COI LERAY
DON TOLIVER
MORRAY
POOH SHIESTY
YUNG BLEU*
BEST COLLABORATION
21 SAVAGE & METRO BOOMIN FEAT. DRAKE MR. RIGHT NOW
BIA FEAT. NICKI MINAJ WHOLE LOTTA MONEY (REMIX)
CARDI B FEAT. MEGAN THEE STALLION WAP*
DJ KHALED FEAT. LIL BABY & LIL DURK EVERY CHANCE I GET
DRAKE FEAT. LIL DURK LAUGH NOW CRY LATER
POOH SHIESTY FEAT. LIL DURK BACK IN BLOOD
BEST DUO OR GROUP
21 SAVAGE & METRO BOOMIN
CHRIS BROWN & YOUNG THUG
CITY GIRLS
FUTURE & LIL UZI VERT
LIL BABY & LIL DURK*
MIGOS
BEST LIVE PERFORMER
BUSTA RHYMES
CARDI B
DABABY
DOJA CAT
MEGAN THEE STALLION
TYLER, THE CREATOR*
LYRICIST OF THE YEAR
BENNY THE BUTCHER
DRAKE
J. COLE*
LIL BABY
MEGAN THEE STALLION
NAS
BEST INTERNATIONAL FLOW
LADIPOE (NIGERIA)
NASTY C (SOUTH AFRICA)
XAMÃ (BRAZIL)
LAYLOW (FRANCE)
GAZO (FRANCE)
LITTLE SIMZ (UK)*
DAVE (UK)
VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
COLE BENNETT
COLIN TILLEY
DAVE MEYERS
DIRECTOR X
HYPE WILLIAMS
MISSY ELLIOTT*
DJ OF THE YEAR
CHASE B
D NICE
DJ CASSIDY
DJ DRAMA
DJ ENVY
DJ JAZZY JEFF
DJ SCHEME*
KAYTRANADA
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
DJ KHALED
HIT-BOY*
METRO BOOMIN
MUSTARD
THE ALCHEMIST
TYLER, THE CREATOR
HUSTLER OF THE YEAR
CARDI B
DRAKE
LIL BABY
MEGAN THEE STALLION
SAWEETIE*
YUNG BLEU
BEST HIP HOP PLATFORM
COMPLEX
GENIUS*
HIP HOP DX
HOT NEW HIPHOP
THE BREAKFAST CLUB
THE SHADE ROOM
WORLDSTAR HIPHOP
XXL
SWEET 16: BEST FEATURED VERSE
CARDI B TYPE SHIT (MIGOS FEAT. CARDI B)
DRAKE HAVIN’ OUR WAY (MIGOS FEAT. DRAKE)
JAY-Z WHAT IT FEELS LIKE (NIPSEY HUSSLE FEAT. JAY-Z)*
LIL DURK BACK IN BLOOD (POOH SHIESTY FT. LIL DURK)
MEGAN THE STALLION ON ME (REMIX) (LIL BABY FT. MEGAN THEE STALLION)
For more information about the BET Hip Hop Awards, including the digital red carpet livestream powered by Bulldog DM, the latest news and updates, visit bet.com/hiphopawards and follow the conversation @BETAwards
Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy will oversee the annual show, with Jamal Noisette, VP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy serving as Co-Executive Producer for BET. Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment, to serve as Executive Producer of the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awardsalong with Jesse Collins Entertainment’s Jeannae Rouzan–Clay and Dionne Harmon.
Megan Thee Stallion in “Legendary” (Photo by Zach Dilgard/HBO Max)
September 9, 2021
The following is a press release from BET:
BET announces the nominees for the 16th annual BET Hip-Hop Awards honoring the past year in hip hop music across 17 categories, selected by a voting academy of esteemed music industry insiders. With the theme of unity as expressed by its tagline In Hip Hop We Stand, the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards will tape from the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, GA, on Friday, October 1 and will premiere Tuesday, October 5, 2021, at 9 PM ET/PT on BET, and simulcast internationally on BET Africa on Wednesday, October 6 AT 3 AM CAT. BETwill work closely with Fulton County to support community vaccination efforts and ensure adherence to COVID-19 protocols.
Cardi B, Lil Durk, and Megan Thee Stallion lead this year’s nominations with an impressive nine nods each. Cardi B’s nods include Song of The Year, Hip Hop Artist of The Year, Best Hip Hop Video, Best Collaboration, Best Live Performer, Hustler of The Year, and Sweet 16: Best featured Verse. Lil Durk’s nods include Song of the Year, Best Hip Hop Video, Best Collaboration, Best Duo or Group, and Sweet 16: Best featured Verse. Megan Thee Stallion’s nods include Hip Hop Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Hip Hop Artist of the Year, Best Hip Hop Video, Best Collaboration, Best Live Performer, Lyricist of the Year, Hustler of the Year, and Sweet 16: Best featured Verse. Drake takes second place with an impressive eight nods. Tyler, The Creator and Metro Boomin tied for third-most nominations securing four nods each.
Other notable nominations include 21 Savage, DJ Khaled, J. Cole, and Pooh Shiesty, who received three nominations each. Bia, Chris Brown, Doja Cat, Jay Z, Lil Nas X, Migos, Nicki Minaj, Roddy Ricch, Saweetie, Young Thug, and Yung Bleu received two nominations each.
Additionally, the Best New Hip Hop Artist Award nominees include Blxst, Coi Leray, Don Toliver, Morray, Pooh Shiesty, and Yung Bleu.
“Our 2021 ‘BET Hip Hop Awards’ nominees span generations and are a representation of the talented individuals who elevate hip hop culture in creative and diverse ways. We congratulate each of them on these sought-after accolades,” said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy for BET. “We can’t wait to join forces with the best in hip hop and deliver a one-of-a-kind show in Atlanta.”
Voting for the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards DJ of the Year and Best Hip Hop Platform is now open: https://www.votehiphopawards.com
Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy will oversee the annual show, with Jamal Noisette, VP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy serving as Co-Executive Producer. Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment, to serve as Executive Producer of the 2021 “BET HIP HOP AWARDS” along with Jesse Collins Entertainment’s Jeannae Rouzan–Clay and Dionne Harmon.
For more information about the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards including the latest news and updates, visit bet.com/hiphopawards.
See below for the complete list of 2021 BET Hip Hop AwardsOfficial Nominees:
HIP HOP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
A GANGSTA’S PAIN MONEYBAGG YO
CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST TYLER, THE CREATOR
CULTURE III MIGOS
GOOD NEWS MEGAN THEE STALLION
KHALED KHALED DJ KHALED
SAVAGE MODE II 21 SAVAGE & METRO BOOMIN
THE OFF-SEASON J. COLE
SONG OF THE YEAR
BACK IN BLOOD PRODUCED BY YC (POOH SHIESTY FEAT. LIL DURK)
LATE AT NIGHT PRODUCED BY MUSTARD (RODDY RICCH)
LAUGH NOW CRY LATER. PRODUCED BY G. RY, CARDOGOTWINGS, ROGET CHAHAYED & YUNG EXCLUSIVE (DRAKE FEAT. LIL DURK)
UP PRODUCED BY YUNG DZA, SEAN ISLAND, DJ SWANQO (CARDI B)
WAP PRODUCED BY AYO & KEYZ (CARDI B FEAT. MEGAN THEE STALLION)
WHOLE LOTTA MONEY (REMIX) PRODUCED BY LONDON JAE, BEATGODZ, TEE ROMANO (BIA FEAT. NICKI MINAJ)
HIP HOP ARTIST OF THE YEAR
CARDI B
DRAKE
J. COLE
LIL BABY
MEGAN THEE STALLION
TYLER, THE CREATOR
BEST HIP HOP VIDEO
CARDI B UP
CARDI B FEAT. MEGAN THEE STALLION WAP
CHRIS BROWN & YOUNG THUG GO CRAZY
DRAKE FEAT. LIL DURK LAUGH NOW CRY LATER
LIL NAS X MONTERO (CALL ME BY YOUR NAME)
SAWEETIE FEAT. DOJA CAT BEST FRIEND
BEST NEW HIP HOP ARTIST
BLXST
COI LERAY
DON TOLIVER
MORRAY
POOH SHIESTY
YUNG BLEU
BEST COLLABORATION
21 SAVAGE & METRO BOOMIN FEAT. DRAKE MR. RIGHT NOW
BIA FEAT. NICKI MINAJ WHOLE LOTTA MONEY (REMIX)
CARDI B FEAT. MEGAN THEE STALLION WAP
DJ KHALED FEAT. LIL BABY & LIL DURK EVERY CHANCE I GET
DRAKE FEAT. LIL DURK LAUGH NOW CRY LATER
POOH SHIESTY FEAT. LIL DURK BACK IN BLOOD
BEST DUO OR GROUP
21 SAVAGE & METRO BOOMIN
CHRIS BROWN & YOUNG THUG
CITY GIRLS
FUTURE & LIL UZI VERT
LIL BABY & LIL DURKMIGOS
BEST LIVE PERFORMER
BUSTA RHYMES
CARDI B
DABABY
DOJA CAT
MEGAN THEE STALLIONTYLER, THE CREATOR
LYRICIST OF THE YEAR
BENNY THE BUTCHER
DRAKE
J. COLE
LIL BABY
MEGAN THEE STALLION
NAS
BEST INTERNATIONAL FLOW
LADIPOE (NIGERIA)
NASTY C (SOUTH AFRICA)
XAMÃ (BRAZIL)
LAYLOW (FRANCE)
GAZO (FRANCE)
LITTLE SIMZ (UK)
DAVE (UK)
VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
COLE BENNETT
COLIN TILLEY
DAVE MEYERS
DIRECTOR X
HYPE WILLIAMS
MISSY ELLIOTT
DJ OF THE YEAR
CHASE B
D NICE
DJ CASSIDY
DJ DRAMA
DJ ENVY
DJ JAZZY JEFF
DJ SCHEME
KAYTRANADA
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
DJ KHALED
HIT-BOY
METRO BOOMIN
MUSTARD
THE ALCHEMIST
TYLER, THE CREATOR
HUSTLER OF THE YEAR
CARDI B
DRAKE
LIL BABY
MEGAN THEE STALLION
SAWEETIE
YUNG BLEU
BEST HIP HOP PLATFORM
COMPLEX
GENIUS
HIP HOP DX
HOT NEW HIPHOP
THE BREAKFAST CLUB
THE SHADE ROOM
WORLDSTAR HIPHOP
XXL
SWEET 16: BEST FEATURED VERSE
CARDI B TYPE SHIT (MIGOS FEAT. CARDI B)
DRAKE HAVIN’ OUR WAY (MIGOS FEAT. DRAKE)
JAY-Z WHAT IT FEELS LIKE (NIPSEY HUSSLE FEAT. JAY-Z)
LIL DURK BACK IN BLOOD (POOH SHIESTY FT. LIL DURK)
MEGAN THE STALLION ON ME (REMIX) (LIL BABY FT. MEGAN THEE STALLION)
Join the conversation on social media by logging on to multiple BET social media platforms: On Twitter by using the hashtag: #HipHopAwards; follow @HipHopAwards and @BET On Facebook by liking the fan page at facebook.com/HipHopAwards.
ABOUT BET
BET, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIACA, VIAC), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African American audience. The primary BET channel is in 125 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa and France. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions including BET+, the preeminent streaming service for the Black audience; BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks – BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.
ABOUT BET HIP HOP AWARDS
BET Hip Hop Awards is an annual celebration that pays homage to a culture that changed the world while highlighting the best in hip hop music. Year after year, BET delivers the best in hip-hop for an unforgettable night of performances, cyphers and tributes honoring hip-hop legends that have and continue to make hip-hop culture a global force.
ABOUT JESSE COLLINS ENTERTAINMENT
Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE) is a full-service television and film production company and has played an integral role in producing many of television’s most memorable moments in music entertainment. The Emmy® nominated company has a multi-year overall agreement with ViacomCBS Cable Networks. On the theatrical film side, the company also has a first look on JCE’s film development projects which could include Viacom’s film entities such as Paramount Players. The award-winning and critically acclaimed television that JCE has produced includes miniseries—”The New Edition Story” and “The Bobby Brown Story;” scripted series—”American Soul” and “Real Husbands of Hollywood;” unscripted series – “Cardi Tries;” children’s series—”Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices;” award shows—”BET Awards,” “Black Girls Rock!,” “BET Honors,” “UNCF’s An Evening of Stars,” “BET Hip Hop Awards,” “ABFF Honors” and “Soul Train Awards;” specials—”John Lewis: Celebrating A Hero,” “Love & Happiness: An Obama Celebration,” “Change Together: From The March On Washington To Today,” “Stand Up for Heroes,” “Dear Mama,” “Amanda Seales: I Be Knowin’,” “Def Comedy Jam 25” and “Leslie Jones: Time Machine;” as well as competition/game shows—”Sunday Best,” “Hip Hop Squares,” “Nashville Squares” and “Rhythm & Flow.” Jesse Collins, founder and CEO of the company, is the executive producer of all programming. He is also a co-executive producer for the iconic Grammy Awards. Most recently, he was executive producer of The 2021 Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show and produced The 2021 Academy Awards. He will next executive produce the 2021 American Music Awards. Go to jessecollinsent.com for more information on the company.
BET honored an incredible and inspiring lineup of artists, entertainers and cultural icons across more than 20 categories at The “BET Aawards” 2021. The iconic show, hosted by Academy Award®-nominated and Golden Globe®-winning actor, filmmaker, and philanthropist Taraji P. Henson, aired live at 8 pm ET/PT on BET on Sunday, June 27, 2021 with a fully vaccinated audience. This year’s extraordinary show highlighted the absolute best in entertainment and culture with stunning performances and appearances by the biggest names across television, film, and music.
“The BET Awards have yet again proven to be culture’s biggest night,” said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET. “From the amazing talent, extraordinary creativity, and performances, and our incredible live vaccinated audience, the energy of the night was unmatched and delivered some of the most buzzworthy moments of 2021! Throughout any circumstance, whether it be virtual, live, or whatever comes next, BET will continue to elevate the standard of awards shows.”
The “BET Awards,” which has become synonymous with powerful Black artistry and social commentary, continues to spotlight and celebrate the artists and creators of tomorrow, making the ceremony one of the most news-provoking and talked-about broadcasts year after year.
This year’s awards were proclaimed as the “Year of the Black Woman” to celebrate and honor their immense impact on the culture. The ceremony was an unforgettable celebration of Black culture, love, joy, and pride.
The “BET AWARDS” 2021 Show Highlights Include:
Kirk Franklin and Lil Baby opened the show with a spirited performance of their hit song, “We Win” from the Space Jam: A New Legacy Official Soundtrack.
Migos set the stage on fire with their performances of “Straightenin,” and “Type Shit” with Cardi B who gave the audience a mic-drop worthy performance and exclusive pregnancy reveal.
H.E.R. soared with an electrifying rendition of her triumphant anthem, “We Made It,” which began with her drumming while suspended in mid-air and was followed by an unforgettable guitar solo.
Moneybagg Yo took to the stage for lively performances of “Wockesha” and “Time Today.”
DaBaby took the stage with a phenomenal performance of “Ball If I Want To” featuring theatrics including dancers, acrobats, and more.
Darnella Frazier was honored with the Shine a Light award for courageously capturing video of the murder of George Floyd, sparking further awareness of systemic racial inequalities, police brutality and efforts for meaningful change. The Shine A Light Award recognizes exceptional resilience, ingenuity and creativity in the face of adversity.
Megan Thee Stallion delivered a show-stopping performance of her latest hit single, “Thot Sh*t.”
Tyler, the Creator created a literal hurricane on stage during “Lumberjack,” his first-ever BET Awards performance.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters introduced Jazmine Sullivan, as she performed soulful renditions of new singles, “Tragic” and “On It,” from Heaux Tales, which won Album of the Year.
Roddy Ricch performed a swagged out rendition of his newest single, “Late At Night.”
Lil Nas X paid homage to the “Remember the Time” era with an erotic performance of “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name),” performing against an opulent gold Egyptian-themed backdrop, and unapologetically celebrating queer culture.
Bruno Mars and Silk Sonic seronated their way through a fully vaccinated audience with style as they sang a medley from their new album An Evening with Silk Sonic.
City Girls performed “Twerkulator” against a spectacular backdrop.
Queen Latifah was honored with this year’s Lifetime Achievement BET Award, in recognition of her prolific career over the past 30 years, in which she remained one of the most versatile creatives of the time. Following an inspirational tribute from Rapsody & Monie Love, performing “Ladies First,” and Lil Kim & MC Lyte, performing “U.N.I.T.Y.,” she received a standing ovation as she accepted the well-deserved award.
DJ Khaled lit up the stage with a jam-packed performance of his new songs, ”Every Chance I Get” and “I Did It,” with an all-star line-up including Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Megan Thee Stallion, H.E.R. and DaBaby.
Andra Day’s performance of “Strange Fruit” and “Tigress & Tweed” was spellbinding.
The legendary DMX was remembered with a mesmerizing tribute curated by Swizz Beatz featuring performances from Busta Rhymes, Method Man, Swizz Beatz, Griselda, Lil Buck and Jon, The Loxand a special appearance by Michael K. Williams. The powerful tribute included iconic hits such as “Slipping,” “Where the Hood At?,” “Party Up,” “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem,” and more.
Tone Stith and Mereba made their debuts on the BET amplified stage.
Host Taraji P. Henson kept audiences entertained throughout the show debuting new alter-egos, including new artist S.H.E.
In addition to all of these must-see moments, the complete list of winners for The “BET Awards”2021 can be found below:
*=winner
Album of the Year
“After Hours” – The Weeknd “Blame It on Baby” – DaBaby “Good News” – Megan Thee Stallion “Heaux Tales” – Jazmine Sullivan* “King’s Disease” – Nas “Ungodly Hour” – Chloe X Halle
Best Collaboration
Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP”* DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch – “Rockstar” DJ Khaled featuring Drake – “Popstar” Jack Harlow featuring DaBaby, Tory Lanez & Lil Wayne – “Whats Poppin” (Remix) Megan Thee Stallion featuring DaBaby – “Cry Baby” Pop Smoke featuring Lil Baby & DaBaby – “For the Night”
6lack Anderson .Paak Chris Brown* Giveon Tank The Weeknd
Best New Artist
Coi Leray Flo Milli Giveon* Jack Harlow Latto Pooh Shiesty
Best Group
21 Savage & Metro Boomin Chloe X Halle Chris Brown & Young Thug City Girls Migos Silk Sonic*
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B Coi Leray Doja Cat Megan Thee Stallion* Latto Saweetie
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
DaBaby Drake J. Cole Jack Harlow Lil Baby* Pop Smoke
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
Bebe Winans – “In Jesus Name” Cece Winans – “Never Lost” H.E.R. – “Hold Us Together” Kirk Franklin – “Strong God”* Marvin Sapp – “Thank You For It All” Tamela Mann – “Touch From You”
Aya Nakamura (France) Burna Boy (Nigeria)* Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) Emicida (Brazil) Headie One (Uk) Wizkid (Nigeria) Young T & Bugsey (Uk) Youssoupha (France)
Viewer’s Choice Award
Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP”* Chris Brown & Young Thug – “Go Crazy” DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch – “Rockstar” DJ Khaled featuring Drake – “Popstar” Drake featuring Lil Durk – “Laugh Now Cry Later” Lil Baby – “The Bigger Picture” Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé – “Savage” (Remix) Silk Sonic – “Leave the Door Open”
Video of the Year
Cardi B – “Up” Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP”* Chloe X Halle – “Do It” Chris Brown & Young Thug – “Go Crazy” Drake featuring Lil Durk – “Laugh Now Cry Later” Silk Sonic – “Leave the Door Open”
Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom Bruno Mars and Florent Déchard* Cole Bennett Colin Tilley Dave Meyers Hype Williams
Best Movie
“Coming 2 America” “Judas and the Black Messiah”* “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” “One Night In Miami” “Soul” “The United States Vs. Billie Holiday”
Best Actress
Andra Day* Angela Bassett Issa Rae Jurnee Smollett Viola Davis Zendaya
Best Actor
Aldis Hodge Chadwick Boseman* Damson Idris Daniel Kaluuya Eddie Murphy Lakeith Stanfield
Youngstars Award
Alex R. Hibbert Ethan Hutchison Lonnie Chavis Marsai Martin* Michael Epps Storm Reid
Sportswoman of the Year Award
A’ja Wilson Candace Parker Claressa Shields Naomi Osaka* Serena Williams Skylar Diggins-Smith
Sportsman of the Year Award
Kyrie Irving LeBron James* Patrick Mahomes Russell Westbrook Russell Wilson Stephen Curry
For the latest The “BET AWARDS” 2021 news and updates, please visit BET.com/BETAwards. BET Digital is the ultimate destination for BET Awards content. From the red carpet livestream Powered by Bulldog DM to non-stop video moments and conversation @BETAwards.
Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET will oversee The “BET Awards” 2021 and serve as Executive Producer along with Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment.
Internationally, the show simulcast on BET Africa at 2 am CAT and MTV Brazil at 9 pm BRT on June 27th, followed by international broadcasts on MTV UK on June 28th at 9 pm BST, BET France on June 29 at 8:45 pm CEST. The show will also be available to watch on My5 and Sky On-Demand in the UK beginning June 29th.
ABOUT BET:
BET, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIACA, VIAC), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African American audience. The primary BET channel is in 125 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa and France. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions including BET+, the preeminent streaming service for the Black audience; BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks – BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.
ABOUT “BET AWARDS”
The “BET Awards” is one of the most-watched award shows on cable television according to the Nielsen Company. The “BET Awards” franchise remains as the #1 program in cable TV history among African-Americans, and it is BET’s #1 telecast every year. It recognizes the triumphs and successes of artists, entertainers, and athletes in a variety of categories.
ABOUT JESSE COLLINS ENTERTAINMENT
Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE) is a full-service television and film production company and has played an integral role in producing many of television’s most memorable moments in music entertainment. JCE has a multi-year overall agreement with ViacomCBS Cable Networks. On the theatrical film side, the company also has a first look on JCE’s film development projects which could include Viacom’s film entities such as Paramount Players. The award-winning and critically acclaimed television that JCE has produced includes miniseries—The New Edition Story and The Bobby Brown Story; scripted series—American Soul and Real Husbands of Hollywood; children’s series—Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices; award shows—BET Awards, Black Girls Rock!, BET Honors, UNCF’s An Evening of Stars, BET Hip Hop Awards, ABFF Honors and Soul Train Awards; specials—John Lewis: Celebrating A Hero, Love & Happiness: An Obama Celebration, Change Together: From The March On Washington To Today, Stand Up for Heroes, Dear Mama, Amanda Seales I Be Knowin’, Def Comedy Jam 25 and Leslie Jones: Time Machine; as well as competition/game shows—Sunday Best, Hip Hop Squares, Nashville Squares and Rhythm & Flow. Jesse Collins, founder and CEO of the company, is the executive producer of all programming. He is also a co-executive producer for the iconic Grammy Awards. Most recently, he was executive producer of The 2021 Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show and produced The 2021 Academy Awards. Go to jessecollinsent.com for more information on the company.
BET announced the “BET AWARDS” 2021 nominees with Megan Thee Stallion and DaBaby leading the pack with seven nominations, respectively. This year’s nominees reflect an abundance of creative expression and Black excellence across music, television, film, and sports. The “BET AWARDS” 2021 will air LIVE, Sunday, June 27 on BET at 8 pm ET/ PT.
“We are back and excited to bring culture’s biggest night, the 2021 ‘BET Awards,’ safely back to Los Angeles to celebrate this year’s incredible roster of nominees,” said Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy. “We broke ground as one of the first official award shows to move forward during the global pandemic and we are ready to take our pioneer status to the next level with the return of an audience to celebrate the best and brightest creative minds in the entertainment industry.”
Megan Thee Stallion, who left her mark in last year’s telecast with her Mad Max inspired performance for “Girls in The Hood” and “Savage,” claims one of the top spots securing seven nominations for ‘Best Female Hip Hop Artist,’ ‘Video of the Year,’ for WAP, ‘Album of the Year,’ for Good News, ‘Viewer’s Choice Award (x2),’ and ‘Best Collaboration,’ for her features with DaBaby (Cry Baby) and Cardi B (WAP). After his searing and powerful ‘Rockstar’ performance at last year’s “BET Awards,” DaBaby claims the other top spot securing seven nods, including ‘Best Male Hip Hop Artist,’ ‘Album of the Year,’ for Blame it on Baby, ‘Viewer’s Choice Award,’ and four nods for ‘Best Collaboration’ for his features alongside Roddy Ricch (Rockstar), Megan Thee Stallion (Cry Baby), Pop Smoke & Lil Baby (For The Night), and Jack Harlow Tory Lanez & Lil Wayne (Whats Poppin- Remix).
Cardi B and Drake garnered the second most nods with five nominations each. Cardi B’s nods include ‘Best Female Hip Hop Artist,’ ‘Best Collaboration,’ ‘Video of the Year,’ twice for WAP and UP. Drake’s nods include ‘Best Collaboration,’ ‘Best Male Hip Hop Artist,’ ‘Video of the Year,’ for Laugh Now Cry Later featuring Lil Durk and ‘Viewer’s Choice Award’. Anderson .Paak, Bruno Mars, Chloe X Halle, and Chris Brown are the third-highest with four nominations each and are all up for the coveted ‘Video of the Year’ award.
Culture’s biggest night, the “BET AWARDS,” continues its reign in its twenty-first year as the ultimate platform to showcase the best, brightest, and most beautiful aspects of the Black experience – celebrating Black music’s present and future, and elevating the culture and being a driving force for social change.
Following last year’s groundbreaking virtual awards show, the “BET AWARDS” returns this year with a live show audience. Beginning today, vaccinated individuals can register here for consideration to be part of the “BET AWARDS” 2021 live show audience. BET will work closely with Los Angeles County to support community vaccination efforts and ensure adherence to COVID-19 protocols.
Due to these safety parameters, press access to the show will be limited and “BET AWARDS” will not be issuing a credential form. Media will be invited directly to cover any in person opportunities, including the red carpet, with additional remote/virtual press opportunities to be announced at a later date.
BET recognizes artists, entertainers, and athletes across 21 categories with The “BET Awards” 2021 nominations (‘Viewer’s Choice Award: Best New International Act’ will be released at a later date). The nominations are selected by BET’s Voting Academy, which is composed of fans and an esteemed group of entertainment professionals in the fields of television, film, music, social media, digital marketing, sports journalism, public relations, and creative arts.
Internationally, the show will simulcast on BET Africa at 2 am CAT and MTV Brazil at 9 pm BRT on June 27, followed by international broadcasts on MTV UK on June 28 at 9 pm BST, BET France on June 29 at 8:45pm CEST. The show will also be available to watch on My5 and Sky On-Demand in the UK beginning June 29.
The complete list of nominees for The “BET AWARDS” 2021 are:
Album of the Year
“After Hours” – The Weeknd “Blame It on Baby” – DaBaby “Good News” – Megan Thee Stallion “Heaux Tales” – Jazmine Sullivan “King’s Disease” – Nas “Ungodly Hour” – Chloe X Halle
Best Collaboration
Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP” DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch – “Rockstar” DJ Khaled featuring Drake – “Popstar” Jack Harlow featuring DaBaby, Tory Lanez & Lil Wayne – “Whats Poppin” (Remix) Megan Thee Stallion featuring DaBaby – “Cry Baby” Pop Smoke featuring Lil Baby & DaBaby – “For the Night”
6lack Anderson .Paak Chris Brown Giveon Tank The Weeknd
Best New Artist
Coi Leray Flo Milli Giveon Jack Harlow Latto Pooh Shiesty
Best Group
21 Savage & Metro Boomin Chloe X Halle Chris Brown & Young Thug City Girls Migos Silk Sonic
Best Female Hip Hop Artist
Cardi B Coi Leray Doja Cat Megan Thee Stallion Latto Saweetie
Best Male Hip Hop Artist
DaBaby Drake J. Cole Jack Harlow Lil Baby Pop Smoke
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
Bebe Winans – “In Jesus Name” Cece Winans – “Never Lost” H.E.R. – “Hold Us Together” Kirk Franklin – “Strong God” Marvin Sapp – “Thank You For It All” Tamela Mann – “Touch From You”
Aya Nakamura (France) Burna Boy (Nigeria) Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania) Emicida (Brazil) Headie One (Uk) Wizkid (Nigeria) Young T & Bugsey (Uk) Youssoupha (France)
Viewer’s Choice Award
Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP” Chris Brown & Young Thug – “Go Crazy” DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch – “Rockstar” DJ Khaled featuring Drake – “Popstar” Drake featuring Lil Durk – “Laugh Now Cry Later” Lil Baby – “The Bigger Picture” Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé – “Savage” (Remix) Silk Sonic – “Leave the Door Open”
Video of the Year
Cardi B – “Up” Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP” Chloe X Halle – “Do It” Chris Brown & Young Thug – “Go Crazy” Drake featuring Lil Durk – “Laugh Now Cry Later” Silk Sonic – “Leave the Door Open”
Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom Bruno Mars and Florent Déchard Cole Bennett Colin Tilley Dave Meyers Hype Williams
Best Movie
“Coming 2 America” “Judas and the Black Messiah” “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” “One Night In Miami” “Soul” “The United States Vs. Billie Holiday”
Best Actress
Andra Day Angela Bassett Issa Rae Jurnee Smollett Viola Davis Zendaya
Best Actor
Aldis Hodge Chadwick Boseman Damson Idris Daniel Kaluuya Eddie Murphy Lakeith Stanfield
Youngstars Award
Alex R. Hibbert Ethan Hutchison Lonnie Chavis Marsai Martin Michael Epps Storm Reid
Sportswoman of the Year Award
A’ja Wilson Candace Parker Claressa Shields Naomi Osaka Serena Williams Skylar Diggins-Smith
Sportsman of the Year Award
Kyrie Irving Lebron James Patrick Mahomes Russell Westbrook Russell Wilson Stephen Curry
Connie Orlando, EVP of Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET and Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment serve as Executive Producers for the “BET Awards” 2021 broadcast special.
Voting for the “BET AWARDS” 2021 ‘Viewer’s Choice Award’ begins on June 7th. For the latest “BET AWARDS” 2021 news and updates, including details on audience selection and eligibility, please visit BET.com/Awards.
About BET:
BET, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIACA, VIAC), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African American audience. The primary BET channel is in 125 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa and France. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions including BET+, the preeminent streaming service for the Black audience; BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks – BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.
About “BET Awards”:
The “BET Awards” is one of the most-watched award shows on cable television according to the Nielsen Company. The “BET Awards” franchise remains as the #1 program in cable TV history among African-Americans, and it is BET’s #1 telecast every year. It recognizes the triumphs and successes of artists, entertainers, and athletes in a variety of categories.
About Jesse Collins Entertainment:
Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE) is a full-service television and film production company and has played an integral role in producing many of television’s most memorable moments in music entertainment. JCE has a multi-year overall agreement with ViacomCBS Cable Networks. On the theatrical film side, the company also has a first look on JCE’s film development projects which could include Viacom’s film entities such as Paramount Players. The award-winning and critically acclaimed television that JCE has produced includes miniseries – The New Edition Story and The Bobby Brown Story; scripted series – American Soul and Real Husbands of Hollywood; children’s series – Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices; award shows – BET Awards, Black Girls Rock!, BET Honors, UNCF’s An Evening of Stars, BET Hip Hop Awards, ABFF Honors and Soul Train Awards; specials – John Lewis: Celebrating A Hero, Love & Happiness: An Obama Celebration, Change Together: From The March On Washington To Today, Stand Up for Heroes, Dear Mama, Amanda Seales I Be Knowin’, Def Comedy Jam 25 and Leslie Jones: Time Machine; as well as competition/game shows – Sunday Best, Hip Hop Squares, Nashville Squares and Rhythm & Flow. Jesse Collins, founder and CEO of the company, is the executive producer of all programming. He is also a co-executive producer for the iconic Grammy Awards. Most recently, he was executive producer of The 2021 Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show and produced The 2021 Academy Awards. Go to jessecollinsent.com for more information on the company.
Marcus Scribner, Tracee Ellis Ross, Miles Brown and Anthony Anderson in “Black-ish” (Photo by Richard Cartwright/ABC)
With five prizes, the ABC comedy series “Black-ish” was the top winner at the 52nd Annual NAACP Image Awards, which were presented on March 27, 2021, at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California. “Black-ish” star Anthony Anderson hosted the show, which he has done every consecutive year since 2014. “Black-ish” went into the ceremony as the top contender, with 11 nominations. CBS, BET, CBS, BET Her, VH1, MTV, MTV2, and Logo had simulcasts of the ceremony. Some of the winners were announced in pre-televised webcasts.
According to a press release from the NAACP: “The NAACP Image Awards honors the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature, and film and also recognizes individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors.”
“Black-ish” won the prizes for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series (for Anderson); Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (for Deon Cole); Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series (for Marsai Martin); Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series (for Anya Adams). Martin also got the prize for Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited Series).
Other multiple winners of the 2021 NAACP Image Awards included the Beyoncé and the Pixar Animation Studios film “Soul,” with four awards each. Getting three awards each were the Netflix dramatic film “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”; the Starz drama series “Power Book II: Ghost” and the Netflix limited series “Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker.”
D-Nice received the prize for Entertainer of the Year. “Bad Boys for Life” was named Outstanding Motion Picture, while “Insecure” received the awards for Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Comedy Series (for Issa Rae).
Eddie Murphy was inducted in the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame. There were other special awards given in non-competitive categories. Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett received the Key of Life Award. Stephen Curry was given the Sports Award, while WNBA Player’s Association received the Sports Award II. Misty Copeland received the Springarn Medal. Reverend Dr. Wendell Anthony was named Activist of the Year, while Madison Potts was named Youth Activist of the Year.
Here is the complete list of the winners and nominees for the 2021 NAACP Image Awards:
*=winner
SPECIAL AWARD CATEGORIES
Entertainer of the Year
D-Nice*
Regina King
Trevor Noah
Tyler Perry
Viola Davis
Social Justice Impact
April Ryan
Debbie Allen
LeBron James
Stacey Abrams*
Tamika Mallory
TELEVISION + STREAMING CATEGORIES
Outstanding Comedy Series
#blackAF (Netflix)
Black-ish (ABC)
grown-ish (Freeform)
Insecure (HBO)*
The Last O.G. (TBS)
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson – Black-ish (ABC)*
Cedric The Entertainer – The Neighborhood (CBS)
Don Cheadle – Black Monday (Showtime)
Idris Elba – In the Long Run (Starz)
Tracy Morgan – The Last O.G. (TBS)
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Issa Rae – Insecure (HBO)*
Folake Olowofoyeku – Bob Hearts Abishola (CBS)
Regina Hall – Black Monday (Showtime)
Tracee Ellis Ross – Black-ish (ABC)
Yara Shahidi – Grown-ish (Freeform)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Andre Braugher – Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC)
Deon Cole – Black-ish (ABC)*
Jay Ellis – Insecure (HBO)
Kenan Thompson – Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Laurence Fishburne – Black-ish (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Jenifer Lewis – Black-ish (ABC)
Marsai Martin – Black-ish (ABC)*
Natasha Rothwell – Insecure (HBO)
Tichina Arnold – The Neighborhood (CBS)
Yvonne Orji – Insecure (HBO)
Outstanding Drama Series
All Rise (CBS)
Bridgerton (Netflix)
Lovecraft Country (HBO)
Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)*
This Is Us (NBC)
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Jonathan Majors – Lovecraft Country (HBO)
Keith David – Greenleaf (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)
Nicco Annan – P-Valley (Starz)
Regé-Jean Page – Bridgerton (Netflix)*
Sterling K. Brown – This Is Us (NBC)
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Angela Bassett – 9-1-1 (FOX)
Brandee Evans – P-Valley (Starz)
Jurnee Smollett – Lovecraft Country (HBO)
Simone Missick – All Rise (CBS)
Viola Davis – How To Get Away With Murder (ABC)*
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Clifford “Method Man” Smith – Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)*
Delroy Lindo – The Good Fight (CBS All Access)
J. Alphonse Nicholson – P-Valley (Starz)
Jeffrey Wright – Westworld (HBO)
Michael Kenneth Williams – Lovecraft Country (HBO)
Loira Limbal – Through the Night (Third Shift Media, Inc.)
Melissa Haizlip – Mr. Soul! (Shoes In The Bed Productions)
Nadia Hallgren – Becoming (A Higher Ground Productions and Big Mouth Productions Film for Netflix)*
Radha Blank – The Forty-Year-Old Version (Netflix)
Remi Weekes – His House (Netflix)
DOCUMENTARY CATEGORIES
Outstanding Documentary (Film)
All In: The Fight For Democracy (Amazon Studios)
Coded Bias (7th Empire Media)
John Lewis: Good Trouble (Magnolia Pictures/Participant)*
Mr. Soul! (Shoes in the Bed Productions)
On the Record (HBO Max)
Outstanding Documentary (Television)
And She Could Be Next (PBS)
Black Love (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)
Enslaved: The Lost History of the Transatlantic Slave Trade (EPIX)
The Last Dance (ESPN / Netflix)*
Unsung (TV One)
WRITING CATEGORIES
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Issa Rae – Insecure – “Lowkey Feelin’ Myself” (HBO)
Lee Eisenberg, Kumail Nanjiani, Emily V. Gordon – Little America – “The Rock” (Apple TV+)
Michaela Coel – I May Destroy You – “Ego Death” (HBO)*
Mindy Kaling, Lang Fisher – Never Have I Ever “Pilot” (Netflix)
Rajiv Joseph – Little America – “The Manager” (Apple TV+)
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
Attica Locke – Little Fires Everywhere – “The Spider Web” (Hulu)*
Erika L. Johnson, Mark Richard – The Good Lord Bird – “A Wicked Plot” (Showtime)
Jessica Lamour – Little Voice – “Love Hurts” (Apple TV+)
Katori Hall – P-Valley – “Perpetratin'” (Starz)
Tanya Barfield – Mrs. America – “Shirley” (FX)
Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special
Diallo Riddle, Bashir Salahuddin, D. Rodney Carter, Emily Goldwyn, Rob Haze, Zuri Salahuddin, Bennett Webber, Evan Williams, Will Miles – Sherman’s Showcase Black History Month Spectacular (IFC)
Eugene Ashe – Sylvie’s Love (Amazon Studios)*
Geri Cole – The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special (HBO Max)
Lin-Manuel Miranda – Hamilton (Disney+)
Sylvia L. Jones, Camille Tucker – The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel (Lifetime)
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture
David E. Talbert – Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)
Kemp Powers – One Night in Miami… (Amazon Studios)
Lee Isaac Chung – Minari (A24)
Pete Docter, Kemp Powers, Mike Jones – Soul (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Radha Blank – The Forty-Year-Old Version (Netflix)*
Outstanding Writing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture)
Mary Mazzio – A Most Beautiful Thing (Peacock)
Melissa Haizlip – Mr. Soul! (Maysles Documentary Center)*
Nile Cone – The Beat Don’t Stop (TV One)
Royal Kennedy Rodgers – Hollywood’s Architect: The Paul R. Williams Story (PBS)
Yoruba Richen, Elia Gasull Balada, Valerie Thomas – The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show (Peacock)
DIRECTING CATEGORIES
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Anya Adams – Black-ish – “Hair Day” (ABC)*
Aurora Guerrero – Little America – “The Jaguar” (Apple TV+)
Eric Dean Seaton – Black-ish – “Our Wedding Dre” (ABC)
Kabir Akhtar – Never Have I Ever – “… started a nuclear war” (Netflix)
Sam Miller, Michaela Coel – I May Destroy You – “Ego Death” (HBO)
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
Cheryl Dunye – Lovecraft Country – “Strange Case” (HBO)
Hanelle Culpepper – Star Trek: Picard – “Remembrance” (CBS All Access)*
Misha Green – Lovecraft Country – “Jig-a-Bobo” (HBO)
Nzingha Stewart – Little Fires Everywhere – “The Uncanny” (Hulu)
Steve McQueen – Small Axe – “Mangrove” (Amazon Studios)
Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special
Beyoncé Knowles Carter, Emmanuel Adeji, Blitz Bazawule, Kwasi Fordjour – Black Is King (Disney+)
Christine Swanson – The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel (Lifetime)
Chuck Vinson, Alan Muraoka – The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special (HBO Max)
Eugene Ashe – Sylvie’s Love (Amazon Studios)*
Kamilah Forbes – Between The World And Me (HBO)
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
David E. Talbert – Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)
George C. Wolfe – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)
Gina Prince-Bythewood – The Old Guard (Netflix)*
Radha Blank – The Forty-Year-Old Version (Netflix)
Regina King – One Night in Miami… (Amazon Studios)
Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture)
Keith McQuirter – By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem (EPIX)*
Muta’Ali – Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn (HBO)
Sam Pollard, Maro Chermayeff – Atlanta’s Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children (Ep. 1 & 2) (HBO)
Simcha Jacobovici – Enslaved: The Lost History of the Transatlantic Slave Trade (EPIX)
Yoruba Richen – The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show (Peacock)
LITERARY CATEGORIES
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
Black Bottom Saints – Alice Randall (HarperCollins Publishers)
Urban Beauty TV, the first syndicated show dedicated to health, beauty, and style told through a multicultural lens, premieres Saturday, March 27, 2021 at 10 PM EST exclusively on BET Her. Hosted by model and media personality Midori Amae, Urban Beauty TV shines a spotlight on some of our culture’s most innovative style architects as they share the stories behind building their successful brands.
R&B superstar Monica appears in the premiere episode alongside Michelle Rodriguez, Founder/CEO of Mielle Organics; Tahirah Carter, Founder/Owner of The Faded Beauty & Barber; Brianna Walton and Ashley Williams, Noire Beautè; Dr. Nia Banks, plastic surgeon; and Ms. Bling, Owner/Designer of MsBlingBling.com. Each week viewers will discover the latest in beauty products, trends, and routines from leading experts and pop culture staples including Yandy Smith-Harris, Serayah, Deborah Cox, and more.
ABOUT BET BET, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIACA, VIAC), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel is in 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa and France. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions including BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks – BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.
On March 24, 2021 at 3 pm EST, BET (a subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc., NASDAQ: VIACA, VIAC), the nation’s leading provider of quality content for African American audiences, and Vaseline® are partnering to host a powerful Zoom discussion for consumers featuring award-winning director and actress Regina King around skincare equity for skin of color.
“Over the past year, we’ve seen the challenges that people of color face in achieving equitable health outcomes and unfortunately, the dermatology practice is no different,” said Louis Carr, President of Media Sales at BET. “Through our partnership with Vaseline®, we’re committed to increasing awareness of the importance of health through skincare. We’re honored to have the opportunity to partner with and lend our platform to amplify Vaseline’s Equitable Skincare for All campaign.”
The Equitable Skincare for All discussion will highlight the healthcare and skincare inequities that negatively impact Black and Brown communities, the importance of bringing true equality to care for skin of color and how individuals can make a difference.
Skin health needs for Black and Brown communities continue to be underserved and without access to proper care comes the likelihood of misdiagnosis or no diagnosis leaving them at risk for long-term consequences.This is in part the case as nearly half of dermatologists say they were not adequately trained to treat skin of color. Representation is also an issue in dermatological care with only 3% of practicing dermatologists identified as Black and 4.2% identified as Latinx.1
For over 150 years, Vaseline® has been committed to helping heal dry skin everywhere, but this goal can’t be achieved if part of the Vaseline® community doesn’t have access to equitable care. That’s why Vaseline® has teamed up with BET to bring awareness, education and drive meaningful discussions around healthcare and skincare inequities that negatively impact Black and Brown communities.
Hosted by veteran beauty expert Tai Beauchamp, Vaseline® spokesperson Regina Kingalong with other guests such as prominent doctors, experts and skincare enthusiasts, will share their experiences with inequity, current inequities Black and Brown people face, the consequences of these disparities and the importance of properly treating Black and Brown skin.
“As a heritage brand, our goal is to achieve equitable skincare for all,” says Kevin Tolson, Senior Brand Manager for Vaseline. “As part of that larger commitment, this event not only seeks to highlight the problem, but also arm Black and Brown communities with effective tools and immediate solutions to work toward skin equity now and for the next generation.”
To expand this important conversation, BET and Vaseline® have worked together to create a video content series to further educate people around the issues of skincare inequity in addition to the Zoom event. The first video of the Equitable Skincare for All series will air on BET.com, and across BET’s social handles on March 18, 2021.
BET seeks to leverage its position as a leading provider of entertaining, engaging and empowering content and its partnership with Vaseline® to contribute meaningfully to the current conversation about racial equity in healthcare, while equipping our audiences with tools and resources to take control of their own health.
To register, consumers can visit BET.com and submit their questions ahead of the event using the #Skincareforall hashtag.
About BET
BET, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIACA, VIAC), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel is in 125 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa and France. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions including BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks – BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.
About Unilever North America
Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Beauty & Personal Care, Home Care, and Foods & Refreshment products, with sales in over 190 countries and products used by 2.5 billion people every day. We have 149,000 employees and generated sales of €50.7 billion in 2020. Over half of our footprint is in developing and emerging markets. We have around 400 brands found in homes all over the world. In the United States and Canada, the portfolio includes iconic brand such as: Dove, Knorr, Hellmann’s, Lipton, Magnum, Axe, Ben & Jerry’s, Degree, Dollar Shave Club, Q-tips, Seventh Generation, St. Ives, Suave, TRESemmé, and Vaseline.
Our vision is to be the global leader in sustainable business and to demonstrate how our purpose-led, future-fit business model drives superior performance. We have a long tradition of being a progressive, responsible business. It goes back to the days of our founder William Lever, who launched the world’s first purposeful brand, Sunlight Soap, more than 100 years ago, and it’s at the heart of how we run our company today.
The Unilever Compass, our sustainable business strategy, is set out to help us deliver superior performance and drive sustainable and responsible growth, while:
improving the health of the planet;
improving people’s health, confidence and wellbeing; and
contributing to a fairer and more socially inclusive world.
While there is still more to do, we are proud to have been recognized in 2020 as a sector leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and – for the tenth-consecutive year – as the top ranked company in the 2020 GlobeScan/SustainAbility Sustainability Leaders survey.
For more information on Unilever U.S. and its brands visit: www.unileverusa.com
With 11 nods, the ABC comedy series “Black-ish” has the most 2021 NAACP Image Awards nominations. Following closely behind with 10 nominations is the Netflix musical movie “Jingle Jangle: Christmas Journey.” The Netflix dramatic film “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and the Pixar Animation Studios film “Soul” received nine nominations each. Also getting several nominations are Beyoncé (eight nominations) and the HBO comedy series “Insecure” (seven nominations). Beyoncé’s nominations total includes her nods for her Disney+ “Black Is King” music film (which she starred in and co-directed) and for being a featured performer on Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage (Remix).”
The following is a press release from the NAACP and BET:
Today, the full-list of nominees for the 52nd NAACP Image Awards were announced today in a special virtual event on NAACP Image Awards’ Instagram channel hosted by Tony-award winning actress and singer Anika Noni-Rose, actress and singer Chloe Bailey, actress Erika Alexander, actor, dancer, and choreographer Nicco Annan, and actor and singer TC Carson. NAACP Image award-winning and Emmy-nominated talk show “The Real”, kicked-off the announcement revealing nominees in 15 categories ahead of the virtual event. The winners will be revealed during the two-hour LIVE TV special airing on BET and will be simulcast across ViacomCBS Networks including CBS, BET Her, VH1, MTV, MTV2, and LOGO on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at 8/7c.
With the rise in usage of streaming services this year, Netflix leads the nominations across the motion picture and television categories with 48 total nominations followed by HBO who received a total of 25 nominations. Beyoncé received the most nominations of any artist in the music recording categories with six, and RCA Records leads with the most nominations across record labels with 12 nominations. For the literary categories HarperCollins Publishers lead with nine nominations.
NAACP additionally announced the nominees for the Special Awards categories which include Entertainer of the Year and Social Justice Impact. Nominees for the Entertainer of the Year award include D-Nice, Regina King, Trevor Noah, Tyler Perry and Viola Davis. Nominees for the Social Justice Impact award include April Ryan, Debbie Allen, LeBron James, Stacey Abrams and Tamika Mallory.
“We are excited to recognize and celebrate this year’s nominees, who at times throughout this unprecedented year have provided moments of levity, brought our communities together, and lifted our spirits through culture when we needed it the most,” said NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson.
“BET shares the NAACP’s commitment to engage and empower our community, and we are proud to serve as partners on the 52nd Annual Image Awards,” said BET President Scott Mills. “The NAACP Image Awards uniquely honors our culture and community, recognizing those who help tell our stories through music, TV, movies, and literature. It is a distinct privilege for us to amplify the incredible work of the NAACP—and the best and brightest creative minds in the entertainment industry—across our ViacomCBS properties.
The NAACP Image Awards honors the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature, and film and also recognizes individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors.
One of the most iconic annual celebrations of Black excellence, the NAACP Image Awards draws a crowd of the biggest and brightest stars in Hollywood. Previous years’ attendees include Rihanna, Lizzo, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Michael B. Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, Jamie Foxx, Will Smith, Taraji P. Henson, Marsai Martin, Viola Davis, Gabrielle Union, Kerry Washington, Anthony Anderson, Sterling K. Brown, Loni Love, Sheryl Underwood, Mandy Moore, Halle Berry, Common, Dwayne Johnson, Audra Day, John Legend, Lena Waithe, Tracee Ellis Ross, David Oyelowo, Laverne Cox, Octavia Spencer, Issa Rae, Trevor Noah, Yara Shahidi, Danai Gurira, Jacob Latimore, Jill Scott, H.E.R., Jay Pharoah, Jemele Hill, Josh Gad, Loretta Devine, Sylvester Stallone, Meta Golding, Michael Smith, Tyler James Williams, Ava DuVernay, Chadwick Boseman, and many more.
Voting is now open to the public to determine the winners of the 52nd NAACP Image Awards by visiting www.naacpimageawards.net – Voting close on Friday, March 5, 2021. Winners will be revealed during the 52nd NAACP Image Awards telecast. Non-televised award categories will be announced virtually March 22-26, 2021. For all information and the latest news, please follow NAACP Image Awards on Instagram @NAACPImageAwards
Following is the complete list of categories and nominees for the 52nd NAACP Image Awards:
SPECIAL AWARD CATEGORIES
Entertainer of the Year
D-Nice
Regina King
Trevor Noah
Tyler Perry
Viola Davis
Social Justice Impact
April Ryan
Debbie Allen
LeBron James
Stacey Abrams
Tamika Mallory
TELEVISION + STREAMING CATEGORIES
Outstanding Comedy Series
#blackAF (Netflix)
Black-ish (ABC)
grown-ish (Freeform)
Insecure (HBO)
The Last O.G. (TBS)
Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson – Black-ish (ABC)
Cedric The Entertainer – The Neighborhood (CBS)
Don Cheadle – Black Monday (Showtime)
Idris Elba – In the Long Run (Starz)
Tracy Morgan – The Last O.G. (TBS)
Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series
Issa Rae – Insecure (HBO)
Folake Olowofoyeku – Bob Hearts Abishola (CBS)
Regina Hall – Black Monday (Showtime)
Tracee Ellis Ross – Black-ish (ABC)
Yara Shahidi – Grown-ish (Freeform)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Andre Braugher – Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC)
Deon Cole – Black-ish (ABC)
Jay Ellis – Insecure (HBO)
Kenan Thompson – Saturday Night Live (NBC)
Laurence Fishburne – Black-ish (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Jenifer Lewis – Black-ish (ABC)
Marsai Martin – Black-ish (ABC)
Natasha Rothwell – Insecure (HBO)
Tichina Arnold – The Neighborhood (CBS)
Yvonne Orji – Insecure (HBO)
Outstanding Drama Series
All Rise (CBS)
Bridgerton (Netflix)
Lovecraft Country (HBO)
Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)
This Is Us (NBC)
Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series
Jonathan Majors – Lovecraft Country (HBO)
Keith David – Greenleaf (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)
Nicco Annan – P-Valley (Starz)
Regé-Jean Page – Bridgerton (Netflix)
Sterling K. Brown – This Is Us (NBC)
Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series
Angela Bassett – 9-1-1 (FOX)
Brandee Evans – P-Valley (Starz)
Jurnee Smollett – Lovecraft Country (HBO)
Simone Missick – All Rise (CBS)
Viola Davis – How To Get Away With Murder (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Clifford “Method Man” Smith – Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)
Delroy Lindo – The Good Fight (CBS All Access)
J. Alphonse Nicholson – P-Valley (Starz)
Jeffrey Wright – Westworld (HBO)
Michael Kenneth Williams – Lovecraft Country (HBO)
Loira Limbal – Through the Night (Third Shift Media, Inc.)
Melissa Haizlip – Mr. Soul! (Shoes In The Bed Productions)
Nadia Hallgren – Becoming (A Higher Ground Productions and Big Mouth Productions Film for Netflix)
Radha Blank – The Forty-Year-Old Version (Netflix)
Remi Weekes – His House (Netflix)
DOCUMENTARY CATEGORIES
Outstanding Documentary (Film)
All In: The Fight For Democracy (Amazon Studios)
Coded Bias (7th Empire Media)
John Lewis: Good Trouble (Magnolia Pictures/Participant)
Mr. Soul! (Shoes in the Bed Productions)
On the Record (HBO Max)
Outstanding Documentary (Television)
And She Could Be Next (PBS)
Black Love (OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network)
Enslaved: The Lost History of the Transatlantic Slave Trade (EPIX)
The Last Dance (ESPN / Netflix)
Unsung (TV One)
WRITING CATEGORIES
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series
Issa Rae – Insecure – “Lowkey Feelin’ Myself” (HBO)
Lee Eisenberg, Kumail Nanjiani, Emily V. Gordon – Little America – “The Rock” (Apple TV+)
Michaela Coel – I May Destroy You – “Ego Death” (HBO)
Mindy Kaling, Lang Fisher – Never Have I Ever “Pilot” (Netflix)
Rajiv Joseph – Little America – “The Manager” (Apple TV+)
Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series
Attica Locke – Little Fires Everywhere – “The Spider Web” (Hulu)
Erika L. Johnson, Mark Richard – The Good Lord Bird – “A Wicked Plot” (Showtime)
Jessica Lamour – Little Voice – “Love Hurts” (Apple TV+)
Katori Hall – P-Valley – “Perpetratin'” (Starz)
Tanya Barfield – Mrs. America – “Shirley” (FX)
Outstanding Writing in a Television Movie or Special
Diallo Riddle, Bashir Salahuddin, D. Rodney Carter, Emily Goldwyn, Rob Haze, Zuri Salahuddin, Bennett Webber, Evan Williams, Will Miles – Sherman’s Showcase Black History Month Spectacular (IFC)
Eugene Ashe – Sylvie’s Love (Amazon Studios)
Geri Cole – The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special (HBO Max)
Lin-Manuel Miranda – Hamilton (Disney+)
Sylvia L. Jones, Camille Tucker – The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel (Lifetime)
Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture
David E. Talbert – Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)
Kemp Powers – One Night in Miami… (Amazon Studios)
Lee Isaac Chung – Minari (A24)
Pete Docter, Kemp Powers, Mike Jones – Soul (Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures)
Radha Blank – The Forty-Year-Old Version (Netflix)
Outstanding Writing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture)
Mary Mazzio – A Most Beautiful Thing (Peacock)
Melissa Haizlip – Mr. Soul! (Maysles Documentary Center)
Nile Cone – The Beat Don’t Stop (TV One)
Royal Kennedy Rodgers – Hollywood’s Architect: The Paul R. Williams Story (PBS)
Yoruba Richen, Elia Gasull Balada, Valerie Thomas – The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show (Peacock)
DIRECTING CATEGORIES
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series
Anya Adams – Black-ish – “Hair Day” (ABC)
Aurora Guerrero – Little America – “The Jaguar” (Apple TV+)
Eric Dean Seaton – Black-ish – “Our Wedding Dre” (ABC)
Kabir Akhtar – Never Have I Ever – “… started a nuclear war” (Netflix)
Sam Miller, Michaela Coel – I May Destroy You – “Ego Death” (HBO)
Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series
Cheryl Dunye – Lovecraft Country – “Strange Case” (HBO)
Hanelle Culpepper – Star Trek: Picard – “Remembrance” (CBS All Access)
Misha Green – Lovecraft Country – “Jig-a-Bobo” (HBO)
Nzingha Stewart – Little Fires Everywhere – “The Uncanny” (Hulu)
Steve McQueen – Small Axe – “Mangrove” (Amazon Studios)
Outstanding Directing in a Television Movie or Special
Beyoncé Knowles Carter, Emmanuel Adeji, Blitz Bazawule, Kwasi Fordjour – Black Is King (Disney+)
Christine Swanson – The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel (Lifetime)
Chuck Vinson, Alan Muraoka – The Power of We: A Sesame Street Special (HBO Max)
Eugene Ashe – Sylvie’s Love (Amazon Studios)
Kamilah Forbes – Between The World And Me (HBO)
Outstanding Directing in a Motion Picture
David E. Talbert – Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)
George C. Wolfe – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)
Gina Prince-Bythewood – The Old Guard (Netflix)
Radha Blank – The Forty-Year-Old Version (Netflix)
Regina King – One Night in Miami… (Amazon Studios)
Outstanding Directing in a Documentary (Television or Motion Picture)
Keith McQuirter – By Whatever Means Necessary: The Times of Godfather of Harlem (EPIX)
Muta’Ali – Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn (HBO)
Sam Pollard, Maro Chermayeff – Atlanta’s Missing and Murdered: The Lost Children (Ep. 1 & 2) (HBO)
Simcha Jacobovici – Enslaved: The Lost History of the Transatlantic Slave Trade (EPIX)
Yoruba Richen – The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show (Peacock)
LITERARY CATEGORIES
Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction
Black Bottom Saints – Alice Randall (HarperCollins Publishers)
The Compton Cowboys – Walter Thompson-Hernandez (HarperCollins Publishers)
We’re Better Than This – Elijah Cummings (HarperCollins Publishers)
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography
A Most Beautiful Thing: The True Story of America’s First All-Black High School Rowing Team – Arshay Cooper (Macmillan)
A Promised Land – Barack Obama (Crown)
Olympic Pride, American Prejudice – Deborah Draper (Simon & Schuster)
The Dead Are Arising – Les Payne, Tamara Payne (W. W. Norton & Company)
Willie: The Game-Changing Story of the NHL’s First Black Player – Willie O’Ree (Penguin Canada)
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
Do Right by Me: Learning to Raise Black Children in White Space – Valerie Harrison (Temple University Press)
Living Lively – Haile Thomas (HarperCollins Publishers)
The Black Foster Youth Handbook – Ángela Quijada-Banks (Soulful Liberation)
The Woman God Created You to Be: Finding Success Through Faith–Spiritually, Personally, and Professionally – Kimberla Lawson Roby (Lenox Press)
Vegetable Kingdom – Bryant Terry (Penguin Random House)
Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
Homie – Danez Smith (Graywolf Press)
Kontemporary Amerikan Poetry – John Murillo (Four Way Books)
Seeing the Body – Rachel Eliza Griffiths (W. W. Norton & Company)
The Age of Phillis – Honorée Jeffers (Wesleyan University Press)
Un-American – Hafizah Geter (Wesleyan University Press)
Outstanding Literary Work – Children
I Promise – LeBron James, Nina Mata (HarperCollins)
Just Like a Mama – Alice Faye Duncan, Charnelle Pinkney Barlow (Simon & Schuster)
Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice – Nikki Grimes, Laura Freeman (Simon & Schuster)
She Was the First!: The Trailblazing Life of Shirley Chisholm – Katheryn Russell-Brown, Eric Velasquez (Lee & Low Books)
The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver – Gene Barretta, Frank Morrison (HarperCollins)
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens
Before the Ever After – Jacqueline Woodson (Penguin Random House)
Black Brother, Black Brother – Jewell Parker Rhodes (Hachette Book Group)
Dear Justyce – Nic Stone (Crown Books for Young Readers)
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning – Jason Reynolds (Hachette Book Group)
This is Your Time – Ruby Bridges (Delacorte Books for Young Readers)
NAACP
Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2 million activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons. In media attributions, please refer to us as the NAACP. NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP but separated in 1957 to become a completely separate entity. It is recognized as the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization, and shares our commitment to equal rights.
About BET
BET, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS Inc. (NASDAQ: VIACA, VIAC), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel is in 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, sub-Saharan Africa and France. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions including BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American Woman; BET Music Networks – BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET’s growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe.
2020 Soul Train Music Awards hosts Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
The following is a press release from BET:
The2020 Soul Train Music Awardscelebrated the best in soul, R&B and hip hop by highlighting both living legends and breakout stars with unrivaled musical moments and show-stopping performances. The awards show, which aired this evening, November 29, 2020 at 8 PM EST on BET, BET Her, VH1 and MTV2 was hosted by the iconic best friend duo Tisha Campbell andTichina Arnold, who also brought their chemistry to the stage as the show’s opening musical acts.
Chris Brownled the pack as the evening’s most awarded artist, dominating in four categories including Best R&B/Soul Male Artist and the shared honors of Song of the Year, Best Dance Performance and Best Collaboration with Young Thug for their hit “Go Crazy.” H.E.R. followed closely with two awards: Best R&B/Soul Female Artist and The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter’s Award for “I Can’t Breathe. [Editor’s note: Brown did not attend the ceremony.]
Honoring artists across 12 categories, the 2020 Soul Train Music Awards also recognized Summer Walker (Album of the Year), Megan thee Stallion (Rhythm & Beats Award), Brandy (Soul Train Certified), Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, Saint Jhn & Wizkid (Video of the Year), Snoh Aalegra (Best New Artist) and Kirk Franklin(Best Gospel/Inspirational Award) for their special contributions to the genre.
The hosts kicked things off with an electrifying song and dance tribute to the power of Black women. Brandy performed a medley of her recent hits “Say Something” and “Boderline.” Ella Mai sang her latest single “Not Another Love Song.” Lucky Daye shut the stage down with Babyface for a performance of their new collaboration “Shoulda.” Charlie Wilson performed a duet with Smokey Robinson before honoring the memory of gospel legend Rance Allen with a rousing tribute. Additional performers included Jazmine Sullivan, Snoh Aalegra and CeeLo Green. After accepting the Lady of Soul Award, Monica brought down the house with a jam-packed performance of her chart-topping hits.
In addition to electrifying performances, this year’s highly anticipated Soul Cypher featured R&B stars PJ Morton, Chanté Moore, Shanice and Stokely. Ella Nicole and Moses Sumney took the BET Amplified Music Stage, a platform for emerging artists. Presenters included Andra Day, Tessa Thompson, Nnamdi Asomugha, Deon Cole, Nicco Annan, Dallas Austin, Jermaine Dupri and Brandee Evans.
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
Andra Day at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
Babyface at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
Smokey Robinson at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
Charlie Wilson at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
Chanté Moore at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
Cee Lo Green at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
Ella Nicole at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
Brandy at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
Tisha Campbell and Tichina Arnold at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
Snoh Aalegra at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by 2020 Soul Train Awards/via Getty Images)
Tisah Campbell and Tichina Arnold at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
Cee Lo Green at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
Smokey Robinson and Charlie Wilson at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
Moses Sumney at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
Stokley Williams at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
Chanté Moore at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
Lucky Daye and Babyface at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
Deon Cole at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
Tichina Arnold and Tisha Campbell at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
Brandee Evans and Nicco Annan at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
Ella Mai at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by 2020 Soul Train Awards/via Getty Images)
Brandy at the 2020 Soul Train Awards in Los Angeles on November 20, 2020. (Photo by Leon Bennett/STA 2020/Getty Images for BET)
The following is the complete list of winners and nominees for the 2020 Soul Train Music Awards:
*=winner
Song of the Year Beyoncé – “Black Parade” Chloe X Halle – “Do It” Chris Brown & Young Thug – “Go Crazy”* H.E.R. featuring YG – “Slide” Summer Walker & Usher – “Come Thru” Usher featuring Ella Mai – “Don’t Waste My Time”
Album of the Year Brandy – B7 Chloe X Halle – Ungodly Hour Chris Brown & Young Thug – Slime & B Jhené Aiko – Chilombo Summer Walker – Over It* The Weeknd – After Hours
Video of the Year Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, Saint JHN & Wizkid – “Brown Skin Girl”* Chloe X Halle – “Do It” Chris Brown – “Go Crazy” Feat. Young Thug H.E.R. featuring YG – “Slide” Lizzo – “Good As Hell” Skip Marley & H.E.R. – “Slow Down”
Best R&B/Soul Female Artist Alicia Keys Beyoncé Brandy H.E.R.* Jhené Aiko Summer Walker
Best R&B/Soul Male Artist Anderson .Paak Charlie Wilson Chris Brown* PJ Morton The Weeknd Usher
Best Collaboration Chris Brown featuring Young Thug – “Go Crazy”* H.E.R. featuring YG – “Slide” Ne-Yo featuring Jeremih – “U 2 Luv” Skip Marley & H.E.R. – “Slow Down” Summer Walker & Usher – “Come Thru” Usher featuring Ella Mai – “Don’t Waste My Time”
Best New Artist Giveon Layton Greene Lonr. Saint JHN Snoh Aalegra* Victoria Monét
Rhythm & Bars Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP” Dababy featuring Roddy Ricch – “Rockstar” DJ Khaled featuring Drake – “Popstar” Drake featuring Lil Durk – “Laugh Now Cry Later” Megan Thee Stallion – “Savage”* Roddy Ricch – “The Box”
Best Dance Performance Beyoncé, Shatta Wale & Major Lazer – “Already” Chloe X Halle – “Do It” Chris Brown & Young Thug – “Go Crazy”* Danileigh featuring Dababy – “Levi High” Missy Elliott – “Why I Still Love You” Teyana Taylor – “Bare Wit Me”
Best Gospel/Inspirational Award Bebe Winans Kirk Franklin* Koryn Hawthorne Marvin Sapp PJ Morton The Clark Sisters
Soul Train Certified Award Brandy* Fantasia Kelly Rowland Ledisi Monica PJ Morton
The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award “Black Parade” – Written By: Akil King, Beyonce Knowles Carter, Brittany Coney, Denisia Andrews, Derek James Dixie, Kim “Kaydence” Krysiuk, Rickie Caso Tice, Shawn Carter, Stephen Bray (Beyoncé)
“Do It” – Written By: Chloe Bailey, Halle Bailey, Scott Storch, Victoria Monet, Vincent Van Den Ende, Anton Kuhl (Chloe X Halle)
“Go Crazy” – Written By: Cameron Devaun Murphy, Christopher Brown, Dounia Aznou, Jeffrey Lamar Williams, Johnny Kelvin, Kaniel Castaneda, Omari Akinlolu, Orville Hall, Patrizio Pigliapoco, Phillip Price, Said Aznou, Soraya Benjelloun, Tre Samuels, Turrell Sims, Wayne Samuels, Zakaria Kharbouch (Chris Brown & Young Thug)
“I Can’t Breathe” – Written By: H.E.R. (H.E.R.)*
“Playing Games” – Written By: Summer Walker, Bryson Tiller, London Holmes, Kendall Roark Bailey, Cameron Griffin, Aubrey Robinson, Beyoncé Knowles, Kelendria Rowland, Letoya Luckett, Latavia Roberson, Lashawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney Jerkins (Summer Walker featuring Bryson Tiller)
“Slide” – Written By: Charles Carter, Elijah Dias, H.E.R., Jermaine Dupri, Keenon Daequan Ray Jackson, Roger Parker, Ron Latour, Shawn Carter, Steven Arrington, Tiara Thomas, Waung Hankerson (H.E.R. featuring YG)
H.E.R. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)
The following is a press release from BET:
Today BET announces the hosts and nominees for the “2020 Soul Train Music Awards”across 12 different categories. The annual celebration recognizes the best in Soul, R&B and Hip Hop from both established industry legends and the next generation of promising artists. Taking place on Sunday, November 29, the “2020 Soul Train Music Awards” presented by BET will simulcast on BET, BET Her, VH1 and MTV2 at 8 PM EST with a one-hour pre-show beginning at 7 PM EST, followed by the broadcast television debut of DJ Cassidy’s groundbreaking virtual series “Pass the Mic.”
Actor, singer and writer Tisha Campbell (“Martin,” “My Wife & Kids,” “Last Man Standing,” “Outmatched”) will once again join actor, singer, and writer Tichina Arnold (“Martin,” “Everybody Hates Chris,” “The Neighborhood,” “The Last Black Man in San Francisco”) as host and co-producers of this year’s awards. The iconic best friend duo, both on the 90’s hit show “Martin” and in real-life, will return to the “Soul Train Music Awards” stage for the third time, bringing their dynamic comedy and infectious personalities to this year’s ceremony.
H.E.R. leads the nominees for this year’s awards, receiving eight nominations including Best R&B/Soul Female Artist and double nods in each of the Ashford and Simpson Songwriters Award, Best Collaboration and Video of the Year categories. She is followed by Chris Brown, who received seven nominations including Album/Mixtape of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Dance Performance, Best Collaboration and Video of the Year for the hit single “Go Crazy” with Young Thug.
Beyoncé and Young Thug received six nominations, including Song of the Year and Video of the Year. Other top nominees include Chloe x Halle, Summer Walker and Usher with five nods each, followed by YG with four nominations. Brandy and PJ Morton round out the group with three nods apiece.
The “2020 Soul Train Music Awards” presented by BETwill feature an exciting lineup of unforgettable performances including special moments and appearances by some of the brightest stars in Black culture and entertainment. The annual event is committed to showcasing Soul Train’s impact on arts of music and dance from the 70’s to today.
Directly following the “2020 Soul Train Music Awards,” DJ Cassidy will present the broadcast television premiere of his hit virtual series “Pass the Mic” on BET. The special will be a celebration of the most definitive, iconic and prolific R&B classics of the 1980’s. “DJ Cassidy’s Pass the Mic: BET Soul Train Edition” brings legendary, musical heroes to the comfort of audience’s living rooms around the world to dance hard, sing loud, and smile big.
Internationally, the”2020 Soul Train Music Awards” presented by BET will simulcast on BET Africa on November 29, 2020, at 3:00AM CAT; BET France on December 1, 2020 at 9:50PM CET; and BET UK and BET South Korea on December 2, 2020 at 9:00PM GMT and 9:00PM KST, respectively.
Connie Orlando, EVP Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET, along with Jesse Collins Entertainment (JCE) CEO Jesse Collins and JCE’s Jeannae Rouzan–Clay and Dionne Harmon will executive produce the “2020 Soul Train Music Awards.”
The following is the complete list of nominations for the 2020 Soul Train Music Awards:
Song of the Year Beyoncé – “Black Parade” Chloe X Halle – “Do It” Chris Brown & Young Thug – “Go Crazy” H.E.R. featuring YG – “Slide” Summer Walker & Usher – “Come Thru” Usher featuring Ella Mai – “Don’t Waste My Time”
Album of the Year Brandy – B7 Chloe X Halle – Ungodly Hour Chris Brown & Young Thug – Slime & B Jhené Aiko – Chilombo Summer Walker – Over It The Weeknd – After Hours
Video of the Year Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, Saint JHN & Wizkid – “Brown Skin Girl” Chloe X Halle – “Do It” Chris Brown – “Go Crazy” Feat. Young Thug H.E.R. featuring YG – “Slide” Lizzo – “Good As Hell” Skip Marley & H.E.R. – “Slow Down”
Best R&B/Soul Female Artist Alicia Keys Beyoncé Brandy H.E.R. Jhené Aiko Summer Walker
Best R&B/Soul Male Artist Anderson .Paak Charlie Wilson Chris Brown PJ Morton The Weeknd Usher
Best Collaboration Chris Brown featuring Young Thug – “Go Crazy” H.E.R. featuring YG – “Slide” Ne-Yo featuring Jeremih – “U 2 Luv” Skip Marley & H.E.R. – “Slow Down” Summer Walker & Usher – “Come Thru” Usher featuring Ella Mai – “Don’t Waste My Time”
Best New Artist Giveon Layton Greene Lonr. Saint JHN Snoh Aalegra Victoria Monét
Rhythm & Bars Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion – “WAP” Dababy featuring Roddy Ricch – “Rockstar” DJ Khaled featuring Drake – “Popstar” Drake featuring Lil Durk – “Laugh Now Cry Later” Megan Thee Stallion – “Savage” Roddy Ricch – “The Box”
Best Dance Performance Beyoncé, Shatta Wale & Major Lazer – “Already” Chloe X Halle – “Do It” Chris Brown & Young Thug – “Go Crazy” Danileigh featuring Dababy – “Levi High” Missy Elliott – “Why I Still Love You” Teyana Taylor – “Bare Wit Me”
Best Gospel/Inspirational Award Bebe Winans Kirk Franklin Koryn Hawthorne Marvin Sapp PJ Morton The Clark Sisters
Soul Train Certified Award Brandy Fantasia Kelly Rowland Ledisi Monica PJ Morton
The Ashford and Simpson Songwriter’s Award “Black Parade” – Written By: Akil King, Beyonce Knowles Carter, Brittany Coney, Denisia Andrews, Derek James Dixie, Kim “Kaydence” Krysiuk, Rickie Caso Tice, Shawn Carter, Stephen Bray (Beyoncé)
“Do It” – Written By: Chloe Bailey, Halle Bailey, Scott Storch, Victoria Monet, Vincent Van Den Ende, Anton Kuhl (Chloe X Halle)
“Go Crazy” – Written By: Cameron Devaun Murphy, Christopher Brown, Dounia Aznou, Jeffrey Lamar Williams, Johnny Kelvin, Kaniel Castaneda, Omari Akinlolu, Orville Hall, Patrizio Pigliapoco, Phillip Price, Said Aznou, Soraya Benjelloun, Tre Samuels, Turrell Sims, Wayne Samuels, Zakaria Kharbouch (Chris Brown & Young Thug)
“I Can’t Breathe” – Written By: H.E.R. (H.E.R.)“Playing Games” – Written By: Summer Walker, Bryson Tiller, London Holmes, Kendall Roark Bailey, Cameron Griffin, Aubrey Robinson, Beyoncé Knowles, Kelendria Rowland, Letoya Luckett, Latavia Roberson, Lashawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney Jerkins (Summer Walker featuring Bryson Tiller)
“Slide” – Written By: Charles Carter, Elijah Dias, H.E.R., Jermaine Dupri, Keenon Daequan Ray Jackson, Roger Parker, Ron Latour, Shawn Carter, Steven Arrington, Tiara Thomas, Waung Hankerson (H.E.R. featuring YG)
