2012 BET Awards: Kanye West and Jay-Z Among Biggest Winners
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Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET(LOS ANGELES) — BET held its annual awards show on Sunday night, and while the censors worked up a sweat trying to mute out the cursing — to mixed results, as some aired anyway — the marathon show saw multiple nominees Kanye West and Jay-Z, as well as Chris Brown and Jay’s wife Beyonce, take home multiple awards. There was also a moving tribute to Whitney Houston from her former peers and her mother Cissy.
The show opened with West and his G.O.O.D. partners Big Sean, Pusha T, and 2 Chainz performing “Mercy,” which led to West performing “Way Too Cold,” featuring a rap tribute to current girlfriend Kim Kardashian, who like West was dressed all in white at the ceremony.
Some laughs included host Samuel L. Jackson and Spike Lee spoofing Jay-Z and West’s “N***as in Paris,” and Jay-Z interrupting West’s acceptance speech for video of the year, spoofing West’s drunken interruption of Taylor Swift’s 2009 MTV Video Music Awards speech.
Mariah Carey got emotional introducing a musical tribute to her friend Whitney Houston — a tribute that featured performers including Monica, Brandy, and Chaka Khan singing Houston’s hits. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Cissy Houston sang “Bridge over Troubled Waters” to honor her daughter.
Here is a list of the main winners:
Video Of The Year — “Otis” by Kanye West & Jay-Z
Best Group — The Throne (Kanye West & Jay-Z)
Best New Artist — Big Sean
Best Male R&B Artist — Chris Brown
Best Collaboration — Wale (featuring Miguel)
Best Gospel — Yolanda Adams
Best Female R&B Artist — Beyonce
Best Female Hip Hop Artist — Nicki Minaj
Lifetime Achievement Award — Maze (featuring Frankie Beverly)
BET Humanitarian Award — Rev. Al Sharpton
Viewers’ Choice Award — Mindless Behavior
Video Director Of The Year — Beyonce & Alan Ferguson
Fandemonium Award — Chris Brown
Best Actor — Kevin Hart
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