Remy Ma finds redemption, beats Minaj at BET Awards
Mars kicks o≠ show, then wins his first honor
los angeles» Remy Ma ended rival Nicki Minaj’s seven-year winning streak at the 2017 BET Awards, a show highlighted by ’90s R&B and groups popular in that decade.
Ma, who returned from jail in 2014, won best female hip hop artist Sunday, an award Minaj has won since 2010.
“I want to thank God first and foremost,” said Ma, who also won the honor in 2005. “You can make mistakes and come back.”
Bruno Mars also shined Sunday. He won best male R&B/pop artist and kicked off the show with a fun and funky performance of the song “Perm.”
“To the fans, you know I love you. My first BET Award,” he screamed.
Kendrick Lamar, who surprised the audience when he performed with Future, won best male hip hop artist. He gave a shout-out to fellow nominee Chance the Rapper, who earned the humanitarian award at the age of 24 and also won best new artist.
Beyoncé, who had her twins this month though she hasn’t commented on the topic, was the top nominee with seven. When it was announced that she won the viewer’s choice award, Chloe x Halle — the young duo signed to Beyoncé — recited a speech given to them from the pop star.
Solange, Beyoncé’s younger sister, won the Centric award.
“My arm pits are sweating so much right now,” said Solange, who also thanked BET for showing her “queens” like Aaliyah, Missy Elliott, Erykah Badu and others during her teenage years.
Solange held a moment of silence onstage later on, and the show also honored some of the minorities who died at the hands of police officers, including Trayvon Martin, Philando Castile, Eric Garner and others.
Other winners include Migos, who took home best group. The hip-hop trio also won over the audience with its performances of the hits “Bad and Boujee,” “T-Shirt” and “Congratulations,” with Post Malone. Chance the Rapper, and his mom, danced during the long set; as did Queen Latifah, Cardi B., “Stranger Things” actor Caleb McLaughlin and “blackish” actress Yara Shahidi, who won the YoungStars award.
Others shined onstage too with slower songs: Tamar Braxton and Maxwell gave vocally impressive performances, and Mary J. Blige sang songs from “Strength of a Woman,” her recent album that includes emotional tunes about her divorce.
“Mary J. got that breakup body. Whoa,” screamed Jamie Foxx, who presented an award after Blige’s performance.
Leslie Jones of “Saturday Night Live” hosted the four-hour show.