BET celebrated hip hop with a reintroduction of two specials Tuesday, Oct. 5: the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards and “Rap City ’21.” The longest-running rap show on BET, “Rap City,” returned for a one-hour special edition with legendary host Darian “Big Tigger” Morgan on BET and BET Her. Emanating from The Cobb Energy Centre in Atlanta, the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards co-hosted by actors, hosts of the “85 South Show” podcast, and stars of Wild N’ Out—comedy supergroup 85 South (Karlous Miller, DC Young Fly, and Chico Bean)—premiered immediately after on the same outlets with the addition of VH1.
Executive produced and hosted by Big Tigger, “Rap City ’21” featured exclusive interviews with the likes of Jermaine Dupri, Tobe Nwigwe, Fat Joe, Jeezy and DJ Drama. The special revealed never before seen booth appearances, “Rap City” memories. The highly anticipated return of the iconic music show will continue to pay homage to BET’s commitment to hip hop and celebrate the stars of the culture’s past, present and future. Making its debut in 1989, “Rap City” was the preeminent hip hop series dedicated to rap music videos, important cultural commentary, and interviews with the stars of the moment along with original freestyles from artists including Jay-Z, A Tribe Called Quest, LL Cool J, Kanye West, Eve, Ludacris, The Diplomats, Jadakiss, Trina, Common, Big Boi, Killer Mike, and many more!
This year’s BET Hip Hop Awards featured show stopping performances by Young Thug & Gunna, Baby Keem, Tobe Nwigwe featuring Fat & Nell, and Isaiah Rashad featuring Doechii & Kal. Powerful female representation came in the form of Trina, Remy Ma, and Rapsody who presented some of the night’s top honors as well as performances by Latto and Bia featuring Lil Jon.
Rapper, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and actor Nelly received the 2021 “I Am Hip Hop” Award from legendary producer Jermaine Dupri before taking the stage to perform a medley of his greatest hits. Global entertainment icon, 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, founder and CEO of Rock The Bells, LL Cool J presented the first-ever “Rock the Bells Cultural Influence Award” to Grammy-Award winning rapper, producer, entrepreneur and four-time BET Hip Hop Awards nominee Tyler, the Creator.
Tyler, also winner of the Hip Hop Album of the year, and Best Live Performer, will soon get to showcase why his plaudits are merited with a headline set at one of the premier festivals in the fall, the Day N Vegas Festival, which just announced the releasing of a limited amount of tickets on sale this Friday, Oct. 8. The event is set to take place Friday, Nov. 12 through Sunday, Nov. 14, 2021, at Las Vegas Festival Grounds in Las Vegas, featuring additional headline performances by Travis Scott and with his only performance of 2021, Kendrick Lamar. These culturally influential artists will come together for this three-day event alongside a roster featuring SZA, Doja Cat, Saweetie, Snoh Aalegra as well as up-and-comers and mainstays Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Baby, YG, Don Toliver, Baby Keem plus many more.
Excusing the digression, the complete listing of winners for the 2021 Hip Hop Awards are as follows:
HIP HOP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST” – TYLER, THE CREATOR
SONG OF THE YEAR
CARDI B FEAT. MEGAN THEE STALLION – “WAP”
HIP HOP ARTIST OF THE YEAR
LIL BABY
BEST HIP HOP VIDEO
CARDI B FEAT. MEGAN THEE STALLION – “WAP”
BEST NEW HIP HOP ARTIST
YUNG BLEU
BEST COLLABORATION
CARDI B FEAT. MEGAN THEE STALLION – “WAP”
BEST DUO OR GROUP
LIL BABY & LIL DURK
BEST LIVE PERFORMER
TYLER, THE CREATOR
LYRICIST OF THE YEAR
J. COLE
BEST INTERNATIONAL FLOW
LITTLE SIMZ (UK)
VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
MISSY ELLIOTT
DJ OF THE YEAR
DJ SCHEME
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
HIT-BOY
HUSTLER OF THE YEAR
SAWEETIE
BEST HIP HOP PLATFORM
GENIUS
SWEET 16: BEST FEATURED VERSE
JAY-Z – “WHAT IT FEELS LIKE” (NIPSEY HUSSLE FEAT. JAY-Z)
IMPACT TRACK
NIPSEY HUSSLE FEAT. JAY-Z – “WHAT IT FEELS LIKE”
Over and out. Holla next week. Til, then, enjoy the nightlife.