BET Awards

The predominately female-led Usher tribute at the 2024 BET Awards didn't win over some fans, but Mario thinks the women nailed it -- although, there's one thing he might've changed.

TMZ Hip Hop caught up with Mario in Bev. Hills, and the R&B star didn't see what the big ol' fuss was about, which leads us to believe he was not on social media during the show. Fans who were, voiced plenty of displeasure!

Teyana Taylor, Victoria Monét, Keke Palmer, Tinashe, Marsha Ambrosius and more singing starlets were all selected to cover various Usher hits -- and Donald Glover, AKA Childish Gambino, opened the medley as the only male performer.

Sexyy Red losing out to Tyla at the 2024 BET Awards caused a big stir online with fans, but if ya let Druski and DJ Drama tell it -- there were no losers that night!!!

TMZ Hip Hop chopped it up with both star personalities at LAX, where they were kidding around about all sorts of topics the day after the award show let out.

They both attended the awards and agree with the convo online ... Sexyy was hands-down this year's Best New Artist!!!

Ray J really was going through it at the BET Awards, and now we have the video to back it up -- it's a full meltdown, with him threatening to make things "ghetto" after security allegedly denied him re-entry to the show.

The footage, obtained by TMZ, shows Ray pacing around Sunday night outside the award show at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles ... and he's getting more and more animated.

Ray appears to be arguing with some security guards and he's overheard complaining about not being let inside the show ... and things escalate to the point where he rips off his shirt and declares, "I didn't bring the ghetto to BET yet, but I'm about to!!!"

Angela Simmons is coming to terms with her fashion accessory for the BET Awards not being a great look ... as folks call her out for the gun-shaped purse.

She stepped out for the BET Awards Sunday solo dolo (she later met BF Yo Gotti inside), and wearing the hell out of a sparkling emerald green dress with shimmery high heels.

But, she completed her fit with a matching clutch bag resembling a handgun -- one that she even playfully aimed for some photos -- and more than a few fans were pissed!!!

Ray J says it's all becoming too much for him to take -- on the heels of nearly getting into a street brawl at a BET Awards afterparty, he says he's suicidal.

Ray poured out his emotions with an alarming social media post in which he references a dispute that went on backstage at Sunday night's BET Awards at the Peacock Theater in downtown L.A. -- he says, "The s**t that. Is Happening is mind blowing - it's making me suicidal and uncomfortable with the perception of reality!"

His Monday morning post came hours after he was involved in a standoff outside GloRilla's BET Awards afterparty. Ray and a Zeus Network exec were yelling about fighting each other, as bodyguards desperately tried to keep things peaceful. Ray did throw a punch but didn't hit anyone. At one point, Ray grabbed a backpack out of his vehicle and charged back into the crowd -- it's unclear what was in the bag, but his team was able to convince him to get back in the vehicle and they drove off without further incident.

Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman's families are slamming O.J. Simpson's "In Memoriam" tribute at the BET Awards ... calling it entirely inappropriate.

Fred Goldman, Ron's father, tells TMZ he can't wrap his head around the O.J. tribute ... saying there was absolutely no positive spin on his inclusion in the segment, which was introduced as honoring Black excellence lost in the last year.

Fred insists, even though they probably won't, BET should issue an apology ... telling us, "I think they shouldn't include anyone of that caliber -- a wife beater, murderer … can't imagine why they would include someone like that."

12:23 PM PT -- BET is blaming an "audio malfunction" for Usher's muted speech and ponied up an apology via The Hollywood Reporter.

Usher got deep reliving hardships of his life and career during the 2024 BET Awards -- but the TV audience missed much of his Lifetime Achievement speech, because he made the censors work overtime!!!

Fans posted their frustration on social media and it was clear why they were upset -- BET was forced to mute big chunks of his speech, due to Usher dropping some colorful language.

O.J. Simpson was included in the 2024 BET Awards' "In Memoriam" segment ...

Check out the clip from the ceremony -- the audience was enthusiastically applauding Sunday as photos of the departed flashed onscreen ... but when O.J.'s picture appeared, labeling him  "Former NFL Player," an awkward silence enveloped the room.

As the shock wore off, a few hesitant claps could be heard ... but the atmosphere remained uneasy.

Politics and rap music collided at the BET Awards 2024 ... when Vice President Kamala Harris slyly dropped a Kendrick Lamar reference to drive home her point about the upcoming elections.

In a pre-recorded clip airing during the ceremony Sunday, Harris took a call from host Taraji P. Henson ... who was worried about freedoms, women's rights, and the Supreme Court.

Kamala agreed there was a lot at stake, adding, "The majority of us believe in freedom and equality, but these extremists, as they say, "They not like us.'"

Behind this cheeky chick pic is a gal who first started hittin' the big screen circa late '90s but stepped into stardom alongside Terrence Howard. You better hustle and go with the flow in order to land on the scrambled star ...

In addition to her successful career in TV and film, she's notoriously on Three 6 Mafia's track "It's Hard Out Here For A Pimp."

With years of hard work, she's now runnin' her own empire in Hollywood, and this Queenie is set to take the stage and host the BET awards tonight!

Drake recently dubbed Atlanta "the most important city in rap" and the culture got the opportunity to prove him right last night during the taping of the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards.

The festivities made their way to the black-and-green carpet for the ultimate gathering of rap talent ... Boosie Badazz was especially turnt up before the show -- and during, when Fat Joe gave him a shout-out from the stage.

Joe hosted the awards and he greeted the press and media alongside his wife and daughter, Lorena and Azariah Cartagena.

Speaking of family, Da Brat flaunted her bounce-back game after giving birth to her first child a few months ago alongside her wife Jesseca "Judy" Harris-Dupart.

DC Young Fly linked up with Chingy while continuing to push forward in the wake of his partner Jacky Oh's death -- just like he told us he would and Cash Money Millionaires Juvenile and Mannie Fresh teased a new collab and Swizz Beatz was in the mix as well.

Drake recientemente ha apodado a Atlanta como "la ciudad más importante para el rap" y ayer por la noche fue la oportunidad de demostrar que tenía razón durante la grabación de los 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards.

Las festividades se dirigieron a la alfombra verde y negra para la reunión definitiva del talento del rap. Boosie Badazz estaba especialmente excitado antes del espectáculo y durante, cuando Fat Joe le dio un grito desde el escenario.

Joe fue el anfitrión de los premios y saludó a la prensa y a los medios junto a su mujer y su hija, Lorena y Azariah Cartagena.

Hablando de familia, Da Brat hizo alarde de su recuperación tras dar a luz a su primer hijo hace unos meses junto a su mujer Jesseca "Judy" Harris-Dupart.

DC Young Fly se unió a Chingy mientras sigue adelante tras la muerte de su compañera Jacky Oh!, tal y como nos dijo que haría. Cash Money Millionaires Juvenile y Mannie Fresh anunciaron una nueva colaboración y Swizz Beatz hizo lo suyo también.

Boosie Badazz was caught in 4K acting brand new at this year's BET Awards, and has zero shame in his game about it!!!

As we reported back in June, Boosie was released from jail on a $100k bond for illegal gun possession, just a day before the BET Awards -- an occasion he treated like Christmas, he tells DJ Vlad in their latest sit-down.

Boosie says his legal issues this summer left him drained and BET provided him with the perfect pick-me-up ... but they also tried to kill his vibe by not letting him bring a full bottle of Casamigos into the venue!!!

The Louisiana rapper says the bottle he was sneaking in was actually the 2nd one he consumed that day ... and a quick-thinking Boosie says he grabbed a towel from outside and used it to drape over his shoulder ... perfectly concealing the contraband!!! 😈

Once inside the awards, Boosie couldn't contain his excitement watching Latto perform "Put It On Da Floor Again" -- and did just that when he fell outta his chair!!!

Boosie says all the women in the venue looked good and he had the time of his life.

Rapper Trina is not pregnant, TMZ has learned ... despite some serious fan speculation after her recent performance at the BET Awards.

ICYMI, Trina took the stage over the weekend to honor 50 years of hip hop with Trick Daddy at the big award show ... however, her performance sent fans into a debate about whether or not she's in fact pregnant.

A rep for Trina tells TMZ ... "She is not pregnant despite fans' speculation following her performance at the BET Awards. Just like any other woman, her weight fluctuates. She is asking for fans to just move on from this."

Trina's debunked pregnancy rumors before, having to shoot down theories back in 2021 after the BET Hip Hop Awards -- and she's spoken out about her struggles with her weight in the past, but it looks like people are assuming yet again.

Lil Uzi Vert and his City Girls girlfriend JT got into a heated argument during the BET Awards ... with many fans believing Ice Spice is to blame for the fight.

Video circulated of JT from the show Sunday night whacking Uzi Vert with her phone multiple times, accusing him of being a "groupie."

Fans speculated she was pissed about Uzi's performance during the BET Awards where he shouted out Ice Spice, rapping, "I got a nice wife/Wig came off twice/She got a little afro, she looks like Ice Spice."

Sources inside JT's camp tell TMZ Hip Hop her blowup with Uzi had nothing to do with Ice  ... she had become frustrated when she lost her seat after the audience shuffled around. We're told JT loves Ice and there's not even a shred of beef between them whatsoever.

A fan recount of the altercation appears to confirm the musical chair's confusion. Ice can also be seen explaining her side of the situation.

Uzi and JT left the building together without another scene ... seemingly confirming they're good.