BET Awards

Migos taught Joe Budden a valuable interviewing lesson -- don't abruptly end it and walk off unless you feel like getting your ass kicked.

The bizarre scene went down Sunday as Budden, DJ Akademiks and Nadeska Alexis interviewed the rap trio on their "Everyday Struggle" show before the BET Awards.

Tensions flared when Akademiks brought up the fact Takeoff was left off the hit single "Bad and Boujee" ... prompting the rapper to fire back. After a brief exchange, Budden demands Akademiks wrap up the interview but Akademiks apparently was taking too much time for Budden's liking ... who drops the mic and walks off.

Check it out ... Migos wasn't having it and all hell nearly breaks loose.

We asked Lil Yachty for his take on the beef ... no surprise whose side he's on.

Migos and Chris Brown's tempers just got things jumping at the BET Awards after-party ... so much so, cops had to respond.

Sources at the party tell us Chris had just finished premiering his new music video with Future at the event ... near Microsoft Theater in downtown L.A. We're told the guys from Migos were walking in at the same time, and when they came face-to-face with Chris' crew things got tricky.

Witnesses tells us someone in Chris' group pushed Quavo, and then one of the Migos guys jumped in ... but then he got punched. We're told Chris kept walking while all of this was going on -- perhaps, wisely, realizing he don't need any heat from Johnny Law.

However, we're told Migos and some friends followed Chris to his car and surrounded him.

Ultimately, Chris was able to leave without anyone getting hurt ... but not before some very tense moments.

We're told cops showed up too, but everyone had split by then.

It was mostly love at the BET Awards Sunday night ... mostly.

Aside from a few fights, everyone got along swimmingly at the Microsoft Theater in L.A. Among those front and center ... French Montana, Diddy, Gucci Mane, Chance the Rapper, DJ Khaled and Migos.

The pics were snapped backstage during the big performances and awards ceremony.

Check out the duds and the bling ... and the hot chicks, of course.

Prodigy got the honoring he deserved at the BET Awards ... and it came courtesy of his partner in rhyme, Havoc, Lil Kim and a surprise mention from Kendrick Lamar.

We broke the story ... Havoc and Kim followed through on plans to give a special shout out to Mobb Deep's Prodigy Sunday while presenting the Best Male Hip Hop Artist Award to Kendrick.

Even Kung Fu Kenny -- in what appeared to be an impromptu nod -- paid his respects to the fallen rap legend ... saying he inspired his first mixtape at age 16.

As we reported ... Prodigy's cause of death has been delayed pending toxicology results. His camp suggested he died after a lifelong battle with sickle cell anemia, and our sources tell us he also choked on an egg in the hospital shortly before he died.

Chance the Rapper had everyone at the BET Awards on their feet and cheering after he gave one HELL of an acceptance speech demanding justice in the black community ... and Michelle Obama even gave him a shout out.

Chance took home the BET Humanitarian Award Sunday in L.A. for all his work helping out the Chicago public school system and its students -- with money, shows and engagement in his hometown.

During his acceptance speech, Chance made an impassioned plea to the federal government, juries and courts and a number of other institutions to deliver justice to black people ... those locked up for minor drug offenses; those killed by police; and schools getting screwed by higher-ups.

Like we said ... the crowd loved it. And if that wasn't enough ... Michelle had some kind words for Chance before he stole the show himself.

Safaree Samuels shoulda stood his ground against Meek Mill's good squad when they tried jumping him ... according to a fellow "Love & Hip Hop" costar.

We got Tammy Rivera -- Waka Flaka's lady from 'L&HH: Atlanta' -- as she was heading to the Microsoft Theater in L.A. for the BET Awards ... and she opened up about Safaree getting jumping this weekend.

She says the fight will probably work out in Safaree's favor -- as they say, there's no such thing as bad publicity.

3:40 PM PT -- Sources at 1 OAK tell TMZ that A$AP Rocky was not targeted in Sunday morning's scuffle ... he simply got sucked in as a result of proximity. We're told a fight erupted at a table near the main stage, and as A$AP was exiting ... the commotion spilled over into his area. We're also told no arrests were made, and no injuries were reported.

A$AP Rocky is the latest celeb to deal with a would-be assault that ended in chaos over BET Awards weekend.

Rocky was attacked early Sunday morning while doing a gig at 1 OAK in L.A., where Kendrick Lamar also headlined and got treated to a birthday shout out.

Eyewitnesses tell TMZ that A$AP was jumped on by one man after the birthday song, which resulted in a massive scuffle near the main stage ... one that A$AP himself got mixed up in with security trying to break things up.

Law enforcement sources tell us they responded to an incident at 1 OAK around 1:57 AM from a club-goer who said security had struck him. By the time cops showed, the guy was gone ... and security said it was only a verbal exchange.

As we reported ... this is the 2nd altercation this weekend. Safaree had the misfortune of being jumped, allegedly at the hands of Meek Mill's crew.

Lil Kim is in the crosshairs of the LAPD after her crew allegedly robbed a woman over a BET party house ... TMZ has learned.

Law enforcement sources tell us, Kim rented a house for a BET weekend party but apparently the crib was not to her liking. We're told Sunday at 2 AM Kim and her crew went to check out the house, didn't like it and demanded their money back from either the owner or property manager.

The money wasn't forthcoming, an argument erupted and cops were called. Police arrived and told them it was a civil matter and they could do nothing ... so they left.

We're told Kim and her crew also left, but at 4 AM, a group of people showed up at the house with ski masks and weapons and got what they were after ... Kim's deposit check and cash, totaling at least $20k.

Law enforcement sources say the robbers weren't done ... they also slashed all of the victim's tires and stole a hubcap.

The LAPD has launched a robbery investigation.

The BET Awards will pay tribute to Prodigy, but it won't be a major spectacle -- instead, his rap partner Havoc and Lil Kim will do the honors on their own.

Sources involved with the production tell us Kim and Havoc were late adds to the show as presenters. They will also share some personal words, paying respects to the Mobb Deep rapper.

We're told BET Awards execs scrambled to put together a tribute performance after Prodigy's death Tuesday, but it was too late. Artitsts had already signed contracts to perform at the awards, and BET didn't want to burn bridges by changing their sets, which have been planned for weeks.

Tank thinks Justin Timberlake has gotten a raw deal from people on Black Twitter, who skewered him for responding to some of the things Jesse Williams said at the BET Awards.

The R&B singer appeared on "TMZ Live" Wednesday, and said Justin had a right to say there should not be a wall between blacks and whites, especially when it comes to music. Jesse accused white people of stealing from the black culture, and Justin said we're all one ... and Black Twitter attacked.

Tank makes the case for Justin, although he doesn't think every white singer deserves a pass.

Let's give a hand for strippers raking in almost $100k during BET Awards weekend in L.A.

We broke the story, 2 elite strip clubs -- Ace of Diamonds and Crazy Girls -- flew in 50 of the nation's hottest strippers to meet demand from high rollers in town for the award show. Now, we've got the final tallies for the ladies, or as their customers might say ... the total damage.

Check out the gallery for the numbers and the booty.

Jesse Williams brought down the house at the BET Awards Sunday, with a powerful indictment of police brutality and racism in America.

Jamie Foxx dissolved in tears during Jesse Williams' BET acceptance speech, but later Sunday night he was out on the town, chillin at Chow.

BET did a lot of trash talking about Madonna's tribute to Prince ... and Jennifer Hudson had to back it up by performing that same song. No pressure.

You'll recall ... the BET Awards called out the Billboard Awards for its tribute to Prince -- featuring Madonna and Stevie Wonder singing "Purple Rain." As they put it on Twitter ... "Yeah, we saw that. Don't Worry. We got you."

Sunday night, J. Hud had to put up or shut up ... check out her performance.

Who sang it better?

Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar just destroyed the big opening at the BET Awards -- mixing fire and water in spectacular fashion.

Bey led the charge at the Microsoft Theater in downtown L.A., singing "Freedom," before bringing out Kendrick ... they danced and stomped on a submerged stage with crazy pyrotechnics.

The only person having a better night than Beyonce and Kendrick ... Sam Jackson who rightly admired Bey's backup dancers.

The LAPD officers just got schooled on sizzurp, aka lean ... but the department swears there's nothing racial about it.

Law enforcement sources tell us LAPD brass has held meetings with cops to go over the basics when it comes to codeine. We're told they've been briefed on how users mix the syrup, how it looks, smells and most importantly ... to be on the lookout for double cups.

The brass insisted it has nothing to do with this weekend's BET Awards show ... which will draw scores of rappers. They say cops will not specially hunt for double cups ... but officers will arrest anyone if they happen to notice during normal patrol.