BET Awards 2025 Recap: Legacy, Lace Fronts & A Lil Bit of Leftovers

Poured my wine, got comfy on the couch, and tuned in Monday night like the auntie I am. The BET Awards came and went — and honestly? I’m still processing whether we were entertained or just emotionally babysat through legacy tributes and safe performances.

Kevin Hart did... okay. I personally am team Kevin is only funny in movies. Hosting-wise? Mid. Not awful, but not memorable either.

Now, Kendrick came in with 10 nominations and walked away with 5 — exactly half. And yes, he pulled up. Quiet, cool, and crowned. The man knows he’s him.

GloRilla showed out — and showed it — with the cheeks on full display and Keyshia Cole popping out during her set like it was 2005 again. Say what you want, but Glo gives performance. She didn’t just show up, she showed out.

But let’s talk about the legacy tributes... because whew. The show was heavy on looking back. And yes, I get the “give people their flowers while they’re still here” speech Kevin gave, but can we not let that overshadow the new wave of artists making noise right now? Like, where was the spotlight for the chart-climbers or genre-benders shaking up the industry in real time?

The real moment for me though? That 106 & Park tribute. Reminded me of when BET was actually the pulse of Black culture — video countdowns, real interviews, music premieres, and let’s not forget a weekly rerun of Baby Boy we didn’t ask for but somehow still watched. Throw in Comic View and Girlfriends, and you had the Black after-school program of the early 2000s.

BET is trying — you can tell they’re reaching for a balance between honoring the past and pushing forward. But if we’re gonna do tributes, let’s also not forget to celebrate the ones actively making new history right now.