- Lamar led the ceremony with a total of 10 nominations and delivered a poignant speech, expressing gratitude and acknowledging BET's role in uplifting Black voices in music.
- Other notable winners included SZA, who took home Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, Chris Brown, who won Best Male R&B/Pop Artist and the Viewer’s Choice Award, and Leon Thomas, crowned as Best New Artist.
Rapper Kendrick Lamar has emerged as the standout winner at the 2025 BET Awards, securing a quintet of major accolades, including Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, Album of the Year for GNX, Best Collaboration of the Year for Luther, and Video of the Year for his dynamic visual “Not Like Us.”
The 25th annual event, hosted at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on June 10, 2025, also saw Lamar and director Dave Free awarded Video Director of the Year, reinforcing Lamar’s artistic supremacy in both music and visual storytelling.
The awards ceremony, emceed by comedian Kevin Hart, celebrated 25 years of Black achievement in the entertainment industry.
Lamar led the ceremony with a total of 10 nominations and delivered a poignant speech, expressing gratitude and acknowledging BET's role in uplifting Black voices in music.
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Other notable winners included SZA, who took home Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, Chris Brown, who won Best Male R&B/Pop Artist and the Viewer’s Choice Award, and Leon Thomas, crowned as Best New Artist.
In the acting categories, Denzel Washington and Cynthia Erivo were honored as Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively.
The show featured vibrant performances from Lil Wayne, Teyana Taylor, Bow Wow, Amerie, and GloRilla.
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Playboi Carti also graced the event, performing Rather Lie and Like Weezy, rubberstamping his dominance as one of the best upcoming artists of this generation.
Ashanti and Mariah Carey made special appearances to perform in celebration of the anniversary.
The event also honored icons Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dogg, and Kirk Franklin with the BET Ultimate Icon Award.
Jamie Foxx, who has been recovering from a stroke in 2023, received a warm standing ovation after delivering an emotional acceptance speech introduced by Stevie Wonder.
Emerging artist Doechii, recognized as Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, utilized her platform to denounce military force used during recent protests in Los Angeles, urging onlookers to remain vigilant and demand accountability.
The evening highlighted a cultural shift, illustrating how artists like Lamar are leveraging music not only for entertainment but also for leadership and inspiration.
With victories at the BET Awards, Grammys, and a Super Bowl performance earlier this year, Lamar’s impact on hip-hop and beyond continues to be unparalleled.
As the event concluded, celebrating BET’s significant anniversary, the takeaway was clear: the culture is evolving, with Kendrick Lamar at the forefront of its progression.
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