“BET Hip Hop Awards” 2022 brought the hottest names in Hip Hop back to Atlanta, GA for the annual taping of the trailblazing award show. GRAMMY®-nominated recording artist, actor, entrepreneur, and media personality Fat Joe hosted this year’s awards from The Cobb Energy Centre which premiered on Tuesday, October 4 on BET, BET Her, MTV2, and VH1. Watch an encore airing of the award show on Wednesday, October 5 at Midnight ET/PT on BET.
Kendrick Lamar ruled the night with 6 wins, including ‘Artist of the Year,’ ‘Lyricist of the Year,’ ‘Best Live Performer, ‘ and ‘Album of the Year’ for Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. He shared two additional wins including ‘Best Hip Hop Video’ for “Family Ties” with Baby Keem and ‘Video Director of the Year’ with Dave Free. Drake took home three wins including ‘Best Collaboration for “Wait For U” with Future and Tems, then tying himself for the ‘Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse’ with contributions on “Wait For U” and Jack Harlow’s “Churchill Downs.”
EarthGang won for ‘Best Duo or Group,’ Latto scored ‘Song of the Year’ for “Big Energy” and Lizzo’s “About Damn Time” was crowned as the ‘Impact Track’. Hitmaka was named ‘Producer of the Year’ and DJ Dramasnagged ‘DJ of the Year.’ Newcomer Glo Rilla was crowned ‘Best Breakthrough Hip Hop Artist’ and Benjamin Epps (France) won ‘Best International Flow.’ “Caresha Please” and “Drink Champs” tied for the coveted ‘Best Hip Hop Platform’ award.
The HBCU stylings of the “New Atlanta vs. OG Atlanta” marching band opened the show with “BET Hip Hop Awards” 2022 host Fat Joe followed by Armani White with an electrifying rendition of “Billie Eilish” featuring rapper N.O.R.E. performing his classic single “Nothin’.” Platinum recording artist Bleu premiered “Life Worth Living” featuring French Montana while Glo Rilla made her national television debut performing smash singles “F.N.F (Let’s Go)” and “Tomorrow.” EST Gee performed “The Realest” with a surprise appearance from Jeezy, then Kodak Black hit the stage for a medley of “Too Many Years,” “Walk” and “Super Gremlin.” Pusha T performed “Diet Coke” and “Just So You Remember” before being joined by No Malice for a surprise Clipse reunion of their single“Grindin’.” Joey Bada$$ performed “Head High” in a special ‘In Memoriam’ tribute to the late rapper Young Dolph. After King Combs performed an energetic rendition of “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop,” emcee DNA won $25,000 in the “BET Hip Hop Awards” rap battle.
An all-star tribute to the iconic LOUD Records and its pioneering founder Steve Rifkind turned up the show with a legendary lineup of David Banner featuring Lil’ Flip, Dead Prez, Mobb Deep with Lil’ Kim, M.O.P., Remy Ma and Fat Joe, Three 6 Mafia and Wu-Tang Clan. “I Am Hip Hop” honoree Trina delivered a heartfelt speech that moved the crowd followed by Fivio Foreign closing out the show with Lil Tjay.
Baby Tate, Big Boss Vette, Deetranada, Guapdad 4000, Jayson Cash, Ray Vaughn, Reuben Vincent, Sa-Roc, Sauce Walka, and Topaz Jones blazed the stage in the highly anticipated cyphers followed by a digital-exclusive cypher featuring rising stars Armani Caesar, Kentheman, Nana, Navelle Hice, OT The Real, and Yung Pooda.
The Award show also featured special appearances by T.I. Trick Daddy, Tyrese, DJ EFN, DJ Cassidy, the cast of “Tyler Perry’s Zatima” (Devale Ellis and Crystal Renee Hayslett), Pretty Vee, and the cast of “IMPACT ATL” (Ari Fletcher, Tae, Dess Dior, Lakeyah and Jayda Cheaves).
The complete list of “BET Hip Hop Awards” 2022 winners are:
HIP HOP ALBUM OF THE YEAR
KENDRICK LAMAR – MR. MORALE & THE BIG STEPPERS
SONG OF THE YEAR
LATTO – BIG ENERGY
HIP HOP ARTIST OF THE YEAR
KENDRICK LAMAR
BEST HIP HOP VIDEO
KENDRICK LAMAR & BABY KEEM – FAMILY TIES
BEST BREAKTHROUGH HIP HOP ARTIST
GLO RILLA
BEST COLLABORATION
FUTURE FEAT. DRAKE & TEMS – WAIT FOR U
BEST DUO OR GROUP
EARTH GANG
BEST LIVE PERFORMER
KENDRICK LAMAR
LYRICIST OF THE YEAR
KENDRICK LAMAR
BEST INTERNATIONAL FLOW
BENJAMIN EPPS (FRANCE)
VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
KENDRICK LAMAR & DAVE FREE
DJ OF THE YEAR
DJ DRAMA
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
HITMAKA
HUSTLER OF THE YEAR
50 CENT
BEST HIP HOP PLATFORM
CARESHA PLEASE & DRINK CHAMPS (TIE)
SWEET 16: BEST FEATURED VERSE
DRAKE – WAIT FOR U (FUTURE FEAT. DRAKE & TEMS) & CHURCHILL DOWNS (JACK HARLOW FEAT. DRAKE) (TIE)
IMPACT TRACK
LIZZO – ABOUT DAMN TIME
