Nigerian Afrobeats artiste, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy, failed to win in any of his seven nominations at the 2023 BET Hip-Hop Awards.
The awards ceremony was held on October 3 at Atlanta’s Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center and was later broadcast on Tuesday, October 10.
Burna Boy was toppled by American rapper Kendrick Lamar in the categories of Hip Hop Artist of the Year, Lyricist of the Year, and Best Live Performer of the Year.
He also lost the Hustler of the Year award to 50 Cent and the Best Collaboration of the Year award for his track ‘Sittin’ On Top Of The World’ starring 21 Savage to Lil Durk and J. Cole’s ‘All My Life.’
Burna Boy’s hard luck continued in the categories of Best Hip Hop Video for ‘Sittin’ On Top Of The World,’ which he lost to Lil Uzi Vert’s ‘Just Wanna Rock,’ and Song of the Year, which he also lost to the same song.
Kendrick Lamar, on the other hand, was the night’s outstanding winner, taking home four trophies. He won every award he was nominated for, including Hip Hop Artist of the Year, Lyricist of the Year, Best Live Performer, and Video Director of the Year, which he shared with his colleague Dave Free.
In the Best International Flow category, Ghanaian music sensation Black Sherif triumphed over South Africa’s late AKA and K.O, France’s Gazo and Ninho, the UK’s J Hus, Central Cee, and others.
See full list below…
Album of the Year
Anyways, Life’s Great, GloRilla
Breezy, Chris Brown
God Did, DJ Khaled
Her Loss, Drake & 21 Savage
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, Kendrick Lamar
WINNER (TIE): Renaissance, Beyoncé
WINNER (TIE): SOS, SZA
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Ari Lennox
Beyoncé
Coco Jones
H.E.R.
Lizzo
WINNER: SZA
Tems
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
Blxst
Brent Faiyaz
Burna Boy
WINNER (TIE): Chris Brown
Drake
The Weeknd
WINNER (TIE): Usher
Till
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody
Best Actor
Amin Joseph
Brian Tyree Henry
WINNER: Damson Idris
Daniel Kaluuya
Demetrius ‘Lil Meech’ Flenory Jr.
Donald Glover
Michael B. Jordan
Best Actress
WINNER: Angela Bassett
Coco Jones
Janelle James
Janelle Monáe
Keke Palmer
Viola Davis
Zendaya
Youngstars Award
Akira Akbar
Alaya High
Demi Singleton
Genesis Denise
WINNER: Marsai Martin
Thaddeus J. Mixson
Young Dylan
Sportswoman of the Year Award
Alexis Morris
Allyson Felix
WINNER: Angel Reese
Candace Parker
Naomi Osaka
Serena Williams
Sha’carri Richardson
Sportsman of the Year Award
Aaron Judge
Bubba Wallace
Gervonta Davis
WINNER: Jalen Hurts
Lebron James
Patrick Mahomes
Stephen Curry