Kendrick Lamar Wins Big at BET Awards in Downtown LA

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Year of Kendrick Lamar continued at Monday evening's 2025 BET Awards, with the Compton rapper taking home four major awards, including Album of the Year, Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Video of the Year for the viral smash "Not Like Us" and Best Collaboration alongside SZA for their track "Luther."

Lamar also shared Video Director of the Year honors with longtime creative partner Dave Free.

Going into Monday's ceremony, Lamar led all nominees with 10 nods, while Doechii, Drake, Future and GloRilla all had six.

The awards honor individuals who contribute to Black culture as writers, musicians, filmmakers, philanthropists and more.

Lamar beat out his rival Drake and other nominees in the Album of the Year category for "GNX."

SZA was named Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, while Chris Brown was named Best Male R&B/Pop Artist.

Future and Metro Boomin won Best Group.

Doechii won Best Female Hip Hop Artist.

Hosted by Kevin Hart, the ceremony took place at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles amid ongoing violent protests against federal immigration enforcement that has brought much of the downtown area to a standstill, and those events did not go unnoticed on stage.

"As much as I'm honored by this award, I do want to address what's happening right now outside of the building," Doechii said while accepting her Best Female Hip Hop Artist trophy.

"There are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities ... Trump is using military forces to stop a protest, and I want y'all to consider what kind of government it appears to be, when every time we exercise our Democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us," she added.

Singer Mariah Carey, rapper/producer Snoop Dogg, Oscar and Grammy winner Jamie Foxx and gospel legend Kirk Franklin were presented with BET Ultimate Icon Awards. The award honors "decades of groundbreaking contributions to music, entertainment, advocacy, and community impact." Previous recipients of the BET Ultimate Icon Award include Janet Jackson, Deborah L. Lee and Tyler Perry.

The show also featured a 25th anniversary tribute to the music video countdown show "106 & Park," featuring a reunion of former hosts AJ Calloway, Free Marie Wright, Julissa Bermudez, Keshia Chanté, Rocsi Diaz and Terrence J. The tribute also featured performances from previous host Bow Wow, Amerie, B2K, Jim Jones, Mya and T.I.

Here is a complete list of nominations, with winners in parenthesis:

Album of the Year

Drake and PartyNextDoor, "$Some $Sexy $Songs 4 U"

Chris Brown, "11:11 Deluxe"

Doechii, "Alligator Bites Never Heal"

Beyoncé, "Cowboy Carter"

GloRilla, "Glorious"

Kendric Lamar, "GNX" (winner)

The Weeknd, "Hurry Up Tomorrow"

Future and Metro Boomin, "We Don't Trust You"

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist

Ari Lennox

Ayra Starr

Coco Jones

Kehlani

Muni Long

Summer Walker

SZA (winner)

Victoria Monét

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist

Bruno Mars

Chris Brown (winner)

Drake

Fridayy

Leon Thomas

Teddy Swims

The Weeknd

Usher

Best Group

41

Common and Pete Rock

Drake and PartyNextDoor,

FLO

Future and Metro Boomin (winner)

Jaquees and Dej Loaf

Larry June, 2 Chainz, The Alchemist

Maverick City Music

Best Collaboration

SZA Featuring Kendrick Lamar, "30 For 30"

Doechii Featuring JT, "Alter Ego"

Teddy swims Featuring Giveon, "Are You Even Real"

Dee Billz Featuring Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo, KJ Swervo, "Beckham"

Lil Wayne, Wheezy and Young Thug, "Bless"

Future, Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar, "Like That"

Kendrick Lamar and Sza, "Luther" (winner)

Tyler, The Creator Featuring Glorilla, Sexxy Red and Lil Wayne, "Sticky"

The Weeknd Featuring Playboi Carti, "Timeless"

Best Female Hip Hop Artist

Cardi B

Doechii (winner)

Doja Cat

GloRilla

Latto

Megan Thee Stallion

Nicki Minaj

Rapsody

Sexxy Red

Best Male Hip Hop Artist

BigXThaPlug

BossMan Dlow

Burna Boy

Drake

Future

Kendrick Lamar (winner)

Key Glock

Lil Wayne

Tyler, The Creator

Video of the Year

Key Glock, "3AM in ToKEYo"

Shaboozey, "A Bar Song (Tipsy)"

Kehlani, "After Hours"

Doechii, "Denial is a River"

Drake, "Family Matters"

Kendrick Lamar, "Not Like Us" (winner)

The Weeknd Featuring Playboi Carti, "Timeless"

Future, Metro Boomin Travis Scott and Playboi Carti, "Type Shit"

Video Director of the Year

Anderson .Paak

B Pace Productions and Jacquees

Benny Boom

Cactus Jack

Cole Bennett

Dave Free and Kendrick Lamar (winner)

Dave Meyers

Foggieraw

Tyler, The Creator

Best New Artist

41

Ayra Starr

BigXThaPlug

BossMan Dlow

Dee Billz

Leon Thomas (winner)

October London

Shaboozey

Teddy Swims

Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspiration Award

Common and Pete Rock Featuring Jennifer Hudson, "A God (There Is)"

Pastor Mike Jr., "Amen"

Fridayy, "Better Days"

Yolanda Adams Featuring Sir The Baptist and Donald Lawrence, "Church Doors (Terry Hunter Remix)"

Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore and Anthony Gargiula, "Constant"

Tamela Mann, "Deserve to Win"

Rapsody, "Faith"

GloRilla Featuring Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music, "Rain Down on Me" (winner)

Viewer's Choice Award

Chris Brown, "Residuals" (winner)

Doechii, "Denial is a River"

Drake, "Nokia"

Future and Metro Boomin Featuring Kendrick Lamar, "Like That"

GloRilla, "TGIF"

Kendrick Lamar, "Not Like Us"

Kendrick Lamar and SZA, "Luther"

Latto, "Brokey"

Best International Act

Any Gabrielly (Brazil) (winner)

Ayra Starr (Nigeria)

Bashy (United Kingdom)

Black Sherif (Ghana)

Ezra Collective (United Kingdom)

Joé Dwét Filé (France)

Mc Luanna (Brazil)

Rema (Nigeria)

SDM (France)

Tyla (South Africa)

Uncle Waffles (Swaziland)

Best New International Act

Abigail Chams (Tanzania)

Ajuliacosta (Brazil) (winner)

Amabbi (Brazil)

Dlala Thukzin (South Africa)

Dr Yaro (France)

KWN (United Kingdom)

Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa)

Merveille (France)

Odeal (United Kingdom)

Shallipopi (Nigeria)

TxC (South Africa)

BET Her

Mary J. Blige, "Beautiful People"

Beyoncé Featuring Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts, "Blackbird"

Doechii, "Bloom"

Tems, "Burning"

Cynthia Erivo Featuring Ariana Grande, "Defying Grafity"

Summer Walker, "Heart of a Woman" (winner)

Tems, "Hold on"

FLO and GloRilla, "In My Bag"

Best Movie

"Bad Boys: Ride or Die"

"Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F"

"Luther: Never Too Much" (winner)

"Mufasa: The Lion King"

"One of Them Days"

"Rebel Ridge"

"The Piano Lesson"

"The Six Triple Eight"

Best Actor

Aaron Pierre

Aldis Hodge

Anthony Mackie

Colman Domingo

Denzel Washington (winner)

Jamie Foxx

Joey Bada$$

Kevin Hart

Sterling K. Brown

Will Smith

Best Actress

Andra Day

Angela Bassett

Coco Jones

Cynthia Erivo (winner)

Keke Palmer

Kerry Washington

Quinta Brunson

Viola Davis

Zendaya

Youngstars Award

Akira Akbar

Blue Ivy Carter (winner)

Graceyn `Gracie' Hollingsworth

Heiress Harris

Melody Hurd

Thaddeus J. Mixson

Tyrik Johnson

VanVan

Sportswoman of the Year Award

A'ja Wilson

Angel Reese (winner)

Claressa Shields

Coco Gauff

Dawn Staley

Flau'Jae Johnson

Juju Watkins

Sha'carri Richardson

Simone Biles

Sportsman of the Year Award

Aaron Judge

Anthony Edwards

Deion Sanders

Jalen Hurts (winner)

Jayson Tatum

Lebron James

Saquon Barkley

Stephen Curry

City News Service