The most memorable moments in BET Hip Hop Awards history

Although some award shows are gearing toward a no-host route nowadays, BET knows a host helps keep viewers and attendees interested. Comedians are typically the best types of hosts due to their jokes and solid wit. Katt Williams took on the duty during the first and second years of the BET Hip Hop Awards. 

The I Am Hip Hop award is given to pioneers in hip hop as a lifetime achievement, and it's hard to discuss the greats without mentioning Snoop Dogg. In 2016, Kendrick Lamar presented Snoop with the award and praised him for paving the way for future MCs as he said, "No other rappers can simultaneously give you records like "Murder Was The Case," and at the same time, make every beautiful woman, drop it like it's hot. Snoop Dogg was the guy and he continues to be."

Singer, rapper, songwriter, producer — T-Pain is a man of many titles. In 2008, he decided to add another when BET booked him as the awards show host. In addition to bringing his animated personality and three-ring circus to the stage, he also performed alongside Ludacris.

MC Lyte has been in the rap game since the late '80s, and she's easily one of the first female hip-hop pioneers. In 2013, it was only right for BET to honor MC Lyte with the I Am Hip Hop Award, celebrating her career and how she's influenced future rappers. 

In 2018, the hip-hop world was shocked when Mac Miller tragically lost his life after a drug overdose. Nearly a month after his passing, his friend and collaborator Anderson .Paak used the award show to give a eulogy and speak on Mac's influence. "Legends never die.. and Mac Miller not was, but is a whole legend. He did more in 26 years than some of y'all could do in three lifetimes," he said. 

The BET series "Real Husbands of Hollywood" held the premise of a fake reality show as a parody to the popular "Real Housewives" franchises. In 2013, the show's castmates J.B. Smoove, Duane Martin, Boris Kodjoe, Nick Cannon, Nelly, and Kevin Hart, decided to showcase their rapping skills in their own cypher. 

Doug E. Fresh, aka the "Human Beat Box" of hip-hop, has been in the game for at least three decades. When he was presented with the I Am Hip Hop Award, he thanked people that helped him along the way such as Slick Rick and the Get Fresh Crew and showcased his love for the culture, "If it wasn't for hip-hop, I don't know where I'd be." He then followed his speech with a solid performance of his hit song "La Di Da Di" alongside Snoop Dogg. 

When R&B singer Brandy came on to the scene in 1994, her first hit song was "I Wanna Be Down." However, the song was kicked into high gear when a few hip-hop legends joined her on the remix. For the song's 20th anniversary, Brandy reunited with MC Lyte, Yo-Yo and Queen Latifah to perform the song at the BET Hip Hop Awards. 

Nearly 20 years after releasing his debut album, Lil Wayne was honored with the I Am Hip Hop award. Before receiving the trophy, a video montage played of artists such as Missy Elliott, DJ Khaled, Ciara, and Kendrick Lamar praising the rapper for his legacy. 

Common is known for bringing his conscious rap with a message. In 2014, he performed his song "Kingdom" alongside Vince Staples and Jay Electronica. However, the most memorable moment was when the three rappers led a moment of silence, as the parents of slain teen Michael Brown joined them on stage. 

Ice Cube first started as a member of N.W.A. and has since taken his career to new levels with ventures in acting, film production and sports. He was honored with the I Am Hip Hop Award in 2009 and felt he still has a long way ahead of him, ”When you get recognized by your peers for a life of work, you got to be humbled,” the rap veteran said. ”I’m honored by this. I have 20 more years of work left in me. I hope BET is ready to give out two of these awards.”

Top Dawg Entertainment's roster wanted to get people's attention, and it did just that with its cypher in 2013. Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Schoolboy Q, Isaiah Rashad and Ab-Soul showed off their MC skills to Mobb Deep's "Shook Ones" beat. 

For the first time in BET Hip Hop Awards history, the show decided to take the ceremony to South Beach. So there's no way BET couldn't have given a better honor than to recognize Miami legend Uncle Luke. Not only was he honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, but he also brought a Florida reunion performance to the stage as artists like DJ Khaled, Rick Ross, Trick Daddy and Trina joined him. 

From social media videos, to VH1's "Love and Hip Hop," to one of the hottest rappers in the game, no one else was more deserving of the Hustler of the Year Award than Cardi B. Although she only had a couple of singles out at the time, it was just the beginning for everyone's favorite Bronx girl. 

One of the great things about the cypher segments is seeing how rappers flow with each other. In 2010, the award show held a G.O.O.D. Music cypher featuring Kanye West, Common, Big Sean, Pusha T and CyHi the Prynce. 

In 2017, BET held an all-woman cypher featuring Rapsody, Leikeli47, Kash Doll and Tokyo Jetz. This cypher showcased up-and-coming female rappers but also made people question BET for not holding a cypher that featured both men and women together.

In 2016, Big K.R.I.T. took the stage to give a spoken performance and kept the audience hanging on his every word. K.R.I.T. was dressed in a cop uniform as he spoke on issues of police brutality and Black Lives Matter, interestingly from an officer's perspective. 

When people think of West Coast hip-hop, typically L.A. rappers come to mind. But real fans know about the legends in the Bay Area as well. In 2012, BET showcased a West Coast cypher that featured bars from Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, Kurupt, Kendrick Lamar and the Bay's own E-40. 

In 2011, LL Cool J was honored with the I Am Hip Hop Award. After he was presented with the trophy by Nelly, he used his acceptance speech to showcase his rhyme schemes. "My acceptance speech/ What I won’t do is try preach / I won’t assume that I am smarter than you and try to teach / What I will do is set an example for you and inspire you to reach for the stars that’s beyond Mars that space bars can’t delete."