Cardi B led the winners at the Bet Awards on Sunday night (June 23, 2019), taking home two gongs including the prestigious prize for Album of the Year.
The 26-year-old rapper collected the honor for her record Invasion of Privacy from Anderson .Paak, and couldn’t contain her excitement as she thanked the audience at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
“Thank you so much everybody,” the I Like It star said. “As a female artist I always feel like, damn, sometimes I feel like I’m doing too much, and sometimes I feel like I’m not doing too much. You know what I’m saying? It’s like you’re never motherf**king perfect to these people, but, the numbers don’t lie. Three times platinum and I want to thank everybody who participated on the album… I’m glad I made an album that your sister, your mother, your grandmother like it.”
Cardi, who went on to take home the Best Female Hip-Hop Artist prize, was also in charge of opening the awards, and pulled out all the stops with an energetic performance of her tracks Press and Clout.
Wearing a barely-there green outfit, the mother-of-one also delighted her husband, Migos star Offset, with a sexy lap dance on stage as she performed her latest single.
Despite winning two prizes at the awards, Cardi was actually nominated for seven, but lost out on categories such as Collaboration of the Year, which went to Travis Scott and Drake for Sicko Mode, and Video of the Year, which was won by Childish Gambino for This Is America.
The BET Awards also served as a fitting tribute to late rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was shot to death on March 31st. As well as being named Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Nipsey also won the Humanitarian Award, with his family – his mother, father, grandmother, children and fiancee, actress Lauren London – accepting the prize on his behalf.
“I just want to thank you guys for all the love and support, and the marathon continues again,” an emotional Lauren told the crowd.
John Legend, DJ Khaled, YG and Marsha Ambrosius also performed a touching medley as a tribute to the late rapper, with Khaled shouting at the end: “Long live Nipsey Hussle. The marathon continues.”
The full list of winners from the 2019 BET Awards is as follows:
Album of the Year – Cardi B, Invasion Of Privacy
Best Female R&B/Pop Artist – Beyonce
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist – Bruno Mars
Best Group – Migos
Best Collaboration – Travis Scott ft. Drake, Sicko Mode
Best Male Hip Hop Artist – Nipsey Hussle
Best Female Hip Hop Artist – Cardi B
Video Of The Year – Childish Gambino, This Is America
Video Director of the Year – Karena Evans
Best New Artist – Lil Baby
Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award – Snoop Dogg ft. Rance Allen, Blessing Me Again
Best International Act – Burna Boy (Nigeria)
Best New International Act – ShoMadjozi (South Africa)
Best Actress – Regina King
Best Actor – Michael B. Jordan
Young Stars Award – Marsai Martin
Best Movie – Blackkklansman
Sportswoman of the Year – Serena Williams
Sportsman of the Year – Stephen Curry
2019 Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award – Ella Mai, Trip
Humanitarian Award – Nipsey Hussle
Lifetime Achievement Award – Mary J. Blige
BET Her Award – H.E.R., Hard Place
