The BET Hip-Hop Awards featured some of the genre's best and brightest letting everybody know why they're getting the big bucks (or at least primo placement in Rap Caviar). While some folks might have tuned in to see who the winners and losers were, we all know the real reason to check out the show was the performances and, of course, the cyphers.
We all had to see what Vic Mensa had to say, right? If it got Denzel Curry hot, it had to be something. There was a ton of other talent on display at the ceremony, beyond the controversy. In case you missed it, check out the performances and cyphers from the BET Hip-Hop Awards below.
BlocBoy JB, YBN Cordae Flex For The New Wave
The South still has something to say. "Look Alive" hitmaker BlocBoy JB, YBN Cordae, and Houston's Toby Nwigwe put on for the bottom-half in The Cypher. (Duckwrth might not be from the South, but South is in the name of his world-famous neighborhood.)
Girls To The Front: Bri Steves, Neelam Hakeem Spit Some Bars
Sharaya J kicks off The Cypher in striking fashion, rocking a bright orange outfit only outshined by her freestyle. Chika follows up with a bit of braggadocios sex-rap. Neelam Hakeem proves that she doesn't need a pen to deliver some incredible socially conscious lines. Bri Steves brings a bit of smooth Philly rap before Erykah Badu closes it out from behind the decks.
Casanova, Phora and Others Represent
No one came into a song hotter than Casanova on "Set Trippin'," so it's a bit odd that he wasn't asked to start off this cypher, but it still goes hard. Shawn Smith delivered the best Spongebob reference you'll hear for a while.
Vic Mensa, G Herbo And Taylor Bennett Rep Chicago
Theoretically, the hook of this cypher was meant to be Chicago. Then Vic went and dissed XXXTentacion with his family in the crowd, blotting out the rest of his fellow Chicagoans.
Lil Pump & Gucci Mane Opened The Show Right
Yella Beezy Gets The Crowd Hyped With His Summer Hit "That's On Me"
Here's a glimpse of what the Dallas rapper Yella Beezy can do. It's a good thing to remember as the "That's On Me" rapper will likely have to take time off to recover after being shot several times over the weekend.
Lil Baby & Gunna Show Why They're Atlanta's Next Up
These Young Thug protégés showed why their Drip Harder album is currently making so much noise, playing the standout track "Drip Too Hard" for the Miami crowd.
Cardi B Continues Her World Domination Tour
You can't have an awards show in 2018 without Cardi B murdering the stage. Don't even try.
YG & A$AP Rocky Bring Bicoastal Vibes
East Coast v. West Coast won't fly anymore, y'all. We have the internet now.
T.I. Performs 'Dime Trap' Tracks
Wonder what Lil Flip is up to tonight? T.I.'s longevity is a marvel.
Flipp Dinero Performs "Leave Me Alone!" From A Pseudo-Subway Platform
This performance is cool and all, but you can see the "Leave Me Alone!" hitmaker for yourself at ComplexCon.
