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Kanye West Rules BET Hip Hop Awards From Afar: Watch the Performances

kendrick lamar bet awards 2012

The 2012 BET Hip Hop Awards, which gained some extra notoriety this year following two separate altercations at the September 29 taping in Atlanta, hit TV last night. Kanye West, who didn’t grace the Atlanta Civic Center with his presence, still won the most awards, picking up six trophies, including Producer of the Year. 2 Chainz snagged three prizes, including the People’s Champ Award and Rookie of the Year. Drake’s Lil Wayne-assisted “HYFR” video won Best Hip Hop Video. You can see the full list of winner below.

The show was packed with live musical appearances, too. Kendrick Lamar, who vaulted ahead of Nas, Jay-Z, and Kanye West to snag Lyricist of the Year, performed bits of his masterfully ambivalent “Swimming Pools (Drank)” and uncharacteristically easygoing “The Recipe.” Wiz Khalifa gave the opening performance, joined by Young Jeezy and Juicy. T.I., Meek Mill, Kirko Bangz, 2 Chainz, and a shirtless Rick Ross also took the stage. Finally, A Tribe Called Quest, Missy Elliott, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, and 50 Cent teamed up to pay a tender musical tribute to the late Chris Lighty.

As in previous years, though, the cyphers were the big reason to pay attention. For instance, the West Coast Cypher brought together Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, DJ Quik, Xzibit, YG, Kurupt, and E-40. The likes of T.I., Talib Kweli, Schoolboy Q, Mystikal, Angel Haze, B.o.B, A$AP Rocky, Joey Bada$$, Eve, Cassidy, Childish Gambino, Mac Miller, and more also rapped in the cyphers.

Watch all the cyphers and the onstage performances below.

2012 BET Hip Hop Award winners:

Reese’s Perfect Combo
Kanye West, 2 Chainz, Big Sean, and Pusha T, “Mercy”

Hip Hop Video Director of the Year
Hype Williams

Track of the Year:
The Throne, “N—as in Paris”

Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse
2 Chainz, “Mercy”

Rookie of the Year
2 Chainz

Producer of the Year
Kanye West

People’s Champ Award
2 Chainz (featuring Drake), “No Lie”

MVP of the Year
Rick Ross

Made You Look Award (Best Hip Hop Style)
Kanye West

Lyricist of the Year
Kendrick Lamar

Impact Track
Nas, “Daughters”

Hustler of the Year
Jay-Z

CD of the Year
The Throne, Watch the Throne

Best Mixtape
Meek Mill, Dreamchasers 2

Best Live Performer
The Throne

Best Hip Hop Video
Drake (feat. Lil Wayne), “HYFR” Best Club Banger
The Throne, “N—as in Paris”

DJ of the Year
DJ Khaled

Best Hip Hop Online Site
WorldstarHipHop.com