2012 BET AWARDS RUNDOWN AS WIZKID & SARKODIE TIE FOR AFRICA

Kanye & Jay-Z won best group

Cissy Houston's tribute to her late daughter was the emotional highlight of Sunday's BET Awards, a show that was defined by extended bleeps and the vulgarities that censors failed to catch onstage throughout the night. Whitney Houston's mother gave a rousing performance of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" that left the crowd in tears, including Beyonce and Melanie Fiona.

Beyonce and Kim K looking 'hawt'

Mariah Carey opened the tribute with memories of her friend. She was followed by a moving number by Monica. Brandy, heavily influenced by Houston, sang two of the late singer's hits. Chaka Khan blazed the stage with "I'm Every Woman," which Houston remade. Gary Houston, Whitney's brother, also performed.

But the nearly four-hour BET Awards was more like the Bleep Awards, as entire segments of performances from Nicki Minaj to Rick Ross were muted out due to foul language. It started during the opening number by Kanye West's G.O.O.D. music group, which included Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz. There were long moments of censored silence when the rappers performed "Mercy," though not all the offending words were bleeped out. Moments later, Samuel L. Jackson, the show's host, was joined by Spike Lee as they did a comedic version of Jay-Z and West's hit song "... In Paris," to laughs.

"Two distinguished Morehouse men," Lee joked after the performance, referencing the alma mater of the two.

The censor police also worked overtime when Rick Ross performed with his Maybach Music Group and during Minaj's performance and acceptance speech for best female hip-hop artist. Minaj's win was her third consecutive time taking the prize.

"I really, really appreciate BET for keeping this category alive, and I appreciate all the female rappers doing their thing, past, present and future," she said, before uttering an obscenity.

Nicki Minaj Performance

Gospel star Yolanda Adams, who also performed, gently took some of her peers to task as she won best gospel artist, urging them to act mature and use their fame wisely.

"We need all of y'all," she said. "I'm saying the world needs everyone in this room. Please make sure that you use your gift responsibly, 'cause we're watching. Our babies are watching, and they want to be like us."

West, who was up for seven awards, was the top nominee. Beyonce was the second most nominated act with six. She won video director of the year (along with Alan Ferguson) and best female R&B artist and thanked the genre and her female influences. "I fell in love with music by listening to R&B. It's the core of who I am," she said, giving special thanks to Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige and "Whitney Houston, my angel."

When she lost video of the year to Jay-Z and West, she playfully hit her husband and laughed. The joking continued: Moments later, as West was giving his acceptance speech, Jay-Z interrupted him and said: "Excuse me Kanye, I'm gonna let you continue, but ...," and the audience erupted with laughter, recalling West's infamous interruption of Taylor Swift's MTV Video Music Awards speech a few years back.

Chris Brown was also a double winner. Kevin Hart — who hosted the awards last year — also won for best actor, Big Sean was named best new artist and Wale and Miguel's smooth hit "Lotus Flower Bomb" won best collaboration.

Chris Brown thrills with a performance

The tone of the night fluctuated frequently, as the show shifted from hotly anticipated performances to solemn moments to irreverence. Usher performed his groove "Climax," and Nicki Minaj sported a blonde wig with pink tips as she performed the songs "Champion" and "Beez In the Trap," which featured 2 Chainz.

The night also featured some tributes to deceased greats: Chante Moore performed a medley of Donna Summer's hits and Valerie Simpson sang a song in honor of her husband and writing partner Nick Ashford. Don Cornelius, Dick Clark and Hal Jackson were remembered. Even West offered tributes: after his performance, he name-dropped Rodney King and Whitney Houston in a verse that got cheers from the crowd, including his girlfriend, Kim Kardashian.



The tone of night fluctuated frequently, as the show shifted from hotly anticipated performances to solemn moments to irreverence. Usher performed his groove "Climax," and Nicki Minaj sported a blonde wig with pink tips as she performed the songs "Champion" and "Beez In the Trap," which featured 2 Chainz.


Presenters included Taraji P. Henson, Kerry Washington and Jamie Foxx, who wore a T-shirt that had a picture of Trayvon Martin, the Florida teen killed by neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman.


Frankie Beverly featuring Maze were honored with the lifetime achievement award, and they were serenaded with performances by Tyrese, Faith Evans and Joe.


D'Angelo also performed, his first televised performance in years as he attempts a comeback.


Brown also performed in his first televised appearance since the New York City nightclub brawl between his entourage and Drake's. Brown, his girlfriend, his bodyguard and NBA star Tony Parker were among those injured in the June 14 encounter, where bottles were thrown.


Drake, however, didn't show, despite being nominated.

Check out the full winners list below…

Best Female R&B Artist
Marsha Ambrosius
Beyoncé – Winner
Mary J. Blige
Melanie Fiona
Rihanna

Best Male R&B Artist
Chris Brown -Winner
Bruno Mars
Miguel
Trey Songz
Usher

Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
Big Sean
Drake -Winner
J. Cole
Lil Wayne
Rick Ross
Young Jeezy

Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Nicki Minaj -Winner
Diamond
Trina
Brianna Perry

Best Group
Bad Meets Evil
Diddy-Dirty Money
Maybach Music Group
Mindless Behavior
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) -Winner

Best New Artist
A$AP Rocky
Big Sean -Winner
Diggy
Future
Meek Mill

Best Collaboration
Beyoncé f/ J. Cole – ‘Party’
Big Sean f/ Kanye West & Roscoe Dash – ‘Marvin & Chardonnay’
DJ Khaled f/ Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne – ‘I’m on One’
Drake f/ Lil Wayne and Tyga – ‘The Motto’
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) f/ Otis Redding – ‘Otis’
Wale f/ Miguel – ‘Lotus Flower Bomb’ -  -Winner

Video of the Year
Beyoncé – ‘Countdown’
Beyoncé – ‘Love on Top’
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) – ‘Ni**as in Paris’
The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West) – ‘Otis’ -Winner
Usher – ‘Climax’

Video Director of the Year
Beyoncé and Alan Ferguson -Winner
Benny Boom
Chris Brown and Godfrey Tabarez
Kanye West
Hype Williams

Best Gospel
Yolanda Adams -Winner
Kim Burrell
James Fortune & FIYA
Fred Hammond
Trin-I-Tee 5:7

Young Stars Award
Astro
Diggy Simmons -Winner
Jacob Latimore
Keke Palmer
Willow Smith

Viewers’ Choice Award
Drake f/ Lil Wayne & Tyga – ‘The Motto’
Beyoncé – ‘Love on Top’
Chris Brown – ‘Turn Up the Music’
Mindless Behavior – ‘Hello’ -Winner
The Throne f/ Otis Redding – ‘Otis’
Wale f/ Miguel – ‘Lotus Flower Bomb’

Centric Award
Common -Winner
Estelle
Robert Glasper
Robin Thicke
Tyrese

Best International Act: U.K.
Estelle
Labrinth
Emeli Sande
Sway
Wretch 32 -Winner

Best International Act: Africa
Camp Mulla (Kenya)
Ice Prince (Nigeria)
Lira (South Africa)
Mokobe (Mali)
Sarkodie (Ghana)  -Winner
Wizkid (Nigeria) -Winner

Best Actress
Angela Bassett
Viola Davis -Winner
Taraji P. Henson
Regina King
Zoe Saldana

Best Actor
Don Cheadle
Common
Idris Elba
Kevin Hart -Winner
Denzel Washington

Best Movie
Good Deeds
Jumping the Broom
Laugh at My Pain
Red Tails
The Help -Winner

Sportswoman of the Year
Skylar Diggins
Candace Parker
Brittney Griner
Serena Williams -Winner
Venus Williams

Sportsman of the Year
Carmelo Anthony
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Victor Cruz
Kevin Durant -Winner

Lifetime Achievement Award
Maze, featuring Frankie Beverly

Humanitarian Award

The Reverend Al Sharpton


Source : NY Daily News