Kendrick Lamar Dominates BET Awards 2025 With Four Wins as Blue Ivy Makes History
Kevin Hart’s hosting energized Culture’s Biggest Night as hip-hop, R&B, and entertainment royalty celebrated achievement and legacy
LOS ANGELES – The BET Awards 2025 delivered another memorable edition of Culture’s Biggest Night, with Kendrick Lamar emerging as the ceremony’s biggest winner while Blue Ivy Carter made headlines with a historic YoungStars Award victory.
Comedian Kevin Hart brought his signature energy as host, guiding an evening that celebrated both established excellence and emerging talent across music, entertainment, and sports.
Lamar’s Commanding Night
Kendrick Lamar’s dominance defined the evening’s musical honors. The Compton rapper secured four major victories, claiming Album of the Year for “GNX,” Best Male Hip Hop Artist, Video of the Year for his viral hit “Not Like Us,” and Best Collaboration alongside SZA for their emotionally charged duet “Luther.”
Lamar also shared Video Director of the Year recognition with creative collaborator Dave Free, highlighting his expanding influence beyond performing into visual storytelling.
His sweep reinforced his position as hip-hop’s most critically acclaimed voice, with “GNX” representing another artistic milestone in an already legendary catalog.
R&B Excellence Recognized
The R&B categories showcased the genre’s continued vitality. SZA claimed Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, cementing her status as one of contemporary R&B’s most innovative voices. Her win comes amid continued acclaim for her boundary-pushing artistry that blends traditional soul with modern production.
Chris Brown captured Best Male R&B/Pop Artist, adding to his extensive awards collection, while the collaborative powerhouse of Future & Metro Boomin earned Best Group honors for their chart-topping partnership that dominated both streaming platforms and club playlists.
Rising Stars Celebrated
Emerging talent received significant recognition throughout the ceremony. Leon Thomas, who has successfully transitioned from child actor to accomplished solo artist, won Best New Artist, marking a career-defining moment for the multi-talented performer.
Doechii continued her meteoric rise by claiming Best Female Hip Hop Artist, reflecting her genre-defying approach that has captivated both critics and fans. Her victory signals hip-hop’s evolving landscape and embrace of artistic diversity.
Inspirational and Emotional Moments
Summer Walker’s “Heart of a Woman” earned the BET Her Award, recognizing the song’s raw emotional resonance and its connection with audiences seeking authentic expression. The track exemplifies Walker’s ability to channel personal vulnerability into universal themes.
The Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award went to “Rain Down on Me,” featuring GloRilla, Kirk Franklin, and Maverick City Music, celebrating the powerful intersection of contemporary hip-hop and traditional gospel influences.
Screen and Sports Champions
Entertainment categories honored both veteran excellence and rising talent. Cynthia Erivo won Best Actress recognition, while Denzel Washington added another accolade to his distinguished career as Best Actor. The biographical film “Luther: Never Too Much” claimed Best Movie honors.
Athletic achievement was recognized through Angel Reese’s Sportswoman of the Year award, acknowledging her basketball excellence and cultural influence. NFL quarterback Jalen Hurts earned Sportsman of the Year recognition for his on-field leadership and community impact.
Blue Ivy’s Historic Moment
One of the evening’s most significant moments came with Blue Ivy Carter’s YoungStars Award victory. The win represents a generational passing of cultural influence, as the daughter of Beyoncé and Jay-Z establishes her own artistic identity through performances, fashion choices, and public appearances.
Her recognition reflects not just family legacy but individual achievement and promise, suggesting the continuation of her parents’ cultural impact through the next generation.
Cultural Impact Continues
The BET Awards 2025 successfully balanced celebration of established excellence with recognition of emerging talent, demonstrating the awards show’s continued relevance as a cultural institution. From Lamar’s artistic dominance to Blue Ivy’s historic recognition, the evening highlighted both current achievement and future potential within Black entertainment and culture.
The ceremony reinforced BET’s role in identifying and celebrating talent across multiple disciplines while providing a platform for artists, athletes, and entertainers to connect with audiences and each other in meaningful ways.
Complete BET Awards 2025 Winners List
Music Categories:
- Best Female R&B/Pop Artist: SZA
- Best Male R&B/Pop Artist: Chris Brown
- Best Group: Future & Metro Boomin
- Best Collaboration: “Luther” – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
- Best Male Hip Hop Artist: Kendrick Lamar
- Best Female Hip Hop Artist: Doechii
- Video of the Year: “Not Like Us” – Kendrick Lamar
- Video Director of the Year: Dave Free & Kendrick Lamar
- Best New Artist: Leon Thomas
- Album of the Year: GNX – Kendrick Lamar
- BET Her Award: “Heart of a Woman” – Summer Walker
- Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award: “Rain Down on Me” – GloRilla feat. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music
Entertainment Categories:
- Best Actress: Cynthia Erivo
- Best Actor: Denzel Washington
- Best Movie: Luther: Never Too Much
Special Recognition:
- YoungStars Award: Blue Ivy Carter
- Sportswoman of the Year: Angel Reese (Basketball)
- Sportsman of the Year: Jalen Hurts (Football)