The 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards went down on October 5^th at the Cobb Energy Performing Center in Atlanta. In what is known as the biggest night in hip hop, hosted by The 85 South Show, fans were treated to a night packed with huge stars accepting awards and several stunning performances.

The biggest names in hip-hop are the names that brought home the most awards, as they should. The night started with a three-peat as Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion cleaned up for the colossal hit song, WAP. At the surprise of almost no one, WAP won the award for Song of the Year. To even less surprise, since this song track features both Cardi and Megan, WAP won the award for Best Collaboration. The final piece of their trilogy came with more contention. WAP beat out big time productions such as Laugh Now Cry Later, Go Crazy, and Montero as the winner of the award for Best Hip Hop Video.

However, WAP did not soak up all the other huge artists. Tyler, The Creator also won 2 awards, as well as being the honoree for the Rock the Bells Cultural Influence Award. He was given this great honor for being an award-winning artist, producer, director, fashion designer, and entrepreneur. The awards he won, however, we some of the biggest ones at the show. He won Best Live Performer and Hip Hop Album of the Year.

There was another mega famous artist who won multiple awards. Atlanta born rapper Lil Baby won the award for Hip Hop Artist of the Year. He beat out both Tyler, The Creator and Cardi B to come out on top. He also received the award for Best Duo or Group. He won this award with Lil Durk, who received nine nominations in total, but only collected this one non-solo award.

Two of the most influential rappers of all-time, J Cole and Drake, were also names that were mentioned frequently throughout the show. They ended up with much different results, however. J Cole received two nominations. One for Hip Hop Album of the Year, with The Off-Season, and one for Lyricist of the Year. He did not come through to win an award for his album, but he did win the award for Lyricist of the Year. Drake, who is arguably the greatest artist of all time, did not win a single award at this year’s BET Hip Hop awards. I would be remiss to not mention him in this article because he did have 7 nominations.

One of the biggest headlines of the night came from the Hip Hop legend Nelly. Nelly was honored with the I Am Hip Hop Award and delivered a dynamic performance. Nelly was given this award for being a diamond-selling, Grammy award-winning rap superstar, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and actor. After receiving the award, he offered the quote, “I am honored to receive this award and humbled to be in such great company of past artists who have received this award.”

Some other awards that were given out were Best New Hip Hop Artist, Impact Track, and DJ of the Year. The Best New Hip Hop Artist award was given to Yung Bleu. He came onto the hip hop scene in a big way with his viral song featuring Drake, You’re Mines Still. The Impact Track was awarded to Nipsey Hussle and Jay-Z for their collaboration on the song What it Feels Like. DJ of the year went DJ Scheme, a man who is famous for working with Juice WRLD and Ski Mask the Slump God.

All in all, this year’s BET Hip Hop Awards were entertaining from top to bottom. The stars came out to shine and definitely did not disappoint.