Rapper/producer Kanye West and singers Mary J. Blige and Chris Brown emerged as the big winners Tuesday (June 27) with two awards each at this year’s BET Awards.
West, who grabbed the award for Best Duet/Collaboration with Jamie Foxx for “Goldigger,” tied with Blige for the Video of the Year award.
The songstress garnered the prize for her hit clip “Be Without You” as well as the Best Female R&B honor.
Brown, who dazzled the crowd with triple medley of “Run It,” “Gimme That” and “Yo (Excuse Me Miss),” picked up BET Awards for Best New Artist and Viewer’s Choice.
The singer amazed the audience during his performance as he backflipped off the stage in to the crowd on his way to being lifted up to seranade a young lady in the audience.
R&B legend Chaka Khan introduced her mother as she picked up the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The singer later sang a medley of her greatest hits with India Arie and Yolanda Adams pitching,while Prince and Stevie Wonder served as members of her band.
Harry Belafonte was also honored during the Damon Wayans-hosted event with the BET Humanitarian Award for his accomplishments.
Prince closed out the show with Black Eyed Peas frontman will.I.am, who performed an impromptu freestyle.
Will.I.am hit the stage earlier with Busta Rhymes during for the Flipmode Squad leader’s double set of “I Love My Chick” and the star-studded Touch It remix with Blige, Rah Digga,
Missy Elliott, Papoose, Lloyd Banks and Eminem.
The show marked the first public appearance for Eminem since his divorce from Kim Mathers and the death of his best friend and D-12 group mate Proof.
Best Male hip-hop award winner T.I. got a little assistance from boxing promoter Don King before hitting the stage with “What You Know.”
Other performers included Jamie Foxx, who gave a sensual kiss to American Idol Fantasia Barrino, Neo, Mary Maryand Keisha Cole, who belted out an emotional rendition of her hit song “Love. ”
The three-hour show kicked off with Beyonce and Jay-Z performing the Destiny Child singer’s new song “Deja Vu.”
The following is a list of winners for the 2006 BET Awards:
Best Female Hip Hop – Missy Elliott
Best New Artist – Chris Brown
Best Male Athlete – LeBron James
Best Male R&B – Prince
Best Male Hip Hop – T.I.
Best Female R&B – Mary J. Blige
Best Duet/Collaboration – Kanye West f/ Jamie Foxx, “Gold Digger”
Best Gospel Artist – Kirk Franklin
Lifetime Achievement Award – Chaka Khan
Humanitarian Award – Harry Belafonte
Viewer’s Choice – Chris Brown, “Yo (Excuse Me Miss)”
Video of the Year – *tie* Mary J. Blige, “Be Without You” and Kanye West f. Jamie Foxx, “Gold Digger.”
