Burna Boy empty-handed as Kendrick Lamar dominates 2023 BET Awards

By Victoria Oluwayemi

Nigerian singer Burna Boy faced disappointment as he failed to secure any of the seven nominations he received at the 2023 BET Hip-Hop Awards.

The event took place at Atlanta’s Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on October 3, with the broadcast occurring on October 10.

Despite his “African Giant” nickname, Burna Boy lost in several key categories. He missed out on Hip Hop Artist of the Year, Lyricist of the Year, and Best Live Performer of the Year, all of which went to American rapper Kendrick Lamar.

Burna Boy also lost in the Hustler of the Year category to 50 Cent, as well as the Best Collaboration of the Year for his track “Sittin’ On Top Of The World” featuring 21 Savage, which was beaten by Lil Durk and J. Cole’s “All My Life.”

Additionally, he fell short in the Best Hip Hop Video category, losing to Lil Uzi Vert’s “Just Wanna Rock,” and failed to clinch the Song of the Year award for the same song.

Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar emerged as the standout winner of the night, securing four awards. Lamar swept every category in which he was nominated, taking home the titles for hip-hop artist of the year, lyricist of the year, best live performer, and video director of the year, which he shared with his collaborator, Dave Free.

In another notable achievement, Ghanaian music sensation Black Sherif received the Best International Flow award, triumphing over competitors from South Africa, France, the UK, and other regions, including the late AKA and K.O. from South Africa, France’s Gazo and Ninho, and the UK’s J Hus and Central Cee.