Black stars honored for achievements
Associated Press
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| The hip-hop group OutKast, comprised of Big Boi, right, and Andre "Dre 3000" Benjamin, won for best male group and video of the year at the first BET awards ceremony, held this week.
Associated Press |
OutKast was named best male group and won video of the year for "Ms. Jackson" during the two-hour event Tuesday night, billed as where "black star power explodes." (In Hawai'i, only some satellite cable customers and Oceanic Cable customers on military bases receive the Black Entertainment Television network.)
"It gives us an opportunity to play black music," OutKast member Andre "Dre 3000" Benjamin said of the awards. "It's kind of like a landmark. This is our first, like, real award."
The BET awards are given to black entertainers and athletes in music, film and sports categories. The 15 awards were voted by record label executives, media and fans.
In a tribute to Houston, Christina Aguilera and Luther Vandross performed two of Houston's songs before she came on stage to a standing ovation. The 37-year-old singer-actress sang two songs, then her mother, Cissy Houston, and her young daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, presented her award.
"God has blessed her with a glorious talent that will never be forgotten," Cissy Houston said.
The crowd stood again as Houston accepted the honor, singing and shouting: "I'm every woman! I'm a survivor." ... "The best is yet to come."
Houston has won six Grammy Awards. Her films include "The Bodyguard," "Waiting to Exhale" and "The Preacher's Wife."
Other performers included OutKast, Destiny's Child, who won best female group, Lil' Bow Wow, winner of the viewer's choice award, Snoop Dogg, Usher, Sisqo, Jay Z and hip-hop artist winner Eve.
After her performance with Gwen Stefani, Eve, a native of Philadelphia, confronted presenter and Los Angeles Lakers player Shaquille O'Neal with a Philadelphia 76ers jersey when she picked up her award.
"I'm sorry, but I had to represent (Philadelphia)," Eve said, sporting baby-blue boots and shocking red hair. "I'm mad," she said of the Lakers NBA championship win over the 76ers last Friday.
O'Neal lost the male athlete award to Allen Iverson of the 76ers.
The show also paired Patti LaBelle and Donnie McClurkin, the winner of the gospel artist category, for their first duet.
Winners of the first BET awards
- Lifetime achievement: Whitney Houston
- Male group: OutKast
- Female group: Destiny's Child
- Male R& artist: Musiq Soulchild
- Female R&B artist: Mary J. Blige
- Male hip-hop artist: Jay Z
- Female hip-hop artist: Eve
- New artist: Nelly
- Gospel artist: Donnie McClurkin
- Video of the year: OutKast for "Ms. Jackson"'
- Actor in a film: Denzel Washington for "Remember the Titans"
- Actress in a film: Sanaa Lathan for "Love and Basketball"
- Male athlete of the year: Allen Iverson
- Female athlete of the year: Marion Jones
- Viewer's choice: Lil' Bow Wow for "What's My Name"
