LOS ANGELES — Chris Brown, left, won the first award at Tuesday’s BET Awards: best male R&B artist. The 19-year-old crooner thanked “my mom, God, everybody. If I leave y’all out, I’m sorry.”
Kanye West won two awards: best male hip-hop artist and best collaboration for “Good Life,” his song with T-Pain. He praised T-Pain — who was up for five awards — calling him “a genius.”
Keyshia Cole received three nominations, and double nominees included newcomer rapper Flo Rida and veteran songstresses Alicia Keys and Mary J. Blige. Kobe Bryant and Missy Elliott were other early winners, but the best male athlete and female hip-hop artist weren’t there to collect their awards, nor was the evening’s best new artist winner, The-Dream.
D.L. Hughley hosted the live show at the Shrine Auditorium.
Complete list of winners of the 2008 BET Awards:
Female R&B artist: Alicia Keys
Male R&B artist: Chris Brown
Group: UGK
Gospel artist: Marvin Sapp
Female hip-hop artist: Missy Elliott
Male hip-hop artist: Kanye West
New artist: The-Dream
Collaboration: Kanye West f/T-Pain, “Good Life”
Video director: Erykah Badu and Mr. Roboto
Video of the Year: UGK f/Outkast, “International Player’s Anthem (I Choose You)”
Actress: Halle Berry
Actor: Denzel Washington
Female athlete: Candace Parker
Male athlete: Kobe Bryant
BET J Award: Raheem DeVaughn
Viewers’ choice: Lil Wayne, “Lollipop”
Lifetime Achievement Award: Al Green
Humanitarian Award: Quincy Jones
The Associated Press
