Kendrick Lamar stole the show at the BET Awards in Los Angeles, which celebrate black actors, singers and sports stars, winning five out of his 10 nominations including best album, video and male hip-hop artist.
The rapper won best album for GNX and best video for Not Like Us, while he and filmmaker Dave Free also took home the prize for video director of the year.
Lamar said at the awards, which were hosted by Kevin Hart: “BET has always made sure they’re representing the culture right and always put me in the midst of the cycle of what we represent.”
Rapper Doechii, who won best female hip-hop artist, used her moment on stage to lambast US President Donald Trump for “using military forces to stop protest” in LA, where US Marines and the National Guard are being deployed.
Demonstrations began on Friday after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in heavily Latino parts of the city, by the federal agency that identifies people in the US illegally and carries out arrests and deportations.
Doechii added: “I want y’all to consider what kind of government it appears to be, when every time we exercise our democratic rights to protest, the military is deployed against us.”
Last year’s BET hip-hop awards were also dominated by Lamar, where he won eight out of 11 nominations.
Ultimate icon awards, for achievement in music, entertainment, advocacy and community impact, were also handed out to musicians Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg and Kirk Franklin, along with actor Jamie Foxx.
Credit: BBC
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