A Night to Remember: The 2005 BET Awards

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If we learned anything from the 2005 BET Awards is that no matter how big the stars that graced the stage, nothing shall surpass the power and dominance of Beyonce’s booty. Though it did not make an appearance till halfway through the show, it nonetheless remained on the minds of damn near everyone who saw it – including host Will Smith and even BET Founder Bob Johnson. More on that later. Before Beyonce’s bootylicious moment, Wyclef, Pras and Lauryn Hill, once known collectively as the Fugees, came seemingly out of nowhere to open the show years after an official breakup.

Hill was rocking a 60’s Supreme-style wig and pantsuit. But her retro look didn’t stop her from quickly reestablishing what made her a superstar in the first place. After her own lengthy break from the spotlight since the success of her solo album, hearin her startling vocals, blazing rhymes and and command of the stage was refreshing.

Despite the time they’ve been apart, the group performed “Fugee-la� and “Killing Me Softly,� with the same energy of their past glory days and the crowd responded accordingly by singing along.
After that unexpected and unannounced surprise performance, the “President and First Lady of Black America� – hosts Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith were introduced with African drums and fanfare, rolling onto the stage in a horse drawn-carriage, with Sprewells spinning.

In an effort to keep the show “on par with all the other esteemed award shows� Will and Jada comically announced the new rules for the show:

1. A three-homeboy limit for acceptance speeches. 2. No bright suits or gold goblets.
3. Do not thank God if you cannot perform your work in church.

Halle Berry presented the night’s first award to soon-to-be-defunct trio Destiny’s Child for Best Group. Although Michelle said “Sorry Jada, but we thank God for this,� thankfully, none of the girls were carrying goblets.

Next to tear down the stage was Missy Elliot performing her new cut “Lose Control� with Ciara. Though she was clearly lip-synching, Elliot made up for taking a short cut by having phenomenal dancers – all wearing Michael Jackson t-shirts – who threatened to stomp holes in the floor. It appeared that the quite overweight Fat Man Scoop might actually put that hole in the floor after baring his chest and writing around on the stage.

Considering the still-simmering beef between The Game and 50 Cent, security must have been tight when Game performed “Hate it or Love It.� Since it was obvious 50 might not wouldn’t be caught on the same stage with Game the audience was pleasantly surprised when Mary J. Blige, the queen of the remix, loaned her gritty vocals to The Game’s debut hit.

Now back to the highlight of the evening, certainly a memorable moment for actor Terence Howard. Figuring they might as well go out with a bang, Destiny’s Child led Terence Howard, Nelly and Magic Johnson to three seats on the stage where the three ladies commenced to rub their round parts all over the stars while singing “Cater To You.� Howard was so obviously affected that he might be expecting a call from Jay-Z.

But Howard was unafraid of the Jigga Man. He told BET.com, "Listen, Jay-Z, I ain't no actor.That bad guy is for real, man," Howard said in jest. "Your women chose me. I might let you have her back. No, thank you for letting me stand close to your dream for a moment. "


After putting on a typical strut-and-mug performance, Southern rapper T.I. upped his game by breaking out a live band – led by pioneering drummer Sheila E. – and a dapper black suit as he turned in a smoking rendition of “Bring ‘Em Out.�

"I really liked it when T.I. was out there. He really set it off," Paul Wall told BET.com. "It was a really memorable night."


John Legend, winner of the Best New Artist Award, performed his hit “Ordinary People� with special guest Stevie Wonder.

The pair continued to do press together after the performance. Stevie told BET.com, "It was an honor to perform with John Legend. He is someone that the world will hear from, some great singing from, great music is nothing without sincerity. What I get from him is sincerity. ["Ordinary People"] is my favorite song of the year."

Another diva missing in action returned to the spotlight as Toni Braxton came out of the woodwork to serenade Gladys Knight, the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Faith Evans also joined in on the love fest, performing “Love Overboard.� But Gladys Knight proved to be her own best tribute artist, performing her classics. �If I Was Your Woman,� “Neither One Of Us� and “Midnight Train to Georgia.�

Petey Pablo, who was representing Death Row Records, said that Gladys Knight was "it" for him. "Gladys Knight was the most remarkable, incredible, man. I caught the spirit."

Co-hosts Mrs. And Mrs. Smith spoofed the movie of the same title by performing a series of funny skits between commercial breaks. They joked about their sex life and their movie choices including a particularly funny moment when Will suggested that the two avoid movies starting with the letter “W.�


BET founder Bob Johnson heard a collective “awww� from the crowd after announcing his retirement as head of BET offered five more years in exchange for a Beyonce lapdance. He thanked the audience and BET viewers for supporting his dream, then introduced new BET CEO Debra Lee and Humanitarian Award recipients Denzel and Pauletta Washington.

The couple was honored for their charitable work but Pauletta stood in for her absent husband, who accepted the award via videotape from the set of a Spike Lee film.

The night was punctuated with several tributes to stars that passed including Ossie Davis, Johnnie Cochran and a strange send-off for Rick James from a visibly emotional Teena Marie. The Wu-Tang Clan paid their respects to recently passed member Ol’ Dirty Bastard, whom they described as a “lyrical chemist.� Given ODB’s struggle with drugs, we hope the pun was not intended.

Omarion, winner of the Viewer’s Choice Award, went for Usher’s jugular by paratrooping from the ceiling to do a dance-heavy performance of “O� and “Touch.� Fan Despite some sequencing problems with her lip-synched vocal tracks, fan favorite Ciara got it together and lit up the stage with Ludacris on “Oh.�

Performer and older brother Marques Houston was excited as ever to see his younger brother bloom into such an entertainment force. "Omarion won that big award. It felt great to see him do his thing, by himself. It was his first time. The outcome was really good and I'm proud of him," Houston beamed.

Despite the fun and the sizzling performances, Mr. Smith had promised to communicate to the global audience the importance of the images black artists show to the world. And he did by telling a heartfelt, unscripted story about seeing Tupac’s and Biggie’s names scrawled on a tin hut during a trip to Mozambique.

He told the audience that the kid who wrote it found it “impossible� that African-Americans had achieved so much is so little time. “They think what we do is impossible,� Smith said. “Look at us doing the impossible.�

Stevie Wonder closed the show with a spirited performance of his new song “Shame on You,� even showing off some choreographed footwork. Will and Jada wrapped the night up with some joking banter and sent everyone home to the sounds of Wonder’s famous “Happy Birthday� song – a nice tribute to BET’s 25th Anniversary year, which will be celebrated back at the Kodak Theater this fall.

Overall, the 2005 BET Awards were chocked full of treats - so many that Steve Harvey was unable to pick just one.

"[I loved] Gladys, Toni Braxton, Fantasia...John Legend with Stevie Wonder...I really loved how BET did it this time with the old school cats with the younger cats," Steve concluded.

Best Female Rap Artist
Remy Ma

Best Group
Destiny’s Child

Best Female R&B Artist
Alicia Keys

Best New Artist
John Legend

Best Actor
Jamie Foxx

Best R&B Male
Usher

Best Male Hip-Hop
Kanye West

Best Actress
Regina King

Male Athlete of the Year
Shaquille O’Neal

Female Athlete of the Year
Serena Williams

Best Gospel Artist
Donnie McClurkin

Viewer's Choice Award
Omarion, “O�

Video of the Year
Kanye West, “Jesus Walks�

Best Collaboration
Ciara and Missy Elliot, “1, 2 Step�

CYHSY!

Thanks of this report.