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The 2012 BET Awards were held on Sunday night at Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium and the show, in addition to crowning some of the year’s top performers, also included performances from a slew of the music world’s biggest acts. The big winners on Sunday included Jay-Z and Kanye West, a.k.a. The Throne (pictured above), who took home awards for Best Group and Best Video for “Otis,” and Chris Brown who won the awards for Best Male R&B Artist and Entertainer of the Year.

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To kick off the show, the G.O.O.D. Music crew — including Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz — wearing all white everything, brought the house down with a rendition of “Mercy” before Kanye West showed up by spitting some bars on “Cold.” A few minutes later, West was freestlying about “a feeling only me and Lebron know” and giving a shootout to the late Whitney Houston. Host Samuel L. Jackson and Spike Lee proceeded to do a semi-funny take on The Throne’s “Ni**as in Paris” to officially jumpstart the festivities.
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Shortly after, when The Throne had been announced as Best Group, West, who was accompanied to the event by his girlfriend Kim Kardashian, took the mic sans Jay-Z before being surprised onstage by Hov who came out in a killer gray suit. West, not for the last time of the night, mentioned how he always says politically incorrect things. Later, during their acceptance speech for Best Video for “Otis,” Jay poked fun at West, mocking his infamous Taylor Swift moment by interrupting West (“Excuse me Kanye I’m gonna let you continue”). West’s own protege, Big Sean was named Best New Artist, beating out the likes of Meek Mill and Future. “When I started doing what I love I started living the life I love,” the Detroit rapper said.
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The night was really all about the performances, however. And Usher slayed with the soothing falsetto of his lady-killing single “Climax.” Later, Nicki Minaj, who won the award for Best Female Rapper, wore a flouncy black dress while performing “Champion” before ripping it off off for “Beez in The Trap” during which she was joined by an all leathered-out 2 Chainz. Other performances included Maybach Music Group — featuring Rick Ross, Wale, French Montana and Meek Mill (no Stalley?) — performing a medley of hits, including “Bag of Money,” “So Sophisticated,” and “Black Magic,” Melanie Fiona singing a lovely rendition of “Wrong Side of a Love Song” while wearing a flowy grey dress, and Chris Brown, half painted like a grey minotaur, slinking his way around the stage amid lasers while performing “Don’t Wake Me Up” and “Turn Up The Music.”
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But the unquestioned highlight performance was the return of D’Angelo, who save for a recent impromptu performance at Bonnaroo, had not sang in front of an audience in nearly a decade. The R&B icon performed “(Untitled) “How Does It Feel” as well as a new Sly Stone-meets-Stevie Wonder doo-wop number entitled “Sugar Daddy.”
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The night was also about remembering those who have passed away. Tributes were paid to the likes of Dick Clark and Don Cornelius, but the focus, unsurprisingly, was on the late Whitney Houston. Mariah Carey, near’ show’s end, came out looking splendid in a gold dress and spoke of her fallen friend. “The first time I heard Whitney’s voice I was mesmerized like the rest of the world,” Carey said. “I was captivated by the power in her range, the richness of her tone and her unique ability to wrap a lyric in emotion. If you really knew Whitney you couldn’t help but love her. I miss my friend. But we’ll always have the music.” After Carey’s words Monica and Brandy performed a vocal tribute to Houston with a rendition of “I Love The Lord” and “I’m Your Baby Tonight” and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” respectively. Then, in the night’s most touching moment, Houston’s brother, Gary, performed before his and Whitney’s mother, Cissy, performed an impassioned “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”
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Other notable winners on the night included Beyonce for Best Female R&B Artist and Mindless Behavior who took home the Viewer’s Choice Award. Check out the full list of winners below as well as our favorite pictures form the BET Awards Red Carpet.
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Centric Award
Common
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Youngstars Award
Diggy
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Best Group
The Throne (Jay-Z and Kanye West)
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Best Actor
Kevin Hart, “Think Like a Man”
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Best New Artist
Big Sean
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Best Male R&B Artist
Chris Brown
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Best Collaboration
Wale (featuring Miguel), “Lotus Flower Bomb”
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Best Gospel
Yolanda Adams
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Best Female R&B Artist
Beyoncé
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Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Nicki Minaj
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Lifetime Achievement Award
Maze, featuring Frankie Beverly
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Video of the Year
The Throne (Jay-Z and Kanye West), featuring Otis Redding, “Otis”
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Humanitarian Award
The Reverend Al Sharpton
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Viewers’ Choice Award
Mindless Behavior
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Video Director of the Year
Beyoncé and Alan Ferguson
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Entertainer of the Year
Chris Brown
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The Best From The Red Carpet
All pictures courtesy of Allen Berezovsky, Frederick M. Brown and Jason Merritt of Getty Images
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Common
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Monica
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Flo Rida and Guest
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Willow Smith
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Busta Rhymes
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Big Sean
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Tyga
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Miguel
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Kerry Washington
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Selita Ebanks