Beyoncé and SZA both gave us pretty amazing albums last year, and it’s not easy to decide which one is better. Voters at the BET Awards struggled to make a verdict between SZA’s SOS and Beyoncé’s Renaissance and named them both album of the year.
The list of contenders for the night’s shiniest trophy also included Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, Her Loss by Drake and 21 Savage, DJ Khaled’s God Did, Chris Brown’s Breezy, and GloRilla’s Anyways, Life’s Great. SZA and Beyoncé eventually emerged as front-runners and tied for album of the year in one of the ceremony’s most dramatic moments.
In addition to this shared triumph, both singers claimed two more trophies. SZA’s remarkable talent earned her awards for best female R&B/pop artist and the video of the year award with “Kill Bill”, while Beyoncé secured the BET Her Award and the Viewer’s Choice Award for her chart-topping single “Break My Soul”.
The race for the best movie didn’t bring us so much drama, and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever emerged as the winner in this category, beating the likes of Nope and The Woman King. Its star Angela Bassett and the Snowfall actor Damson Idris picked up the trophies for best actress and actor.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS AT THE 2023 BET AWARDS:
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (TIE)
SOS – SZA
RENAISSANCE – Beyoncé
BEST COLLABORATION
WAIT FOR U – Future feat. Drake & Tems
BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST
SZA
BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST (TIE)
Chris Brown
Usher
BEST NEW ARTIST
Coco Jones
BEST GROUP
Drake x 21 Savage
BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST
Latto
BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST
Kendrick Lamar
DR. BOBBY JONES BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD
Bless Me – Maverick City Music & Kirk Franklin
BET HER AWARD
Break My Soul – Beyoncé
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Kill Bill – SZA
VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Teyana “Spike Tey” Taylor
BEST MOVIE
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
BEST ACTRESS
Angela Bassett
BEST ACTOR
Damson Idris
YOUNGSTARS AWARD
Marsai Martin
SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR
Angel Reese
SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR
Jalen Hurts
VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD
Break My Soul – Beyoncé
BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT
Burna Boy