The BET Awards just keeps getting better every year with the most memorable performances and it was no exception for the awards this year!
Held at Nokia Theatre, L.A, the award was a star-studded event with celebrities and audience flocking over to the theatre to indulge in the BET Experience. However, earlier that day, news outlets reported that two separate violent incidents occurred during BET Awards’ pre-show parties. A man was shot to death and four others were injured at a Hollywood party. On separate event, a man was stabbed at Lure Nightclub in Hollywood. A BET representative released a statement regarding the issue, to say that the pre-show parties at which the violence occurred were in no way affiliated with the official BET Awards.
Chris Rock was invited to host the 2014 BET Awards and he successfully diverted the attention away from the violent incidents with a funny introduction and monologues during the show. The award was successfully wrapped up with the artistes and winners hitting up the stage with the memorable performances.
From the opening performance to Lionel Richie’s tribute, here are some of the best performances that you might have missed out!
Best Performances from BET Awards 2014
1. Opening performances by Pharrell Williams and Missy Elliott
When Pharrell Williams took the stage to perform for the opening of the awards show, we expected it to be “just another great performance” from Pharrell. When Missy Elliott made a surprise appearance during Pharrell’s performance of “Come Get It Bae”, our hearts skipped a beat and a rush of adrenaline pumped through our veins because wasn’t that the best performance ever?! We totally did not expect such an epic opening performance!
2. Jhene Aiko and John Legend – The Worst
When John Legend came on stage, we knew instantly that his performance was going to make us fall in love with him all over again. Instead of performing his latest single “All of Me”, the singer gave a soulful performance of his classic hit, “You and I”. As soon as his performance ended, the singer was joined by vocal powerhouse Jhené Aiko and both of them started a duet to her song “The Worst”. Needless to say, we are now “the worst” kind of obsessed with their performances.
3. August Alsina, Trey Songz & Chris Brown
August Alsina totally deserved all the attention because boy, oh boy, this man has one of the most amazing vocal performances ever! Before he went up on stage to perform, the “Best New Artiste” winner gave a heartfelt acceptance speech. He later proudly took the stage to perform, “Kissin’ On My Tattoos” with beautiful female acrobats dancing above him. During his performance for the remix version of his hit single “I Luv This Shit”, Trey Songz and Chris Brown joined him on the stage and the trio made the performance even better!
4. Nicki Minaj
Missy Elliott may have stunned the audience with her surprise appearance during with Pharrell but Nicki Minaj’s performance totally had us gasping for air! The winner of The Best Female Hip Hop Artiste Nicki Minaj opened her performance with “Chiraq” as she appeared on stage on the back of a motorcycle. The rapper later brought the house down with her sexy “Alice in Wonderland”-themed performance of her latest single “Pills N Potions”.
5. Lionel Richie tribute
Last but not least, the best moment of the BET Awards definitely went to the special tribute for the legendary pop icon Lionel Richie! The awards invited some of the greatest acts including John Legend, Ledisi and Yolanda Adams to pay tribute to the legend as they sang the icon’s best classic hits such as “Hello”, “Brick House”, and “Still”. The most phenomenal performance of the tribute went to the soulful performance of “Jesus is Love” by Yolanda Adams. After accepting the “Lifetime Achievement Award”, Richie himself sang two classic hits: the Commodores’ “Easy” and “All Night Long” and they were hands down, the best moments of the night!
Photo courtesy of BET Awards Facebook page, Tumblr and LA Times
