BET Awards

The BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year.

The awards are presented annually, and are broadcast live on BET. The annual presentation ceremony features performances by artists, and some of the awards of more popular interest are presented in a televised ceremony.

Trophy

The BET Award Trophy was inspired by three words - aspire, ascend, achieve. The BET Award Trophy was designed by artist/sculptor Carlos "Mare139" Rodriguez. OutKast won the first BET award. In 2007, Society Awards, the New York firm who manufacturers the award, enhanced the quality of the trophy design using plated steel and black crystal.

Ratings

TV ratings (in millions):

List of ceremonies

The inaugural ceremony in 2001 was held at the Paris resort on the Las Vegas Strip. From 2002 to 2005, the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood hosted the awards. From 2006 to 2012, the ceremonires have been held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The ceremony was moved to the Microsoft Theatre at L.A. Live in 2013.

Joe Budden

Joe Budden (born August 31, 1980) is an American rapper from Jersey City, New Jersey, who, in addition to being a solo artist, is a member of the American hip hop supergroup Slaughterhouse, alongside fellow rappers Royce da 5'9", Joell Ortiz, and Crooked I.

His most commercially successful single is the 2003 hit song "Pump It Up", from his self-titled album, which contains production from Just Blaze. He was formerly signed to major record label Def Jam, but left for personal reasons and for them pushing back his album releases. After his splitting from Def Jam, he began recording and releasing mixtapes and albums on independent labels. He released No Love Lost (2013). His follow-up album "Some Love Lost" was released November 4, 2014. Most recently, he released "All Love Lost" on October 16, 2015. Budden also co-stars on the VH1 reality show Love & Hip Hop.

Life and career

Early life

Budden was born in Harlem, New York. but was raised in Jersey City, New Jersey. Uninterested in school, he began abusing drugs. After an emotional confrontation with his mother, Budden willingly went into rehab on July 3, 1997. Budden began freestyling, first at his high school with acquaintances against whom he claims that he always won battles. He eventually made appearances on several New York mixtapes with the likes of DJ Clue, DJ Kayslay, and Cutmaster C.

Nicki Minaj

Onika Tanya Maraj (born December 8, 1982), professionally known by her stage name Nicki Minaj, is a Trinidadian-born American rapper, singer and songwriter. Born in Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago and raised in South Jamaica, Queens, New York, Minaj earned public attention after releasing three mixtapes between 2007–09. She signed a recording contract with Young Money Entertainment in 2009.

Minaj's debut studio album, Pink Friday (2010), peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and spawned the top-five single "Super Bass". During that time, Minaj became the first female solo artist to have seven singles simultaneously charting on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Her second studio album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012), also topped the chart and its lead single, the pop crossover "Starships", peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100. Minaj's third studio album, The Pinkprint (2014), was preceded by its second single, "Anaconda", which peaked at number two on the Hot 100 and is her highest-charting single in the United States to date. Minaj made her film debut in the 2012 animated film Ice Age: Continental Drift, and also had a supporting role in the 2014 film The Other Woman. In 2013, she was a judge on the twelfth season of American Idol.

BET

Black Entertainment Television (BET) is an American basic cable and satellite television channel that is owned by the BET Networks division of Viacom. It is the most prominent television network targeting African American audiences, and currently reaches more than 88 million households. The channel is headquartered in Washington, D.C..

Programming on the network consists of original and acquired television series, theatrically- and home video-released movies, and mainstream rap, hip-hop and R&B music videos. As of February 2015, approximately 88,255,000 American households (75.8% of households with television) receive BET.

History

After stepping down as a lobbyist for the cable industry, Freeport, Illinois native Robert L. Johnson decided to launch his own cable television network. Johnson would soon acquire a loan for $15,000 and a $500,000 investment from media executive John Malone to start the network. The network, which was named Black Entertainment Television, launched on January 25, 1980. Initially broadcasting for two hours a week as a block of programming on Nickelodeon (it would not be until 1983 that BET became a full-fledged channel), the network's lineup consisted of music videos and reruns of popular black sitcoms.

DJ Khaled

Khaled Mohamed Khaled (born November 26, 1975), better known by his stage name DJ Khaled, is an American record producer, radio personality, DJ and record label executive. He used to go by the name Arab Attack, but changed it after the 9/11 attacks, as he didn't want to appear insensitive. He is a radio host for the Miami-based urban music radio station WEDR and the DJ for the hip hop group Terror Squad. In 2006, Khaled released his debut album Listennn... the Album. He went on to release We the Best (2007), We Global (2008), Victory (2010), We the Best Forever (2011), Kiss the Ring (2012) and Suffering from Success (2013). In 2009, Khaled became the president of record label Def Jam South and he is also the CEO and founder of We the Best Music Group. He hosts the weeknight program TakeOver on Miami-based urban music radio station WEDR with fellow host K. Foxx; Khaled states that he has worked for the station professionally since 2003. In 1998, Khaled worked as a DJ for M Luther Campbell for Campbell's Friday night WEDR radio show The Luke Show.