Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar baptise BET Awards with “Freedom”

It's impossible to have a conversation about pop in 2016 without Beyoncé coming up, and the BET Awards honoured this fact by having her and her phalanx of dancers get into formation while excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s “I Have a Dream” speech opened the show. Beyonce and her dancers launched into a version of “Freedom” that was choreographed on a pool, creating an eye-popping visual that matched the Lemonade track's agitated intensity. When Kendrick Lamar showed up with a tweaked version of his on-record verse, the already-high energy quotient kicked into overdrive.

The sight of Beyoncé and Lamar, two of music's most prominent, vocal and political figures, dancing fiercely yet with a keen sense of purpose as water splashed around them jolted the night into high gear and provided the first of many must-see moments.

Yemi Alade wears N2.5m dress to BET Awards
Nigerian diva, Yemi Alade attended the just concluded 2016 BET Awards after being nominated for the “Best International Act: Africa” but lost out to Black coffee.

Yemi made a bold fashion statement on the red carpet wearing a piece from celebrated designer Zuhair Murad's 2016 Resort Collection which reportedly cost a staggering sum of N2.5million.

Pairing with the dress, she wore minimal makeup and jewellery and allowed the expensive dress do all the talking.

Lil Wayne punches bouncer after BET Awards

According to reports music star, Lil Wayne reportedly punched a nightclub doorman after the 2016 BET Awards on Sunday night.

Report has it that the 33-year-old was hosting an after-party at Hyde nightclub with 2 Chainz when things started getting out of hand.

Apparently several members of Lil Wayne's entourage were turned away at the door, which led to the argument and Wayne unleashing a punch.

Lil Wayne's camp says he did not punch the bouncer and there was only a brief dispute. The bouncer reportedly grabbed Wayne's arm without realising who he was.

Below is BET Awards 2016 complete list of nominees and winners

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist
Adele
Andra Day
WINNER: Beyoncé
K. Michelle
Rihanna

Best Male R&B/Pop Artist
WINNER: Bryson Tiller
Chris Brown
Jeremih
The Weeknd
Tyrese

Best Group
2 Chainz & Lil Wayne
WINNER: Drake & Future
Puff Daddy & The Family
Rae Sremmurd
The Internet

Best Collaboration
Big Sean feat. Chris Brown & Ty Dolla $ign – “Play No Games”

Big Sean feat. Kanye West & John Legend – “One Man Can Change the World”
Future feat. Drake – “Where Ya At”
Nicki Minaj feat. Beyoncé – “Feeling Myself”
WINNER: Rihanna feat. Drake – “Work”

Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
WINNER: Drake
Fetty Wap
Future
J. Cole
Kanye West
Kendrick Lamar

Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
Dej Loaf
Lil Kim
Missy Elliott
WINNER: Nicki Minaj
Remy Ma
Beyoncé

Video of the Year
WINNER: Beyoncé – “Formation”
Bryson Tiller – “Don't”
Drake – “Hotline Bling”
Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
Rihanna feat. Drake – “Work”

Video Director of the Year
Benny Boom
Chris Brown
Colin Tilley & The Little Homies
WINNER: Director X
Hype Williams

Best New Artist
Alessia Cara
Andra Day
WINNER: Bryson Tiller
Kehlani
Tory Lanez
Dr. Bobby Jones

Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
Anthony Brown & Group Therapy
Erica Campbell
WINNER: Kirk Franklin
Lecrae
Tamela Mann
Tasha Cobbs

Best Actress
Gabrielle Union
Kerry Washington
WINNER: Taraji P. Henson
Tracee Ellis Ross
Viola Davis

Best Actor
Anthony Anderson
Courtney B. Vance
Idris Elba
WINNER: Michael B. Jordan
O'Shea Jackson Jr.

Youngstars Award
WINNER: Amandla Stenberg
Quvenzhan Wallis
Silent
Willow Smith
Yara Shahidi

Best Movie
Beasts of No Nation
Concussion
Creed
Dope
WINNER: Straight Outta Compton

Sportswoman of the Year
Cheyenne Woods
Gabrielle Douglas
WINNER: Serena Williams
Skylar Diggins
Venus Williams

Sportsman of the Year
Cam Newton
Kobe Bryant
LeBron James
Odell Beckham Jr.
WINNER: Stephen Curry

Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice Award
WINNER: Beyoncé – “Formation”
Bryson Tiller – “Don't”
Chris Brown – “Back to Sleep”
Drake – “Hotline Bling”
Future feat. Drake – “Where Ya At”
Rihanna feat. Drake – “Work”

Centric Award
Andra Day – “Rise Up”
WINNER: Beyoncé – “Formation”
K. Michelle – “Not a Little Bit”
Rihanna – “Bitch Better Have My Money”
The Internet – “Under Control”

Best International Act Africa
Aka (South Africa)
WINNER: Black Coffee (South Africa)
Cassper Nyovest (South Africa)
Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)
Mzvee (Ghana)
Serge Beynaud (Cote D'ivoire)
WINNER: Wizkid (Nigeria)
Yemi Alade (Nigeria)

Best International Act U.K.
Kano
Krept & Konan
Lianne La Havas
WINNER: Skepta
Stormzy
Tinie Tempah

Lifetime Achievement Award
WINNER: Samuel L. Jackson