During tonight’s BET Hip-Hop Awards, performers spanning rap’s 50-year history took the stage for a cross-generational celebration of the genre. Among the performers were rising New York act Lola Brooke, who performed in the show’s legendary cypher, along with That Mexican OT, Symba, Scar Lip, Gloss Up, Lanell Grant, Foggieraw, Cassidy, and Bun B.

Brooke was nominated for Best Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist alongside Central Cee, Doechii, Ice Spice, and more. Brooke’s viral hit “Don’t Play With It,” was originally released in May 2021 and featured Billy B. It became a hit on social media in 2022, and earlier this year, Brooke released a remix for the single featuring Latto and Yung Miami.

This year’s show also marked the introduction of one of 2023’s hottest new acts, Sexyy Red. Fresh off of her appearance on Drake’s much-talked-about album For All The Dogs, Sexyy Red performed “Pound Town,” “Shake Yo Dreads,” and “SkeeYee” for an audience of eager fans in Atlanta.

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Sexyy Red was also nominated for Best Breakthrough Hip-Hop Artist, all thanks to a marquee year full of hit singles like “Pound Town,” and SkeeYee,” both of which became viral sensations. Most recently Red collaborated with Drake and SZA for the standout track “Rich Baby Daddy,” from Drake’s latest, For All The Dogs.

In celebration of fifty years of hip-hop, this year’s awards show featured many of the genre’s legacy acts. Other performers included GloRilla, Ludacris, Jermaine Dupri, and Timbaland who also received the Rock the Bells Cultural Influence Award. The celebrations also honored producers Marley Marl and Swizz Beats for their contributions to hip-hop.