# BET Awards 2012

The 12th BET Awards were held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California on July 1, 2012. The awards recognize Americans in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. Actor Samuel L. Jackson hosted the event for the first time. In honor of Whitney Houston, who died earlier in the year, a musical tribute was performed by Monica, Brandy, Gary Houston, Cissy Houston, Chaka Khan, while Mariah Carey shared some personal memories of her longtime friend.
The BET-televised event was watched by 7.42 million viewers and achieved a 3.2 rating in the adult 18-49 demographic, marking the highest numbers for the night on basic cable. Typically taking place every June, this was the first ceremony to be held in July.

## Performers

| Artist(s) | Song(s) |
| Kanye West Big Sean Pusha T 2 Chainz | "Mercy" "Cold" (West) "New God Flow" (West) |
| Usher | "Climax" |
| Yolanda Adams Jessica Reedy Amber Bullock Y'Anna Crawley | "You Brought the Sunshine" |
| Chanté Moore | "Love to Love You Baby" "Bad Girls" (Tribute to Donna Summer) |
| Charles Perry | "Home" |
| Nicki Minaj 2 Chainz | "Champion" (Minaj) Beez in the Trap" |
| Valerie Simpson | "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" |
| Melanie Fiona | "Wrong Side of a Love Song" |
| D'Angelo | "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" "Sugah Daddy" |
| Rick Ross Wale Meek Mill | "Bag of Money" "So Sophisticated" (Ross) "Black Magic" |
| Joe Tyrese Faith Evans | Tribute to Maze featuring Frankie Beverly "Can't Get Over You" (Joe) "Joy and Pain" (Tyrese) "Happy Feelin's" (Evans) |
| Maze featuring Frankie Beverly | "We Are One" "Before I Let Go" |
| Chris Brown | "Don't Wake Me Up" "Turn Up the Music" |
| Monica Brandy Gary Houston Cissy Houston Chaka Khan | Tribute to Whitney Houston "I Love the Lord" (Monica) "I'm Your Baby Tonight" (Brandy) "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" (Brandy) "Where You Are" (G. Houston) "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (C. Houston) "I'm Every Woman" (Khan) |
| Cash Out Tyga | "Cashin' Out" (Cash Out) "Rack City" (Tyga) |

## Nominees and winners

Winners are highlighted in boldface:
| Video of the Year | Video Director of the Year |
| "Otis" – Jay-Z and Kanye West feat. Otis Redding "Countdown" – Beyoncé "Love on Top" – Beyoncé "N----s in Paris" – Jay-Z and Kanye West "Climax" – Usher | Beyoncé & Alan Ferguson Benny Boom Chris Brown & Godfrey Taberez Kanye West Hype Williams |
| Best Female R&B Artist | Best Male R&B Artist |
| Beyoncé Marsha Ambrosius Mary J. Blige Melanie Fiona Rihanna | Chris Brown Bruno Mars Miguel Trey Songz Usher |
| Best Female Hip-Hop Artist | Best Male Hip-Hop Artist |
| Nicki Minaj Diamond Brianna Perry Trina | Drake Big Sean J. Cole Lil Wayne Rick Ross Young Jeezy |
| Best Collaboration | Best New Artist |
| "Lotus Flower Bomb" – Wale feat. Miguel "Party" – Beyoncé feat. J. Cole "Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay" – Big Sean feat. Kanye West & Roscoe Dash "I'm On One" – DJ Khaled feat. Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne "The Motto" – Drake feat. Lil Wayne and Tyga "Otis" – Jay-Z and Kanye West feat. Otis Redding | Big Sean ASAP Rocky Diggy Future Meek Mill |
| Best Group | Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice |
| The Throne Bad Meets Evil Diddy Dirty Money Maybach Music Group Mindless Behavior | "Hello" – Mindless Behavior "The Motto" – Drake feat. Lil Wayne and Tyga "Love on Top" – Beyoncé "Turn Up the Music" – Chris Brown "Otis" – Jay-Z and Kanye West feat. Otis Redding "Lotus Flower Bomb" – Wale feat. Miguel |
| YoungStars Award | Centric Award |
| Diggy Astro Jacob Latimore Keke Palmer Willow Smith | Common Estelle Robert Glasper Robin Thicke Tyrese |
| Best Actress | Best Actor |
| Viola Davis Angela Bassett Taraji P. Henson Regina King Zoe Saldana | Kevin Hart Don Cheadle Common Idris Elba Denzel Washington |
| Best Movie | Best Gospel Artist |
| The Help Good Deeds Jumping the Broom Laugh at My Pain Red Tails | Yolanda Adams Kim Burrell James Fortune & FIYA Fred Hammond Trin-I-Tee 5:7 |
| Subway Sportswoman of the Year | Subway Sportsman of the Year |
| Serena Williams Skylar Diggins Candace Parker Brittney Griner Venus Williams | Kevin Durant Carmelo Anthony Kobe Bryant Victor Cruz LeBron James |
| Best International Act: Africa | Best International Act: United Kingdom |
| Sarkodie (Ghana) and Wizkid (Nigeria) Camp Mulla (Kenya) Ice Prince (Nigeria) Lira (South Africa) Mokobé (Mali) | Wretch 32 Estelle Labrinth Emeli Sandé Sway |