The BET Awards are on the horizon. Outside of the performances and anticipation of who will win the different award categories, the BET awards has built a reputation of some pretty unforgettable acceptance speeches. The Source has compiled a list of the Top Five Acceptance Speeches We Will Never Forget.
Whitney Houston 2001 Lifetime Achievement Award Speech
http://www.bet.com/video/betawards/2001/acceptance/whitney-houston-highlight-beta-2001.html
Who knew the Queen of Pop was the Queen of Ad Libs and improvising, as well? Whitney was honored with the first ever BET Lifetime Achievement Award for the first annual BET Awards in 2001 and what an acceptance speech she gave. She thanked so many people with some truly personal thank yous that it almost made you feel like you knew that person, or at least wanted to know them after hearing her intimate messages to each of them. To top it off, we love how she saved the King of R & B, her husband, Bobby Brown for last as her love for her man was ever so evident in her dedication to him. Whitney was pure love on that particular night and we surely miss the light she shined upon us all every single time she graced a stage.
Smokey Robinson’s 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award Speech
http://www.bet.com/video/betawards/2015/acceptance-speeches/lifetime-achievement-award-beta15.html
Smokey Robinson was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2015 BET Awards. After years of accomplishments and definitely being a legend in this world of music, Smokey displayed how even this award meant just as much to him, if not more, than any award he has ever received. He took his time to express his gratitude to Berry Gordy, his friends, and tour family. His gratitude towards his wife was so metaphorically amazing that it might have made you question your own relationship. No, seriously. He stated:
“Father, you gave me Francis, my wonderful wife who is my help mate. Many many times my life is hectic, man, and its so comforting to know that the home front, the behind the scenes, is in more than capable hands. She’s my goalie. She blocks so much from getting into me. A lot of shit that I don’t even know about. But I know it’s okay because she’s standing there. She’s got my back.”
But all in all our favorite part of the Smokey Robinson acceptance speech was his lesson in humbleness for the newer generation of talent. He was sure to remind us all that “You didn’t start this. You were not the first in line. The line started way, way, way, way before your great great great great grandparents were born. Also, you are not the end of the line, so don’t be so full of yourselves.”
Kanye West & Jay-Z Video of the Year Speech
Now we all know Kanye probably had the best acceptance speech interruption of all time, if there were ever any others. But, Jay-Z’s interruption during Kanye’s acceptance speech for their Video of the Year Award in 2012 was absolutely hilarious if we must say so. Jay-Z’s clever humor is always right on time just as much as all his politically correct answers.
Nicki Minaj 2014 Best Female Hip Hop Artist Speech
http://www.bet.com/video/betawards/2014/acceptance-speeches/best-female-hip-hop-artist.html
If you’re a true Nicki Minaj fan, you could feel the shade from a mile away, in this case from the very start of her speech for Best Female Hip Hop Artist. That year was Nicki’s fifth year winning the same award, but probably the first year she actually had relevant peers who were in the same musical lane. About 30 seconds into her speech, she rushed through a plug promotion of her upcoming Pink Print album just to get to the main point. She stated:
“But my point is, what I want the world to know about Nicki Minaj is that when you hear Nicki Minaj spit, Nicki Minaj wrote it.” She was quick to follow up with, “No, no, no, no shade” in a very shady manner, but hey, if Nicki says there was no shade, we are going to believe her.
The general comment making headlines from Nicki’s speech were said to be directed at Iggy Azalea, who people question about her writing credits and natural rapping abilities.
Kanye 2004 Best New Artist Speech
http://www.bet.com/video/betawards/2004/acceptance/kanye-west-acceptance-speech-beta-2004.html
This acceptance speech is considered a Top Five simply because it’s kind of hard to believe there was ever a Kanye as humble as the 2004 Kanye, who had just won Best New Artist. The 2004 Kanye stated he didn’t know what kind of year he would have next year so he was simply grateful to see and be amongst all the famous people who were in attendance. The new Kanye is assertive and confident to say the least. He knows for sure what kind of year he will have so much so that he can predict it beforehand and often times he will exceed those expectations tremendously. Kanye is a legend. He is an icon. To think he was once just happy to be amongst famous folk is a moment we should always remember.
Let’s see what 2016 BET Awards speeches can top these.
