2016 BET Awards Recap, Read, Roast and Gathering………..Part 2
The post is getting a little long, so I’m breaking it into two parts….
Alicia Keys…GIRL!!! Dear Alicia Keys! I mean! What happened sis? Please bring back the old Alicia Keys…preferably circa 2001-2005. That’s all I’m going to give you and your ‘Garage Band’ performance. Myself and others called it at the beginning of the show whether or not Beyoncè was staying or dipping out…and of course…she DIPPED! Then had Mama Tina accept her awards. BITCH…I lost it! Miss Tina TALKED honey…and threw some shade in there too. I love Bryson Tiller but they Adelled his ass with the sound. Remember when Adelle’s sound f’d up her performance at the Grammy’s. Child…his sound, backing track, and let’s keep it real…those vocals were pretty bad. I still live for Trap Soul though. Jamie Foxx and his beautiful daughter, the youngest one, came out and introduced Laila Ali for a Muhammad Ali tribute. Laila looked amazing as usual and spoke from the heart about her late, great father; one of my heroes. She thanked the fans for our love and support. She almost broke and I was like…hold it together girl or I’m going to lose it too. Maxwell performed his latest single ‘Lake By the Ocean’ (his album is supposed to drop this Friday with no promotion…or course). Maxwell will always be one of my favorite singers. He stays true to himself and hasn’t changed his style, yet still continues to grow as an artist. He proves it’s possible. Take notes Alicia Keys and Usher (I’ll get on your ass in a minute). Maxwell closed his performance with his tribute to Prince by singing ‘Nothing Compares to You.’ I could’ve done without it.
Debra Lee came up to say her little piece as usual and…poor Debra…Sis just can’t get that hair or fashion together. You know what though…this is just who you are and I accept you sis. She was THE ONLY ONE to mention the Orlando mass shooting. Side-eye to everyone else…but any who. After she said her thing she introduced the 2016 Humanitarian Award to actor/activist Jesse Williams and BABY…he PREACHED a word…my lord! That was one of the best speeches…not just at an award show, but period…one of the best I’ve ever heard. He got on everyone in the audience as well as the people who needed to hear it but won’t listen to it because he spoke the truth. His passion, knowledge and wisdom is unparalleled. This is a man with a purpose and a voice. It appears that the torch has been passed onto him.
Fantasia pooched up on that stage and READ that teleprompter baby! I was so proud of her! She introduced Janelle Monet for yet another Prince tribute where she performed a medley of Prince’s hits including “Delirious,” “Kiss,” “I Would Die 4 U,” and more…capped off with assless pants. I lived! Janelle Monet is one of my favorite new artist out today. Prince loved her and they actually worked together. How many new, young artist can say that. So after Janelle Monet saved Prince from making an appearance from the heavens to get these girls together…Anthony Anderson comes out and decides to wear some assless pants as well. Ray J…girl…you were a little too excited to see another grown man’s ass. Just sayin! I’m happy that they gave the rising stars portion (or whatever they call it) of the show more than 20 seconds and let them actually perform. Usher then hits the stage to perform his new song ‘No Limit’ and ummmmm…that will be a no for me. Usher…you are losing your hardcore fan base to try to compete with these younger singers and you don’t have to. Stop it! Just be yourself. You are compromising your talent for relevance and it’s not a good look.
BITCH!!!! Last but not least…SHEILA damn E!!!!! I mean…what? First off…Linda Perry…you can still go to hell for saying she isn’t relevant enough to do a Prince tribute. So F you forever! When you think of Prince…one of the people who first comes to mind is Sheila E. That woman is a musician! She is 58 years old and out performed all of these youngins out here. When they pulled those drums out from the heavens…she went IN! Then I saw Prince’s ex-wife and dancer Mayte Garcia ascend onto the middle of the stage dancing DOWN! I loved it. Jerome from the Time and the twins who danced with Prince for years hit the stage during this epic almost 10 minute tribute. The band backing them I believe was Prince’s current band he had been touring with. But back to Sheila…my lady was in a trance. You could not tell her it wasn’t circa 1985-1986. I love it when these older, real performers hit the stage and show these young folks how to put on a show. Everyone was hype and in awe at the same time. Sheila played the drums, sang, played the guitar, danced and slid FOR HER LIFE!!!! I LIVE! Musical genius! LEGENDARY! At the end you can tell that all of her emotions just took over her. Mayte was there to comfort her because she knew the relationship Prince and Sheila E had. In my opinion…the best part of the show.
The highlights for me were Beyoncè & Kendrick Lamar, Jesse Williams and of course legendary mother…Sheila E. BET lost points with me though for no Phife Dawg tribute thought. Y’all TRIED everyone and should be ashamed of yourselves. And Stephen Hill…you can hold your head as high as you want with that ‘I told you so” attitude if you want to…but have a good awards show at least 2-3 years in a row then you can feel yourself sis. I will post the videos of the performances and speeches from the 2016 BET Awards in another post.
