The 13th BET Awards were held at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles, California on June 30, 2013. The awards ceremony recognized Americans in music, movies, sports and other fields of entertainment over the past year. Comedian and actor Chris Tucker hosted the event for the first time.[1]
The BET Awards nominations were announced on May 14, 2013, at a press conference on the rooftop of L.A.'s Icon Ultra Lounge, just up the street from the Nokia Theatre, where the BET Awards were staged for the first time.[2] Chris Brown was announced as the first confirmed performer. Charlie Wilson was announced as the Cadillac Lifetime Achievement Award honoree.[3] R. Kelly also performed. The show was the culmination of the cable network's first ever BET Experience, a three-day music and lifestyle fest done in partnership with AEG Live. Brown won the Fandemonium Award for the fourth time in a row, while Nicki Minaj won Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, making history as the first female rapper to win the award four consecutive times. Olympic gold medalist Gabrielle Douglas received the YoungStars Award.[4]
Tamar Braxton and Kendrick Lamar announced the nominations. Drake lead with 12 nods, followed by Lamar and 2 Chainz tied with eight nods. A$AP Rocky had five with Jay-Z, while Justin Timberlake and Miguel tied with four. Drake was nominated five times for the top prize, Video of the Year. His hit single "Started from the Bottom" and "HYFR" competed with his collaborations with 2 Chainz ("No Lie"), Lamar ("Poetic Justice"), and A$AP Rocky ("Problems"). The Video of the Year award had 10 nominees for the first time ever, including Justin Timberlake's "Suit & Tie", Kanye West's "Mercy", Miguel's "Adorn", Rihanna's "Diamonds" and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "Thrift Shop".
With her eighth nomination, Beyoncé tied Mary J. Blige for the most nominations received for Best Female R&B Artist.
BET revealed a deal with Anschutz Entertainment Group that would bring the show to the $2.5-billion L.A. Live complex in 2013. "It allows us to take the show to the next level," said Debra Lee, chairman and chief executive of BET. "We are making more opportunities for advertisers and taking it to a level that can get more consumers involved. In addition to concerts, comedy shows and the new home of the BET Awards, the BET Experience 3-day weekend featured "106 & Park" LIVE, BET Fan Fest, film screenings, BET Revealed seminars, BET Grammy Museum exhibit, various social events and celebrity appearances. BET Experience teamed with the BET Awards broadcasting live from Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on June 30, 2013.