Cardi B performs "Press." Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Cardi B and Offset perform "Clout." Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Offset performs. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Lizzo performs "Truth Hurts." Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Lizzo performs "Truth Hurts." Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Quavo of Migos performs with Takeoff of Migos and Mustard (not pictured). Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Billy Ray Cyrus (L) and Lil Nas X perform "Old Town Road." Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, Korey Wise, and Yusef Salaam, the Exonerated Five, speak onstage. Their experience in the criminal justice system in 1989 was recently dramatized in a Netflix series called "When They See Us." Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
H.E.R. performs. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
H.E.R. plays the upright bass. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
DJ Khaled (L) and John Legend perform. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
From left to right, DJ Khaled, Cobby Supreme and Legend perform onstage. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
From left to right, DJ Khaled, Jeremih and Meek Mill perform "You Stay" onstage. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Widow Lauren London and family accept Humanitarian award on behalf of Nipsey Hussle. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Johnny Gill performs. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Taraji P. Henson speaks onstage. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Tyler Perry accepts the Icon award. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Rhianna speaks onstage. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Mary J. Blige accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Mary J. Blige performs. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Mary J. Blige (R) and Method Man perform. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Lil' Kim performs. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Ella Mai accepts the Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice award for 'Trip' onstage. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Yung Miami performs. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Cardi B accepts the Album of the Year award. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Marsai Martin accepts the YoungStars award. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Reverend Al Sharpton accepts the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational award. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Marsha Ambrosius performs. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Bose Ogulu (R) accepts the Best International Act on behalf of her son Burna Boy from Ayesha Curry (L) and Ne-Yo onstage. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Lil Baby accepts the Best New Artist award. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Kirk Franklin performs "Love Theory." Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Yara Shahidi presents an award. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Kiana Ledé performs. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Erica Campbell (L) and Jonathan McReynolds perform. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Fantasia Barrino performs. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Lucky Daye performs. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Taraji P. Henson (L) and host Regina Hall speak onstage. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Hall (L) and Sugar Bear perform onstage. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
Da Baby performs onstage. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
June 24 (UPI) -- Cardi B, Lil Baby and Snoop Dogg were the big winners Sunday night during the 2019 BET Awards, with artist Mary J. Blige and the late rapper Nipsey Hussle honored.
Cardi B, the most nominated artist of the night with seven nods, kicked off the event with a performance with Offset and then picked up the Album of the Year award for Invasion of Privacy.
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Lil Baby beat out Queen Naija, City Girls, Blueface and Juice Wrld for Best New Artist and Snoop Dogg earned the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspiration Award for "Blessing me Again."
Blige had the audience at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on their feet when she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Rihanna, who called her the "undeniable queen of hip hop and R&B."
The 48-year old singer said she has lots of people to thank for the award "because when you have a lifetime of achievements, there's no way you could have done it alone."
She thanked her family, friends and fans for being there for her while giving a special shout out to Puff Daddy.
"Thank you for believing in me more than I ever believed in myself and pushing me further and further," she said. "You continue to be one of my biggest inspirations."
Hussle, who was killed in March, was posthumously honored with the Humanitarian Award.
"Ermias 'Nipsey Hussle' Asghedom was more than a rapper, teacher, actor and philanthropist -- he was a revolutionary," said rapper T.I., who presented the award to Hussle's family. "His emphasis on the power of equity and ownership of our art led the charge of independence and created a blueprint for up-and-coming artists today to follow."
He said in the three months since his death, people are still learning about him for the first time and he is still causing change because he wasn't after fame, he wasn't a "social media activist."
"He was a real one, a true king, simply concerned with promoting human welfare, uplifting those around him," he said. "As a prolific artist, his lyrics, interviews are immensely powerful, but his actions spoke even louder."
Other big winners at the 19th annual event that honors accomplishments in the black entertainment industry include Regina King, who took home Best Actress for her role in If Beale Street Could Talk over Issa Rae, Regina Hall and Viola Davis; 14-year-old Marsai Martin (Little, Black-ish), who won the coveted Young Stars Award; and The BlacKkKlansman, which won Best Movie.