Before the BET Awards return to Los Angeles, an official performance playlist rewinds years of unforgettable hip-hop and R&B moments from the show’s brightest stars.
As we gear up for the upcoming BET Awards, we are looking back at the live capturings that made the show appointment television.
Officially titled BET Awards Playlist: Decades of Culture, the extended video transports viewers through years of iconic performances from some of the brightest stars in entertainment.
From Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige and Rihanna to Ashanti, Alicia Keys and plenty more, the playlist pulls together the hip-hop and R&B moments that kept audiences talking long after the stage lights went down.
Revisit the music moments before the BET Awards return live Sunday, June 28.
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The BET Awards stage has always been more than another stop on the promotional schedule. It is where artists arrive ready to turn a television appearance into a statement through live vocals, choreography, surprise guests, tributes and performances built specifically for the room.
Some moments arrive with full arena-sized production. Others rely on one performer, one microphone and enough presence to hold the entire audience. Together, they document how hip-hop and R&B performance has moved, shifted and expanded across the decades.
The official playlist moves freely between generations, placing established legends beside artists who were still in the process of becoming them. That is part of the fun: watching the exact stage moments when a song, artist or era suddenly felt larger than it had the day before.
The rewind arrives ahead of the BET Awards 2026, airing live from Los Angeles on Sunday, June 28, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Press play on all thee timeless hip-hop and R&B performances, viral moments and Black excellence right below.
Watch the official BET Awards performance playlist.
Travel through years of memorable BET Awards performances featuring Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, Alicia Keys and many more.
Sources: The official BET Networks YouTube channel provided the featured performance playlist; the official BET Awards page provided the June 28 broadcast date and time.
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