For a watchlist that spans surprise collaborations, tributes, reunions, spectacle and political staging, these BET Awards performances are strong places to start. This is a curated selection—not an objective ranking—and BET’s own retrospective supplies the framing for several of the moments below.
How to choose a BET Awards performance to watch
There is no single official measure of the “best” performance in this selection. Instead, the moments stand out for different reasons: a collaboration or surprise, a tribute or reunion, a distinctive stage concept, a focus on live performance, or cultural and political context. BET’s 2025 retrospective brings together examples across those modes, but it is an editorial selection rather than a complete archive or an independent ranking.
Collaborations, reunions and a comic remake
Beyoncé and Jay-Z perform “Crazy in Love” (2003)
BET describes this as Beyoncé’s first solo BET Awards performance, with Jay-Z joining her for “Crazy in Love.” It makes the list for the pairing and the career-transition moment: a solo debut on the awards stage built around a collaboration. Read BET’s retrospective.
Mo’Nique reworks “Crazy in Love” (2004)
The following year, Mo’Nique offered a comic, high-energy recreation of the previous year’s Beyoncé performance. It is the watchlist’s clearest example of a performance built around parody rather than a conventional tribute or collaboration. BET includes the moment in its retrospective.
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Alicia Keys brings out SWV, En Vogue and TLC (2008)
BET identifies the appearance of SWV, En Vogue and TLC during Alicia Keys’s performance as a girl-group reunion moment. The draw is the unexpected grouping: several groups sharing the stage within one performance. See BET’s account.
Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars perform as Silk Sonic (2021)
BET’s retrospective also names the duo’s Silk Sonic performance. It offers a more recent collaboration entry for viewers who want to move beyond the earlier award-show moments in this list. The retrospective identifies the appearance but does not establish a broader ranking or a specific performance statistic. BET’s 2025 retrospective.
Rank #2
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Tributes and returns
Michael Jackson honors James Brown (2003)
In 2003, Michael Jackson honored James Brown onstage. The significance here is the exchange between two influential performers across generations; there is no need to inflate the moment with unsupported claims about how the audience reacted. BET’s retrospective highlights the tribute.
Ne-Yo and Jamie Foxx pay tribute to Michael Jackson (2009)
BET frames this tribute in the context of the awards show being restructured after Jackson’s death. That is the retrospective’s framing; it should not be mistaken for a complete account of the production decisions. The performance belongs on a tribute-focused watchlist for the way the ceremony responded to a major loss. Read BET’s retrospective.
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Rank #3
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Prince tributes (2010)
BET’s retrospective calls out a tribute sequence featuring Patti LaBelle, Alicia Keys and Janelle Monáe. BET’s 2010 gallery also confirms that Prince received that year’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Together, those details make this an entry for viewers interested in how the ceremony honored an artist through a sequence of performances. BET’s retrospective.
Other tribute and return moments
- Chris Brown’s Michael Jackson tribute (2010): Named in BET’s retrospective as another tribute performance from the year.
- D’Angelo’s return (2012): BET includes the appearance as a return moment; the retrospective is the basis for that characterization.
- Janet Jackson’s Icon tribute (2015): Another tribute highlighted by BET’s selection.
BET’s retrospective covers these selections.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Performances built around staging and cultural context
Kendrick Lamar performs “Alright” (2015)
BET describes the staging as featuring a graffiti-covered police car and upside-down American flags, and frames the performance as a political statement. Those visual details explain why it stands out: the staging is part of the performance’s meaning, not merely a backdrop. The interpretation should be understood as BET’s framing. See BET’s retrospective.
Rank #4
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Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar perform “Freedom” (2016)
BET highlights the water-and-fire staging and choreography in Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar’s performance of “Freedom.” It is the strongest spectacle-focused pick in this selection, with the visual concept and movement central to its appeal. BET’s retrospective.
More recent, distinctive formats
- Megan Thee Stallion’s virtual performance (2020): BET includes it as a performance shaped by a virtual format.
- Cardi B reveals her pregnancy during a 2021 performance: The retrospective names the reveal as a notable moment within the performance.
BET’s 2025 retrospective identifies both moments.
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Where to watch BET Awards performances
BET’s current BET Awards performances page is the clearest verified destination for event videos. It is labeled for the 2026 performances; that page does not establish that every older performance in this guide is available there. BET promotes Paramount+ streaming for its programming, but the availability of these specific historical clips on a subscription service is not confirmed here. Check the individual video listing before relying on a particular destination.
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