BET Awards 2014: 1 shot dead, 1 stabbed at 'unaffiliated' awards parties

A fatal shooting and a separate stabbing at unsanctioned parties celebrating Sunday's BET Awards cast a shadow over the event, where top superstars like Lil Wayne, Chris Rock and others were set to mark the best in black entertainment.

Rapper Meek Mill hosted a BET Awards pre-party Saturday night that was interrupted by a fight that left a man stabbed, according to website hotnewhiphop.com.MTV 

One person was killed and five injured in two separate incidents ahead of the show at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, Los Angeles police said. The events were "unauthorized and unaffiliated with the BET Awards," BET said in a statement.

"The network and all organizers will continue to maintain a safe environment for all planned activities," the statement said.

The death and four of the injuries followed gunfire early Sunday at a restaurant, Officer Drake Madison said. Separately, a man was stabbed in the stomach Saturday night at a nightclub. Rapper Meek Mill hosted the party where a fight led to the stabbing, according to websitehotnewhiphop.com.

The violence could change the mood at the ceremony. This year, some of the performers include Pharrell, John Legend and Nicki Minaj.

Top nominees are Drake, Beyonce and Jay Z, who have five each.

Drake, who was originally set to perform at the show, will not attend, BET said Sunday. A representative for Beyonce also said the singer wouldn't attend, and her husband's rep wouldn't divulge if Jay Z would be there or not. Their attendance had nothing to do with the violence at the weekend parties.

Drake didn't attend last year's show, where he won video of the year. This year, the 27-year-old rapper's "Worst Behavior" is nominated for the top prize, competing with Beyonce's "Drunk in Love" and "Partition," as well as Pharrell's "Happy" and Chris Brown's "Fine China."

Beyonce and Jay Z launched a co-headlining stadium tour days ago. She is nominated for best female R&B/pop artist, with little competition aside from Rihanna, while her husband will battle Drake, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole and Future for best male hip-hop artist.

Pharrell scored four nominations, including best male R&B/pop artist, best collaboration for Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" and the viewer's choice award. Beyonce, Drake and rising newcomers August Alsina and Jhene Aiko are also up for the fan-voted award.

Thicke, who is set to release his new album, "Paula" -- an ode to his wife, Paula Patton, whom he is separated from -- on Tuesday, will perform Sunday. Usher, Lil Wayne, Mary J. Blige and Iggy Azalea will also take the stage.

Minaj and Azalea -- whose anthemic "Fancy" has spent its fifth week on top of the Billboard charts -- will compete for best female hip-hop artist, an award Minaj has won consecutively for four years.

Lionel Richie will be honored with a lifetime achievement award at the show, to be hosted by Chris Rock. Kerry Washington, Kevin Hart and Gabrielle Union are among this year's presenters.

BET Considers Chris Brown Reality TV Series; Singer Denies Potential Show

UPDATE: BET has reportedly held focus groups to see if a Chris Brown reality series would appeal to viewers. Brown says it's not for him.

BET is looking into airing a Chris Brown reality television series, according to TMZ.

The network has reportedly held focus groups to see if the show appeals to viewers. 

BET is willing to air the Chris Brown series, which would chronicle Brown's life and daily events after his time in jail, according to the publication's sources. 

Production companies are reportedly trying to work out different deals with Brown. 

On Tuesday (June 24), a focus group was held in California, according to the report. Participants in the group were asked if they would tune in to a Brown reality show. TMZ says the focus group was comprised of African American women and that they were split. Nevertheless, the report says a majority would view the show to see if Brown would make mistakes on his journey to stay free from drugs and violence. 

BET has not addressed the potential series. 

Chris Brown was released from prison earlier this month. This year, he was involved in an altercation in Washington D.C. while the singer was on parole. Brown and his bodyguard allegedly punched a person outside of their hotel. This year, Brown was also in rehab, however he was later kicked out of the rehabilitation facility for breaking its rules. The singer-rapper was reportedly asked to leave the facility after throwing a rock at his mother's car when she visited him.  

(June 27, 2014)

UPDATE: Chris Brown denies a potential reality series. 

When asked about this by TMZ, Brown responded: "Nah, not for me, man." 

  Chris Brown -- Sorry BET, I'm Not Doing Reality TV

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BET names Wizkid and Sarkodie ‘Best African Act’

It’s a tie between Wizkid and Sakordie!
Ayo ‘Wizkid’ Balogun has won the award for ‘Best International Act: Africa’ at the 2012 edition of the BET Awards!

The Nigerian pop act jointly won the award with Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie at the awards ceremony taking place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California on July 1, 2012.

The EME act and Sarkodie had faced tough competition from other nominees – Nigerian rapper Ice Prince, Kenyan Hip-Hop/R&B group Camp Mulla, South African singer Lira and French speaking Malian rapper Mokobe for the coveted Best African Act prize.
‘Thankful!‘, an excited Wizkid tweeted.
This isn’t the first time the Best African Act award will be jointly won. Last year, African pop giants D’banj and 2face came out tops and received a joint award prize in the same category.
Wizkid also won the MOBO prize for Best African act in 2011

Exclusive: Estelle, Lil Kim to Perform on BET's 'Rip the Runway'

By LORI TOSAN
BET's annual fashion and music show, 'Rip the Runway,' is right around the corner and promises a star-studded show with notable performances and guest appearances. Billboard.com's The Juice exclusively announces female stage presence with performances by Estelle ** and Lil' Kim **. Both femmes will perform alongside recently announced acts B.o.B. **, Wale **, Diggy Simmons **, Jeremih, ** and Meek Mill **
Estelle and Kim have been in the studio, lacing new albums. Estelle, currently on the BET Music Matters Tour alongside R&B peers Elle Varner **, Stacy Barthe, and Luke James **, is releasing her third studio album, "All of Me," next Tuesday (Feb. 28). The album's first single, "Thank You," moved up three slots this week on the R&B/HIp-Hop Songs chart, from No. 25 to 22.
Lil' Kim recently released auto-tuned friendly, "If You Love Me," on Valentine's Day (Feb. 14), off her upcoming untitled album.
This year, 'Rip the Runway' will focus on more than just five designers. Expect a variety of segments portraying both couture and casual, and a platform showing viewers how to mix both. 'Rip the Runway' will air on BET March 21st at 10 pm (EST).