Welcome to the latest TGJ Roundtable!

Over the years, That Grape Juice has established a distinguished voice that – whether loved or loathed – sparks discussion, debate, and on occasion drama!

Though comprised of seasoned writers who share a similar outlook on Urban Pop culture, the idiosyncrasies of the TGJ team members often lend to quite heated debates “behind the scenes” about the hottest topics.

Now, we give you a front-row seat to the show. In a format similar to ‘The View,’ the TGJ team get real in a very candid way.

Today’s roundtable topic asks each anchor their thoughts on the…

BET Awards 2025

Sam

What…a…show!

The BET Awards 2025, for me, defined “abundance.”

Beyond its nearly five-hour runtime, the ceremony was packed to the brim with memorable moments and was attended by its lengthiest list of Hollywood heavy-hitters in years. A fitting celebration of BET’s 45th year, the show also toasted the 25th anniversary of its flagship series, ‘106 & Park.’

Unsurprisingly, the latter was the night’s highlight. Hands down.

Spotlighting the artists and songs that defined a coveted space and place in time, I’m still catching my breath from the brilliance of the segment.

Unrelenting in the best way, the back-to-back slays of acts like Mya (the night’s MVP for me), B2K, Ashanti, and T.I. reaffirmed that the enduring nature of what they and BET as a platform have gifted the culture.

Elsewhere, other electrifying moments included Teyana Taylor’s all-out performance of ‘Long Time,’ Snoop Dogg and Jamie Foxx’s Ultimate Icon Award speeches, and Kirk Franklin’s epic closer.

And while my girl Mariah Carey was all sorts of ornamental during her debut performance of new single ‘Type Dangerous’ (which I still somewhat enjoyed sonically), her Ultimate Icon acceptance speech was fittingly iconic.

Holistically, it was abundantly clear that there was a measured effort to ensure this year’s iteration of the show boasted a sheen and shine reflective of its various milestones. From host Kevin Hart to the tier of talent actually in the building to the seismic scale of the production. The ceremony felt exquisitely elevated on all fronts.

Long positioned as Culture’s Biggest Night, the BET Awards 2025 delivered on this title and then some.

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Rashad

Granted, those long acceptance speeches may have felt like State of the Union addresses, but the 2025 BET Awards was a flawless production that seemed specifically geared toward us millennials who were likely thrilled to not have to sit through mumble rapper after mumble rapper!

So performance-driven that it’s easy to forget who won which award, the night ultimately kicked off with a bang thanks to a stunning tribute to ‘106 & Park.’

Mya shone as its clear highlight as the good sis served a scorching reminder that she is still THAT girl, but Amerie redeemed herself from that Tiny Desk showing, the B2K reunion was fire, and Keyshia, Ashanti, T.I., and Bow Wow all did their respective things!

Elsewhere in the show, Tank and Jennifer Hudson blew the roof off the Peacock Theater with their stunning tribute to Jamie Foxx that left him and yours truly fighting tears. The night’s only misses on the tribute front was that Chante Moore and Tamar Braxton didn’t get to tribute ultimate icon recipient Mariah Carey and those Quincy Jones and Roberta Flack tributes could’ve been a little thicker admittedly.

Shout out to Brittany Spencer for her mesmerizing rendition of Angie Stone’s “No More Rain” though.

Teyana Taylor and GloRilla brought the theatrics with their respective performances (which was appreciated), but both were forgettable if you ask me.

All-in-all, I was pleased with the ceremony as it always boasts the best hosts, livest audiences, most heartfelt moments, and overall must-see list of performers! It always feels like a big televised family reunion and I love that.

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Malik

The 2025 BET Awards can be summed up in one word: revival. 

A revival of nostalgia, a revival of iconic performances, and above all, a revival of what made the BET Awards a cultural staple in the first place.

The pre-show set the tone, with solid performances and high energy. One of the most talked-about moments was the Honey Bxby and Lil’ Kim collaboration. On paper, it was a genius pairing, a blend of new-school soul and old-school royalty, but the execution fell slightly flat. We love Queen Bee, always, but this wasn’t her strongest showing.

The 106 & Park throwback performance featuring Bow Wow, Amerie, and Ashanti delivered the nostalgic vibes the audience came for. It was great to see the crowd truly engaged, singing along and feeling every beat. Amerie, in particular, had a standout moment—a well-deserved comeback after her Tiny Desk performance stirred up some criticism. She reminded everyone exactly why she deserves her flowers.

Kevin Hart as host? The cherry on top. From his hilarious Usher reenactment to a sharp, timely monologue, Hart brought the comedy, charisma, and star power needed to guide a show this ambitious. He balanced humor with heart, and his presence elevated the entire experience.

The show’s tributes were a major highlight. Honoring Mariah Carey, Kirk Franklin, Snoop Dogg, and Jamie Foxx, BET curated an incredible lineup that celebrated icons across generations. These performances were heartfelt and well-produced.

The In Memoriam segment, which featured Roberta Flack and Angie Stone, was touching, but it felt a bit rushed. While the show ran long, it would’ve been fitting to include more artists to fully honor the legends we’ve lost.

From the music to the moments, this year’s BET Awards reminded us why the culture shows up for this night every year. It was one of the best ceremonies in the past five years, and we have the ’99s and the 2000s to thank for that.

Let’s hope this revival is just the beginning of a new era for the BET Awards.

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Do you agree with our picks? Who was spot on? Let us know your thoughts on the latest TGJ Roundtable and your thoughts on the BET Awards 2025.

Your thoughts?

[Photo credit: BET / Getty]

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