What Is 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards

Overview

The 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards celebrated the most influential artists, producers, and tracks in hip hop music during the eligibility period from July 2012 to June 2013. The event recognized achievements across 16 categories, including Best Hip Hop Video, MVP of the Year, and Producer of the Year.

Hosted by comedian Mike Epps for the second year in a row, the ceremony highlighted performances and accolades that defined the year in hip hop. The show aired live from the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 15, 2013, and was broadcast nationally on BET.

• Jay Z dominated the night with 12 nominations and ultimately won 5 awards, including MVP of the Year and Best Live Performer.
• Future earned 6 nominations and won the Reese's Perfect Combo Award for his collaboration with Pharrell and Pusha T on 'Karate Chop'.
• Drake received 10 nominations and won Best Hip Hop Video for 'Started From the Bottom'.
• The People's Champ Award went to 2 Chainz for his hit single 'Feds Watching', reflecting strong fan engagement.
• Best Female Hip Hop Artist was awarded to Nicki Minaj, marking her third consecutive win in the category since 2011.

How It Works

The BET Hip Hop Awards are determined through a combination of industry input, chart performance, and public voting, depending on the category. While some awards are judged by a panel, others reflect real-time audience engagement and digital metrics.

• Nominations Process: A committee of music industry professionals and BET executives reviews eligible music released between July and June. Eligibility spans from July 2012 to June 2013 for the 2013 edition.
• Voting: Public voting accounts for select categories such as People's Champ Award, while others rely on internal panels and data from Nielsen SoundScan.
• Categories: There are 16 award categories, including Producer of the Year, Best Collaboration, and Lyricist of the Year, each highlighting different aspects of hip hop artistry.
• Eligibility Window: Artists must release music between July 2012 and June 2013 to qualify, ensuring the awards reflect a consistent annual cycle.
• Host Selection:Mike Epps returned as host in 2013 due to his energetic delivery and strong reception during the 2012 ceremony.
• Performance Integration: Winners and nominees often perform live, with 2013 featuring sets from Kendrick Lamar, Future, and T.I.

Comparison at a Glance

Award distribution and nominee counts reveal trends in hip hop dominance during 2013.

The table shows Jay Z’s dominance in nominations and wins, reflecting his successful Magna Carta Holy Grail album release in 2013. While Drake and Kendrick Lamar remained influential, Jay Z’s strategic partnerships—like the Samsung album rollout—boosted his metrics significantly.

Why It Matters

The 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards underscored the genre’s cultural influence and the evolving role of digital distribution in music success. With Jay Z’s Samsung-backed release model reshaping industry standards, the awards highlighted how innovation impacts recognition.

• Industry Validation: Winning an award like MVP of the Year boosts an artist’s credibility and can lead to higher touring revenue and endorsement deals.
• Artist Exposure: Performances during the broadcast reached over 3.5 million viewers, giving emerging artists like Trinidad James significant visibility.
• Cultural Barometer: The awards reflect which artists and themes—such as street authenticity or commercial success—are resonating in hip hop at a given time.
• Streaming Influence: Jay Z’s 1 million free downloads via Samsung directly influenced his chart performance and award eligibility.
• Fan Engagement: Public voting categories like People's Champ allow fans to directly impact outcomes, increasing engagement with the BET brand.
• Historical Record: The ceremony serves as a documented snapshot of hip hop’s evolution, useful for historians, journalists, and music scholars.

Ultimately, the 2013 BET Hip Hop Awards celebrated not just talent, but the shifting dynamics of music consumption, artist branding, and audience interaction in the digital age.