Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


DaBaby Pays Tribute to George Floyd at BET Awards

Associated Press

   NEW YORK - Performing as a police officer pressed his knee on his neck,
   replicating the last moments of George Floyd's life, multi-platinum
   rapperDaBabyrapped a verse from the Black Lives Matter remix of his hit
   song "Rockstar" at the BET Awards.

   Sunday's show, a virtual event because of the coronavirus pandemic,
   featureda number ofhighly produced, well-crafted and pre-taped
   performances.DaBaby'sclip, featuring Roddy Ricch, also featured images
   from protests, a reflection of the current world in the wake of Floyd's
   death and the death of others, including Breonna Taylor and
   AhmaudArbery.

   The BET Awards, celebrating its 20th anniversary, kicked off Sunday
   with a performance featuring Black artists rapping and singing anthems
   about the Black experience and fighting for equal rights.

   The 12-year-old sensation Keedron Bryant, who turned heads on social
   media with his passionate performance about being a young Black man in
   today's world, started the show with an a cappella performance of his
   poignant song "I JustWannaLive,"which earned him a record deal. That
   was followed by an all-star performance of Public Enemy's 1989 anthem
   "Fight the Power," featuringNas, Black Thought,Rapsodyand YG adding new
   lyrics to the song, even namedropping Taylor and others.

   Chuck D kicked off the performance, replacing the year 1989 with 2020.
   "Fight the Power" topped the Billboard rap charts more three decades
   ago and was featured in Spike Lee's epic "Do the Right Thing."
   FlavorFlav, Questlove and Black Thought and Chuck D's artistJahiwere
   also part of the performance.

   Sunday's show also celebrates BET's 40th year as a network. The
   three-hour show, airing on CBS for the first time, is being hosted by
   comedian, actress and TV personality Amanda Seales, who starred in
   several skits, including one about women who identify as "Karen," a
   common stereotype and term for racist and privileged white women.

   Other artists were political during their performances, includingRicch,
   who wore a Black Lives Matter shirt while he rapped, Alicia Keys,
   Anderson Paak and Jay Rock, as well as brothersSiRand D Smoke, who
   performed with their mother JackieGouché.

   Lil Wayne paid tribute to NBA icon Kobe Bryant, who died in January,
   with a performance of his 2009 song "Kobe Bryant," weaving in new
   lyrics. Wayne Brady, in a glittery suit, rolled around on top of a
   piano as he sang a medley of Little Richard hits.

   Nipsey Hussle, who was named best male hip-hop artist and earned the
   humanitarian award at last year's BET Awards, won video of the year for
   "Higher," a clip he filmed with DJ Khaled and John Legend shortly
   before he died.

.