Killer Mike’s Album ‘Michael’ Wins 2024 BET Awards Album of the Year

Killer Mike expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Black community for their unwavering support during his emotional acceptance speech for the Album of the Year award at the 2024 BET Awards.

On Sunday, June 30, Killer Mike received the Album of the Year award at the 2024 BET Awards ceremony, which was broadcast live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The Atlanta-based rapper triumphed in a highly competitive category, outshining seven other well-deserving nominees. The competition featured notable hip-hop albums such as Gunna’s A Gift & A Curse, 21 Savage’s American Dream, Drake’s For All the Dogs (Scary Hours Edition), and Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday 2. In the R&B segment, albums like Chris Brown’s 11:11, Usher’s Coming Home, and Victoria Monét’s Jaguar II were nominated.

Since its release in 2023, Killer Mike’s Michael has garnered critical acclaim and multiple awards. Earlier this year, the album secured three Grammy awards, including Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for “Scientists & Engineers” featuring André 3000, Future, and Eryn Allen Kane, and Best Rap Album for Michael. However, Killer Mike missed the chance to accept his Best Rap Album award at the Grammys due to an arrest before the ceremony. Therefore, winning the BET Awards’ Album of the Year provided an opportune moment for him to deliver the speech he couldn’t give in February.

During his acceptance speech, Killer Mike conveyed humility and appreciation. “I’m humbled to achieve this award,” he said, reading from a prepared statement. “Thank you for seeing me Black people. Thank you for believing in me Black people. Thank you for honoring me in this way.”

He also addressed his previous arrest at the Grammys, noting that it hadn’t dimmed his success. “Technically, I was not supposed to be here,” he admitted. “I was put in handcuffs and marched out of this building, but I want to tell you look at God ’cause I’m back, baby, I’m back and I’m winning.”

This win is a significant milestone for hip-hop, as it’s the first time a rap album has won Album of the Year at the BET Awards since Roddy Ricch’s Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial in 2020. Last year’s award resulted in a rare tie between Beyoncé’s Renaissance and SZA’s SOS.

The 2024 BET Awards featured a plethora of high-energy performances from artists including Megan Thee Stallion, GloRilla, Sexyy Red, Lauryn Hill, and Will Smith. Drake emerged as the top contender of the evening with multiple nominations. Besides Album of the Year, he was nominated for Best Male Hip-Hop Artist and received two nods in the Video of the Year category for “Rich Baby Daddy” featuring Sexyy Red and SZA and “First Person Shooter” featuring J. Cole.

In conclusion, Killer Mike’s impassioned speech at the BET Awards not only celebrated his win but also underscored the profound impact and continued relevance of his music. You can watch his heartfelt acceptance speech and listen to his award-winning album Michael for an enriching musical experience.

Source: news sources