2025 BET Awards: 2000s Music Nostalgia Saved the Show
Reviewing the 106 & Park tribute at the 2025 BET Awards anniversary
I don’t always watch award shows unless there is a favorite artist of mine spotlighted. Monday’s award show was that exception.
As a big nostalgic person and a 2000s kid, I had to tune in to the BET Awards this year. The first 20 minutes were filled with a beautiful 106 & Park tribute - perfect for the anniversary show.
Nothing would’ve prepared me for the melody that came before me. Ashanti, Amerie, Mya, Keyshia Cole, and more gave us snippets of their hits and performed as if it were yesterday. I especially loved Keyshia Cole’s performance of “I Should Have Cheated.” Mya’s choreography couldn’t be any better with “Case of the Ex.” I could feel the crowd vibing on ecstasy.
It was not only great for the culture, but for the newer generation to see how legends perform. As a kid, my family had fond memories of watching Free & AJ on TV. Seeing Ashanti and Beyonce's videos as a child is part of the reason I got their names mixed up. It was very fulfilling seeing Free get her flowers on stage as one of the original hosts.
Having them there was also important as they were the reason the BET Awards exist. Those artists moved youth culture and were the reason music television lasted into the 2000s. 106 & Park like TRL was a full fan experience that we will never get again. For instance being on the last interview platforms Aaliyah gave before her death in 2001. I’m sure the ones that grew up on them felt all those chills like when they were teens coming home from school to watch the show.
Showing the tribute was also proof that we need to bring back “music premiere culture.” With social media, music premieres are limited to an online post or video. Those fast releases can’t replace the anticipation of seeing a video countdown.
Without the tribute, I think the show wouldn’t have been as exciting to sell. Mariah Carey’s appearance may have also boosted attention as well, but it all comes down to the performances. BET Awards being known for them - had to find ways to make people aware instead of just seeing clips.
Kevin Hart as host wasn’t too bad. He did a good job hyping up the crowd with his comedic style and personally, the cipher segment in the middle. But if the award show knew they had to even keep the 2000s hype. Usher for instance was mentioned thrice and Keyshia Cole performed twice. Ciara not performing during the 106 & Park tribute was the only downfall. I would’ve loved to see her perform with Ludacris since they were big parts of Y2K’s Crunk era.
After watching this and the Grammys Hip Hop tribute a few years back, I could only predict that anniversary specials only save award shows. Nostalgia is going to sell the marketing of a show when YouTube clips are the easy option.
Despite its length, BET got it right this year and I hope they keep bringing back what we love about music television. Do it for the sake of music journalism.
Watch the full segment here.
Did you watch the BET Awards this year? What did you think of the 106 & Park opening?