5 things you missed at the BET Awards

Black-ish stars Tracee Ellis Ross and Anthony Anderson hosted the BET Awards from Los Angeles Sunday night — and what a long, meandering show it was. Jam-packed with performances, ill-rehearsed presenters and very few awards, here are some of the highlights of the nearly four-hour affair:
Nicki Minaj owns the night. Winning her sixth consecutive award for best female hip-hop artist, Minaj brought her mom onstage with her to accept the honor. "I talk about my mommy all the time, but this is the first time the world has seen her," she said with a smile, before recognizing her fellow nominees and thanking her boyfriend, rapper Meek Mill. The pair proceeded to steal the spotlight throughout the night, embracing after a performance of Mill's All Eyes on You (featuring Minaj and Chris Brown), and singing along to Drip Drop from their seats when the Empire cast took the stage.

 Nicki Minaj forgets which award she won at the BETs

And in one of the night's most talked-about moments, Minaj accepted the Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice Award for star-studded collaboration Only, asking, "What was this award for?" mid-speech. Ouch.

Kendrick Lamar opens the BET Awards Sunday with a performance of "Alright," off his socially conscious album "To Pimp a Butterfly."
Kendrick Lamar was more than Alright. Lamar got the awards off to an electrifying start, opening the show with a dynamic performance of Alright off his acclaimed album To Pimp a Butterfly. Perched atop a vandalized police car, the rapper was flanked by dancers in dark clothes as a giant American flag waved in the background. Despite a multitude of starry performances throughout the night, Lamar brought a spark to the stage that was never quite matched afterward.

Diddy falling through a hole is so funny it has even Diddy himself cracking up!

Sam Smith wins best new artist. Competing against rising stars Fetty Wap, Rae Sremmurd, Tinashe and Dej Loaf for new artist, it was Smith who walked away with the trophy. Well, not quite — in Smith's absence, Anderson accepted the award dressed like the British Grammy winner, quipping, "Sam Smith isn't here tonight because he's white and he didn't think he'd win."

Chris Pizzello, Invision/AP
Ne-Yo, left, Tori Kelly, Smokey Robinson and Robin Thicke perform "My Girl" at the BET Awards Sunday. There, Robinson was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Smokey Robinson, Janet Jackson get starry tributes. Much of the evening was spent paying tribute to music icons. First up, Smokey Robinson was given the Lifetime Achievement Award and honored with performances by newcomer Tori Kelly, Robin Thicke and Ne-Yo. After a long-winded speech in which he thanked Motown label founder Berry Gordy and compared the industry to an "intoxicating," but "bittersweet wine," 75-year-old Robinson broke out in a joyous medley of The Tracks of My Tears, Cruisin' and My Girl, joined by Kelly, Thicke and Ne-Yo.

Nicki Minaj, left, and Meek Mill embrace after a performance at the BET Awards Sunday night.
Later in the show, Jackson was recognized with the Ultimate Icon Award, which included a dance-heavy tribute to her Rhythm Nation era by Jason Derulo, Ciara and R&B up-and-comer Tinashe. Afterward, Jackson was gracious and visibly moved as she accepted the prize. "Twenty-five years ago, we created Rhythm Nation, hoping the world would be a better place," Jackson says. "But today, there's even more to be done."


Um, what was Rihanna doing with duct tape at the BET Awards?

Rihanna shows up to tease her new video. The pop star had no trouble stealing the show just by sitting in the audience, but finally addressed the crowd at the end of the evening. "I only came for a couple reasons tonight," she smirked, sharing her love for Robinson before introducing a two-minute teaser of her B**** Better Have My Money video, premiering Thursday. In the clip, a glamorous social