The BET Awards may have come to an end in Los Angeles, but Black Entertainment Television (BET) made it clear to its Harlem-based media brunch guests that announcements were en route from its headquarters in Midtown Manhattan. Rapper and Harlemite Juelz Santana hosted the afternoon’s BET Awards’ 2023 Culture’s Biggest Brunch & Block Party from BLVD Bistro NY, a local soul food restaurant, and reiterated to the neighborhood the importance of supporting Black business.
“We are here to affirm that the culture begins with us, right now among everyday people, and to celebrate what we continue to gift the world. Hip-hop began in New York,” an event rep said.
With sponsorship from Moët & Chandon and elements of nostalgia, including a pop-up version of Big Tigger’s Rap City Booth, BET’s past met its present at their subsequent block party. Similarly, the event’s DJ ensured his mixing and fading between cuts reflected how hip-hop has evolved before its 50th birthday this August. And as residents started to pour in, chatter began around whether or not mogul Tyler Perry, who owns a 25% stake in BET+, would be at the helm of next year’s event.
While he is thought to be the front-runner to own a majority stake in the company and potentially become the first Black businessman to acquire 2 major TV networks, VH1 and BET, Perry has yet to issue a formal announcement, following Streamr removing a congratulatory bid report from their website. Whatever the outcome, it is evident Perry has favor from his community. The Knockturnal thanks BET for their hospitality.
