Extra Episode: ALL BET AWARDS 2026 WINNERS | How Did Kendrick Lamar Win?

The 2026 BET Awards are in the books and Smooth has questions. Starting from the top and working all the way through every category, this episode is a full breakdown of who won, who got robbed, and who shouldn't have been nominated in the first place. Kehlani's “Folded” was the obvious pick for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist. Leon Thomas had no business losing Best Male R&B/Pop Artist. And Clipse? They were the easy answer for Best Group no debate needed. But the real conversation? Best Male Hip-Hop Artist. Smooth cannot figure out how Kendrick Lamar walked away with that award on the strength of three songs two features on the Playboi Carti album and a Baby Keem collab while artists like Don Toliver and J. Cole were right there, putting in consistent, undeniable work during the same eligibility window. And when you run the numbers three songs, three for six from the field it just doesn't add up. Unless you start thinking about who's producing the show. The BET of Her Award, the Viewer's Choice, Album of the Year, Best Movie (Sinners, no debate), the Sports awards Smooth runs through all of it. Some calls he agrees with, some he's okay with, and a few he's still confused by. One thing's certain: Don Tolliver deserved his flowers, and this was not the year to overlook him. 0:00 – Intro / BET Awards 2026 Overview & Eligibility Window 1:30 – Fashion Vanguard Award (Teyana Taylor wins) 2:47 – Pulse Award / Content Creator Category (Druski wins) 4:02 – Best Female R&B/Pop Artist (Kehlani wins) 4:57 – Best Male R&B/Pop Artist (Leon Thomas wins) 6:01 – Best Group (Clipse win) 6:44 – Best Collaboration (Chains & Whips – Clips & Kendrick) 9:03 – Best Male Hip-Hop Artist (Kendrick Lamar wins – Smooth has issues) 11:17 – Breaking Down Kendrick's Eligibility Window 13:26 – Best Female Hip-Hop Artist (Cardi B wins) 14:36 – Video of the Year (Folded wins) 15:55 – Video Director of the Year (Teyana Taylor wins) 16:58 – Best New Artist (Olivia Dean wins) 17:55 – Album of the Year (J. Cole's The Fall Off should've won) 20:00 – Best Gospel/Inspirational Award 20:44 – Best Actress (Teyana Taylor wins) 21:19 – Best Actor (Michael B. Jordan wins) 21:56 – Best Movie (Sinners wins) 22:57 – Best Sportswoman (Audra Wilson – well deserved) 22:57 – Sportsman of the Year (Jalen Brunson – Smooth is confused) 24:06 – BET Her Award & Viewer's Choice 26:08 – Final Thoughts / Kendrick Rant Revisited / Don Toliver Deserved It