Public Enemy are joined by Nas, The Roots, YG, and more to perform Fight The Power remix for a new generation at 2020 BET Awards
There have been weeks of protests around the world to fight police brutality and systemic racism in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of law enforcement at the end of May.
So there is no greater time for Public Enemy to bring back their 1989 hit Fight The Power for a new generation.
The rap legends - who are comprised of Chuck D, Flavor Flav, DJ Lord, S1Ws and Professor Griff - were joined by Nas, The Roots, YG, and several other stars for a remix of Fight The Power which kicked off the 2020 BET Awards on Sunday night.
Legends: Public Enemy to brought back their 1989 hit Fight The Power for a new generation at the 2020 BET Awards
It began with 12-year-old Keedron Bryant who emotionally sang his viral hit I Just Wanna Live a capella before kicking into a recreation of the original music video complete with footage from the recent protests.
As the original song was created by the Long Island, New York based group for Spike Lee's Do The Right Thing film, the verses in this new version pertained to the Black Lives Matter movement and protests over the deaths of Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks and other Black victims killed by police.
Chuck D kicked off the powerful performance before Nas rapped the first verse.
Emotional: The award show opened with 12-year-old gospel singer Keedron Bryant movingly singing I Just Wanna Live a capella
Taking a stand: It was a recreation of the original music video complete with footage from the recent protests
Here we go again: Chuck D kicked off the powerful performance
Legendary: Flavor Flav showed off his signature clock necklace
Escobar season has returned: Nas kicked off the performance as he rapped: 'They say a suicide when dead bodies are swinging/Cowards are hunting Black men that's what I’m seeing'
The 46-year-old Crown Heights native rapped: 'They say a suicide when dead bodies are swinging/Cowards are hunting Black men that's what I’m seeing.'
There were also verses done by Rapsody, Public Enemy Radio's Jahi and The Roots' Black Thought with Questlove DJing.
YG was the last to contribute a guest verse as he said: 'They killed Malcolm X, they killed Dr. King, they gave us guns and they want to stop our kings / they try to stop our history, stop and think, history class ain't tell us about Juneteenth.'
Talented: Rapsody did the second verse
Spinning: The Roots' Questlove could be seen DJing as he was also joined by Black Thought for a verse
Powerful: YG was the last to contribute a guest verse as he said: 'They killed Malcolm X, they killed Dr. King, they gave us guns and they want to stop our kings / they try to stop our history, stop and think, history class ain't tell us about Juneteenth'
They're back! The performance concluded with a powerful verse by Chuck D joined by hypeman Flavor Flav
The performance concluded with a powerful verse by Chuck D joined by hypeman Flavor Flav.
Several of the best artists in the world appeared on the television broadcast - which was simulcasted on CBS for the first time ever - including Beyonce.
The 38-year-old Queen Bey urged viewers to 'dismantle a racist and unequal system' as she received the Humanitarian of the Year Award.
The Single Ladies hitmaker said: 'I want to dedicate the award to all of my brothers out there, all of my sisters out there, inspiring me and marching and fighting for change.
Top honor: Beyoncé urged viewers to 'dismantle a racist and unequal system' as she received the Humanitarian of the Year Award
Winning attitude: Lizzo, 32, won Best Female R&B/Pop Artist and talked about always feeling like a winner
The host: Amanda Seales hosted the awards show broadcast on CBS without a live audience with the help of a green screen at her house
'Your voices are being heard, and you're proving to our ancestors that their struggles were not in vain.'
During BET's three-hour telecast, which marked the 20th anniversary of its awards, Roddy Ricch, 21, won Album of the Year for Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial, while Lizzo, 32, won Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, and Chris Brown earned Best Male R&B/Pop Artist.
Actress and comedian Amanda Seales, 38, adroitly hosted the show with a green screen at her house as she went to pre-taped performances and acceptance speeches pre-recorded by the winners.
Special performance: Alicia Keys performed a touching piece during the three-hour show
Powerful performance: Jennifer Hudson also delivered a powerful performance during the awards ceremony
TV star: Tracee Ellis Ross was among the stars who made remote appearances on the show
Desert performance: Megan Thee Stallion performed two of her songs in a desert music video
Megan Thee Stallion, 25, was named Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, while DaBaby scored Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, and Migos won for Best Group.
Beyoncé's daughter, Blue Ivy, eight, won the BET HER Award—her first—for Brown Skin Girl, joined by her mother, WizKid and Saint Jhn.
Due to the coronavirus epidemic, artists performed alone at home or in isolated studios and warehouses, presenting awards without nomination cards and accepting them via taped speech.
Award winner: As the Best New Artist winner, Roddy Ricch pulled double duty, performing his own songs, High Fashion and The Box
Most watched News videos
- Smoke from Halen Môn smokery causes dispute with Anglesey Sea Zoo
- Shocking moment woman repeatedly runs over handbag thief
- Old clip of 56-year-old man who attempted to kill Trump resurfaces
- David Lammy complains of no taxpayer budget for Starmer's clothes
- Huw Edwards leaves court following sentencing
- Barrister on former BBC presenter Huw Edwards: His sentence is a joke
- Disgraced presenter Huw Edwards arrives at court for sentencing
- Gisele Pelicot arrives at the criminal court in Avignon
- Dominique Pelicot's lawyer: 'He asked his wife to forgive him'
- Teen girl rushed to ambulance after knife rampage at Russian school
- Australian tourist 'lynched' after streaking through Italian town
- Starmer and Meloni giggle as they pose for photos in Villa Doria