BET Awards 2012: Performances

All the roof raising moments at the BET Awards 2012.

Run It - Chris Brown and dancers backstage before his stellar performance. The Fine China singer gives Wall to Wall energy at the 2012 BET Awards.(Photo: Mark Davis/Getty Images For BET)

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Half Man, Half Amazing - For the third year in a row, Chris Brown electrified the BET Awards audience with a high energy performance. With his chiseled frame half parts body paint and tatted flesh, the all-world star performed two of his more recent jams in “Don’t Wake Me Up,” and “Turn Up the Music.” (Photo: Mark Davis/Getty Images For BET)

Photo By Photo: Mark Davis/Getty Images For BET

Shirts Off - During the 106 & Park Pre-Show Tyrese announced that the R&B super group TGT (Tyrese, Ginuwine, Tank) will embark on the Shirts Off Tour in 2013. Well Chris Brown got the jump on the trio as he did his own top off performance tonight.(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Shirts Off - During the 106 & Park Pre-Show Tyrese announced that the R&B super group TGT (Tyrese, Ginuwine, Tank) will embark on the Shirts Off Tour in 2013. Well Chris Brown got the jump on the trio as he did his own top off performance tonight.(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

Mama Knows - There have been a number of tributes dedicated to Whitney Houston since the music icon passed on February 11, 2012, but none have had quite the family feel that tonight's did. Whitney’s mother Cissy Houston made a rare nationally televised performance during the heartfelt musical tribute to her beloved daughter.(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Mama Knows - There have been a number of tributes dedicated to Whitney Houston since the music icon passed on February 11, 2012, but none have had quite the family feel that tonight's did. Whitney’s mother Cissy Houston made a rare nationally televised performance during the heartfelt musical tribute to her beloved daughter.(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

A Night to Remember - The 2012 BET Awards kicks off with a heartfelt tribute to the incomparable Whitney Houston. Here Cissy Houston sings songs of praise for her daughter Nippy.As we gear up for the 2013 BET Awards, relive all the great backstage, on stage and award-winning moments from last year's show. Don't forget, Anything Can Happen!(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET)

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Mother-Daughter Affair - The tears started flowing tonight when Cissy Houston hit the stage to perform “Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water” during the emotional tribute to her late daughter Whitney. It was a hard to find a dry eye in the house.  (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET)

Every Woman - Chaka Khan performs she and Whitney's hit I'm Every Woman on stage, looking flawless and every bit fancy in a gold gown. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET)

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Every Women - After Whitney Houston’s co-stars (Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon and Loretta Devine) from the film classic Waiting to Exhale paid homage to the late superstar, Chaka Khan hit the stage to perform her chart-topping song, I’m Every Woman,” a universal cut that Whitney once remade into a modern day No. 1. Singer Chaka Khan performs onstage during the 2012 BET Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on July 1, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET)

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Brandy Wants to Dance - What a stunning moment for singer and The Game co-star Brandy to pay homage to her mentor and idol, Whitney Houston.Brandy does Whitney's songs justice. #Gloraaay(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET)

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Dance With Somebody Tonight - It’s no secret Whitney Houston was an influentcial musical idol to R&B star Brandy. So it only makes sense that B-Rocka would do her part in a tribute to Houston. Brandy performed a two song melody including Whitney’s award winning hits “I’m Your Baby Tonight,” and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me).” Singer Brandy Norwood performs onstage during the 2012 BET Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on July 1, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET)

Miss Thang Did Her Thang - An admittedly nervous Monica told BET.com before her performance during the Whitney Houston tribute, "I said a little prayer right before and tried not to look at the screen where her image was. I didn't know if I was gonna get through it." Singer Monica performs onstage during the 2012 BET Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on July 1, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Miss Thang Did Her Thang - An admittedly nervous Monica told BET.com before her performance during the Whitney Houston tribute, "I said a little prayer right before and tried not to look at the screen where her image was. I didn't know if I was gonna get through it." Singer Monica performs onstage during the 2012 BET Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on July 1, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

Brotherly Love - Proving that this Whitney Houston tribute would be nothing like the rest Gary Houston joined his mother Cissy Houston on stage to truly make this occassion a family affair. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET

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Brotherly Love - Proving that this Whitney Houston tribute would be nothing like the rest Gary Houston joined his mother Cissy Houston on stage to truly make this occassion a family affair. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET

Photo By Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET

Watch the Queen Conquer - Nicki Minaj performs and slays the stage at the 2012 BET Awards.(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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The Champ is Here - Sans Drake, Young Jeezy, and Nas the Young Money star kicked off her set with the celebratory anthem “Champion.” (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

Photo By Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET

First Lady -  Harajuku Barbie repped for the ladies in hip hop and her performance was one to remember. There was pyrotechnics, sexy dancers, dope cameos (2 Chainz), yet still her signature rump shaker stole the show.(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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First Lady -  Harajuku Barbie repped for the ladies in hip hop and her performance was one to remember. There was pyrotechnics, sexy dancers, dope cameos (2 Chainz), yet still her signature rump shaker stole the show.(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Beez Plus - Ok Nicki, Nicki Nicki, you know you couldn’t have done “Beez in the Trap,” without 2 Chainz. As expected the crowd when nuts when the ATL rapper hit the stage to deliver his quotable version from the smash single.(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For Polk)

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Beez Plus - Ok Nicki, Nicki Nicki, you know you couldn’t have done “Beez in the Trap,” without 2 Chainz. As expected the crowd when nuts when the ATL rapper hit the stage to deliver his quotable version from the smash single.(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For Polk)

Off to a G.O.O.D. Start - The BET Awards got off to a G.O.O.D. start as Kanye West, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, and Pusha-T served as this year’s opening act. Donned in all-white attire the fashionable rap crew performed their hit singles “Mercy,” and “Cold” underneath the laser lights.Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Off to a G.O.O.D. Start - The BET Awards got off to a G.O.O.D. start as Kanye West, Big Sean, 2 Chainz, and Pusha-T served as this year’s opening act. Donned in all-white attire the fashionable rap crew performed their hit singles “Mercy,” and “Cold” underneath the laser lights.Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

Yeezy - Recording artist Kanye West performs on stage during the 2012 BET Awards.(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Off the Top - Just when viewers thought ‘Ye and crew were about to end their set, the Louis Vuitton Don unleashed a wicked a cappella freestyle over the “Way Too Cold Beat.” Much of the fiery bars were dedicated to his legion of haters. “Went from being the most hated to the God flow/I guess that’s a feeling only me and LeBron know.”  (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

Photo By Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET

Nice and Slow  - Usher performs and gives the crowd his all.(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Nice and Slow - After  the G.O.O.D. Music crew kicked the show off and host Samuel L. Jackson teamed up with Spike Lee for the side-slipping parody of “N--- In Paris,” Usher slowed things down with a steamy performance of his seductive smash “Climax.” (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

Photo By Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET

Bawse Moves - During the 106 & Park Pre-Show Rick Ross promised that his Maybach Music Group would deliver one of the biggest performances of the night and he was right. Best thing was you didn’t have to pay a bag of money to see it. Thank us later. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For Polk)

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Bawse Moves - During the 106 & Park Pre-Show Rick Ross promised that his Maybach Music Group would deliver one of the biggest performances of the night and he was right. Best thing was you didn’t have to pay a bag of money to see it. Thank us later. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For Polk)

Photo By Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For Polk

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The Boss - Rapper Rick Ross performs on stage during the 2012 BET Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on July 1, 2012 ,in Los Angeles. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Powerful Music - Ricky Rozay may make dominating the hip hop game look easy but its way more sophisticated than it looks. The Bawse performed the Meek Mill-assisted bangers “So Sophisticated,” and “Black Magic,” during the crew’s menacing set.  (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

Maybach Music - Wale (left) and Rick Ross of MMG gives us a little classic rap. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Two Times Dope - For the second year in a row the Maybach Music Group empire used the BET Awards stage to prove why they are one of the fastest growing hip hop powerhouses in the game. Wale took home an award (Best Collaboration), while Ross and Meek brought the heat during the crew’s high-powered set.  (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

Photo By Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET

The Empire Strikes Back - With the Bawse in the shadows Meek Mill and Wale took center stage at the BET Awards. Though Meek lost out to Big Sean for Best New Artist, the “Tupac Back” rap star proved his worth with all eyes on him.  (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET)

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The Empire Strikes Back - With the Bawse in the shadows Meek Mill and Wale took center stage at the BET Awards. Though Meek lost out to Big Sean for Best New Artist, the “Tupac Back” rap star proved his worth with all eyes on him.  (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET)

All Hail The Queen - On a night filled with moving tribute performances, R&B songbird Chante Moore lifted spirits in the house during her infectious tribute to late Disco Queen, Donna Summer. Moore performed two of Summer’s unforgettable hits, “Bad Girl,” and “Love to Love You Baby.” (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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All Hail The Queen - On a night filled with moving tribute performances, R&B songbird Chante Moore lifted spirits in the house during her infectious tribute to late Disco Queen, Donna Summer. Moore performed two of Summer’s unforgettable hits, “Bad Girl,” and “Love to Love You Baby.” (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

Welcome Back - With all eyes watching neo-soul singer D'Angelo gave his first televised performance in twelve years. The veteran crooner delivered a foot-stomping, hand-clapping offering of his lastest single "Sugar Daddy" (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Welcome Back - With all eyes watching neo-soul singer D'Angelo gave his first televised performance in twelve years. The veteran crooner delivered a foot-stomping, hand-clapping offering of his lastest single "Sugar Daddy" (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Rack Awards 2012 - Tyga closed the show in true YMCB fashion performoing his chart topping smash "Rack City". (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Rack Awards 2012 - Tyga closed the show in true YMCB fashion performoing his chart topping smash "Rack City". (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

Photo By Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET

Cha Ching - ATLien Ca$h Out helped close out the night with his infectious No. 1 single "Ca$hin' Out". (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Cha Ching - ATLien Ca$h Out helped close out the night with his infectious No. 1 single "Ca$hin' Out". (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

Photo By Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET

MB Kills Us - Melanie Fiona takes the stage and our hearts with her 2012 BET Awards performance. We're definitely interested in the MF Life. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Melanie Fiona  - Singer Melanie Fiona performs onstage during the 2012 BET Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on July 1, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

Photo By Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET

Best of Sunday Best - Dressed in their Sunday Best, Y’anna Crawley, Amber Bullock and Jessica Reedy join the iconic Yolanda Adams onstage for their moving rendition of The Clark Sister’s “You Brought the Sunshine.(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Best of Sunday Best - Dressed in their Sunday Best, Y’anna Crawley, Amber Bullock and Jessica Reedy join the iconic Yolanda Adams onstage for their moving rendition of The Clark Sister’s “You Brought the Sunshine.(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

Take Us to the King - Yolanda Adams takes us to church, bringing sunshine to the stage with her performance alongside Amber Bullock, Y'anna Crawle, and Jessica Reedy.(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Show You How  - Best Gospel recipient Yolonda showed her vocal/spiritual prowess during the Best of Sundays Best performance. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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At Home - Amber Bullock brings church to the BET Awards stage.  (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Higher Power - Season four winner of BET’s Sunday Best, Amber Bullock shines bright during her inspirational performance.   (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

Photo By Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET

I Miss You - While we all miss Nick Ashord, life partner and music soulmate Valerie Simpson gave a stunning solo tribute performance of "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing," a classic the songwriting duo penned together.  (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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I Miss You - While we all miss Nick Ashord, life partner and music soulmate Valerie Simpson gave a stunning solo tribute performance of "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing," a classic the songwriting duo penned together.  (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

Star Stunna - Singer Tyrese performs on stage during the 2012 BET Awards.(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Fast & Furious - AlthoughTyrese is signed on to portray the legendary Teddy Pendergrass in an upcoming biopic, the singer/actor channeled Frankie Beverly with precision during his tribute performance. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

No One Can Do It Better - They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks but Mr. Beverly proves the masses wrong after performing his classic hits like "Before I Let You Go" and others. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET)

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No One Can Do It Better - They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks but Mr. Beverly proves the masses wrong after performing his classic hits like "Before I Let You Go" and others. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET)

Photo By Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images For BET

Not Your Average Joe - Veteran R&B crooner Joe helped set off a memorable tribute performance to Lifetime Achievement recipients Maze Featuring Frakine Beverly. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Not Your Average Joe - Veteran R&B crooner Joe helped set off a memorable tribute performance to Lifetime Achievement recipients Maze Featuring Frakine Beverly. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

Photo By Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET

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Sharing the Faith - Faith brings life to the stage in this performance from last year's BET Awards 2012.(Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Keep The Faith - R&B songstress Faith Evans recieved a standing ovation after reminding the BET Awards audience down memory lane with her mving performance of "Joy & Pain" during the tribute to this year's honorees the legendary Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly crew. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET

Photo By Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET

Watch Out - BET Music Matters star Charles Perry made the most of his small performance set leaving the BET Awards audience and viewers yearning for an encore. Log onto BET.com for more (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Watch Out - BET Music Matters star Charles Perry made the most of his small performance set leaving the BET Awards audience and viewers yearning for an encore. Log onto BET.com for more (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

Photo By Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET

Girls Do It Better...Guitar Playing - BET Music Matters artist Jennah Bell had no trouble sernading the BET Awards audience like a seasoned pro during her heart felt set. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

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Girls Do It Better...Guitar Playing - BET Music Matters artist Jennah Bell had no trouble sernading the BET Awards audience like a seasoned pro during her heart felt set. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET)

Photo By Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images For BET