BET Hip-Hop Awards, Soul Train Awards Placed on Indefinite Hiatus Amid Ratings Decline

Following BET's announcement that the BET Hip-Hop Awards and Soul Train Awards are on indefinite pause, rapper Fat Joe attributed the decision to "gentrification," citing budget cuts and staff layoffs at BET as signs of the network drifting away from its Black ownership and cultural roots. In response, Benzino sharply criticized Fat Joe, arguing that Joe's own hosting tenure corresponded with the awards' steep decline in ratings, suggesting Joe's presence hurt the show's popularity rather than gentrification. Benzino highlighted that the ratings dropped significantly during the years Joe hosted, with viewership falling from around 708,000 in 2022 to just 333,000 in 2024. BET CEO Scott Mills emphasized that the awards are not canceled but are being reconsidered for their future format amid evolving media conditions. While Fat Joe has not publicly responded to Benzino's remarks, the dispute underscores tensions surrounding the awards' hiatus and the broader conversation about BET's direction and cultural identity. Both perspectives reflect concerns over the awards' declining influence and the network's changing landscape.