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2012 MTV Video Music Awards Nominees
Beyonce Knowles a Reuters

The 2012 Black Entertainment Television awards were a characteristically star-studded event and lit up the evening at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The show started with rapper Kanye West, in an all-white outfit, along with G.O.O.D Music group members including 2 Chainz, Big Sean and Pusha T, to perform their rap hit Mercy. Other performances included Usher, Nicki Minaj and 2 Chainz, Melanie Fiona, D'angelo, Rick Ross and his Maybach Music Group and Chris Brown.

Rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West accepted the award for Best Group (The Throne) and after taking potshots at each other (all in good fun, of course!) spoke of how grateful they were for the award.

"Thank you. We really worked hard on this album. We didn't rely on our name. We appreciate everybody, the tour, from here to Europe. We're just going to keep making the best stuff ever," Jay-Z, the proud father, along with Beyonce Knowles, to daughter Blue Ivy Carter, said, according to the Daily Mail.

The main highlight of the night was an emotional tribute to Whitney Houston, led by her mother Cissy Houston. The performances included Bridge Over Troubled Water and singer Mariah Carey also took to the stage, remembering her friend. Also paying tribute was singer Brandy, who sang I'm Your Baby Tonight and I Wanna Dance With Somebody, and Chaka Khan with I'm Every Woman. Gary Houston, Whitney's brother, also performed.

It was double treats all the way for all major performers, with Beyonce, Jay-Z, West and Chris Brown taking home two awards each. Wale and Miguel won Best Collaboration and Maze, ft Frankie Beverly, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Nicki Minaj was recognised Best Female Hip-Hop Artist for the third consecutive year.

Tributes were also paid to late singers Donna Summer, Dick Clark and Don Cornelius at the awards.

"I really, really appreciate BET for keeping this category alive, and I appreciate all the female rappers doing their thing, past, present and future," Minaj said, according to the Examiner.

Meanwhile, check out some of the major awards from the night and click here to see the full list:

Best Group: The Throne (Kanye West and Jay-Z)

Best Actor: Kevin Hart

Best New Artist: Big Sean

Best Male R&B Artist: Chris Brown

Best Female R&B Artist: Beyoncé

Best Female Hip-Hop Artist: Nicki Minaj

Video of the Year: "Otis," The Throne (Kanye West & Jay-Z)

BET Humanitarian Award: Rev. Al Sharpton

Finally, click Start, to see a slideshow of all the glamour from the evening

Los Angeles