Teairra Mari's BET Awards Picks
Award shows are a music industry veteran’s best friend, especially when it comes to predicting the winners nominated in a slew of categories. R&B chanteuse Teairra Mari looked into her rhythmic crystal ball to do just that for Sunday’s 9th Annual BET Awards. From Best New Artist to Video of the Year, find out which of hip-hop and R&B’s elite she’s rooting for.
Best New Artist
Keri Hilson
Kid Cudi
Ryan Leslie
M.I.A.
Jazmine Sullivan
Teairra’s pick: Jazmine Sullivan
I have to say Jazmine Sullivan. I think she is so talented, like out of this world talented. I was looking at a video of her performing a play when she was 11 years old and she tore the house down. I was a fan of all three of her singles, so I’m gonna have to go with her.
Best Group
Day26
GS Boyz
N.E.R.D.
The Roots
Three 6 Mafia
Teairra’s pick: Three 6 Mafia
I love, love, love Three 6 Mafia. I don’t care if they’re off the scene for however long, I love them. I loved their skills and everything they did on Hustle & Flow.
Best Female R&B Artist
Beyoncé
Keyshia Cole
Keri Hilson
Jennifer Hudson
Jazmine Sullivan
Teairra’s pick: Beyoncé
Beyoncé shuts it down all the time, all the time. I have to pick a second runner-up for this one, and that’s Keyshia Cole.
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
Lil Wayne
Rick Ross
T.I.
Kanye West
Young Jeezy
Teairra’s pick: Lil Wayne
Damn, that’s tough. I’m always gonna pick two ’cause it’s hard. My first one is Lil Wayne because he did shut it down with Tha Carter III. His album was incredible. You can’t even throw shade on that. Then for me, it’s a tie between Young Jeezy or Rick Ross.
Video of the Year
Beyoncé – “If I Were a Boy”
Beyoncé – “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)”
Jamie Foxx f/ T-Pain – “Blame It”
T.I. f/ Rihanna – “Live Your Life”
Kanye West – “Heartless”
Teairra’s pick: “Blame It”
I’m gonna have to go with “Blame It.” Jamie pulled out all the stops with that video. There were all big-time actors in that video and when I saw it, I was like, “This is the shit.”
The 2009 BET Awards air live on Sunday at 8 p.m.
–Georgette Cline