Black VoicesBeyonce kendrick lamar bet awards

Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar Open BET Awards With Unforgettable Performance

The two shut down the show before it barely began and we're here for it.
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By 

Black Voices Senior Editor, HuffPost

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The BET Awards aired Sunday night and kicked off in the best way possible.

Beyoncé and Kendrick Lamar opened the annual award show with a searing performance of their song "Freedom," which is featured on Bey's latest album "Lemonade." 

Bey sang the vocals as she, accompanied by her dancers, splashed in water and slayed a dance routine like no other. Kendrick later joined to drop some bars, delivering a performance we'll never forget. 

The two shut down the show before it barely began and we're here for it. 

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Before You Go

2016 Black Girls Rock!
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Tracee Ellis Ross performs onstage at Black Girls Rock! (credit:Paras Griffin via Getty Images)
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Tracee Ellis Ross performs onstage. (credit:Paras Griffin via Getty Images)
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Actress and Young, Gifted & Black Award recipient Amandla Stenberg. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Actress and Young, Gifted & Black Award recipient Amandla Stenberg. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Kelly Rowland. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Black Girls Rock! Founder Beverly Bond (L) and singer Gladys Knight. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Actress Yara Shahidi. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Actress Yara Shahidi. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Singer Andra Day (R) and Raynn-Simone. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Tracee Ellis Ross performs onstage. (credit:Paras Griffin via Getty Images)
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Actress Cicely Tyson. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Actress Cicely Tyson. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Host Tracee Ellis Ross. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Inspirational speaker Iyanla Vanzant. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Singer Monica. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Singer Monica. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Singer Monica (L) and her daughter Laiyah Shannon Brown. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Actress and Star Power Award recipient Danai Gurira. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Actress Eva Marcille. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Actress Eva Marcille. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Singer Andra Day. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Model Bethann Hardison. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Singer-songwriter Marsha Ambrosius. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Black Girls Rock! Founder Beverly Bond. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Shonda Rhimes poses backstage. (credit:Bennett Raglin/BET via Getty Images)
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Singer Kelly Rowland. (credit:Gary Gershoff via Getty Images)
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Event honoree Rihanna. (credit:Gary Gershoff via Getty Images)
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Black Girls Rock! Founder Beverly Bond. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Event honoree Rihanna. (credit:Gary Gershoff via Getty Images)
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Singer-songwriter Jazmine Sullivan. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Black Lives Matter founders and Change Agent Award recipient's Opal Tometi and Alicia Garza speak onstage. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Actress Teyonah Parris. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Actress Tatyana Ali. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Singer Brandy performs onstage. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Actress Tatyana Ali. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Black Lives Matter founders and Change Agent Award recipients Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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CEO of BET Networks Debra Lee (L) and actress BET Black Girls Rock! 2016 host Tracee Ellis Ross. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Actress BET Black Girls Rock! 2016 host Tracee Ellis Ross. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Marley Dias attends BET Black Girls Rock! (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Rock Star Award recipient Rihanna. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Actress Marsai Martin. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Young chef Haile Thomas. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Young entrepreneur Maya Penn. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Secretary of State and presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton speaks onstage. (credit:Gilbert Carrasquillo via Getty Images)
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Director Debbie Allen. (credit:Paras Griffin via Getty Images)
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Actress Yara Shahidi. (credit:Paras Griffin via Getty Images)
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Tracee Ellis Ross onstage at Black Girls Rock! (credit:Paras Griffin via Getty Images)
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