Pharrell was the toast of Sunday night’s BET Awards.
The music producer-turned-chart-topping sensation took home Best Male R&B/Pop Artist and Best Video for his hit dance track Happy.
“Listen, I don’t know what else to say because this is so shocking to me,” the star told the crowd at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live in Los Angeles, California.
Pharrell also opened the show with a performance of his new track with Miley Cyrus, Come Get It Bae. Miley didn’t join him for the show, but the audience quickly got to their feet when he introduced surprise guest Missy Elliott, who performed her hit 2003 single Pass the Dutch.
Drake was also a big winner, scoring the award for Best Male Hip Hop Artist, a category that included stiff competition from rappers Future, J. Cole, Jay Z and Kendrick Lamar.
Nicki Minaj won for best Female Hip Hop Artist, beating out Angel Haze, Charli Baltimore, Eve and Iggy Azalea.
Best Group went to Young Money, while Best New Artist went to August Alsina.
Lupita Nyong’o stole the show from her contemporaries, winning Best Actress for her Oscar-winning role in 12 Years a Slave.
The ceremony, hosted by Chris Rock, also featured a special lifetime achievement honour for Lionel Richie, including a star-studded musical tribute from John Legend, Yolanda Adams and Ledisi.
“Soul is a feeling, not a color. Talent is a God-given gift and not a category. And out of the box, out of the box is that magical place where talent - true talent - goes to live and thrive and breathe. And may you never give that up as long as you're in this business," Lionel said, applauding the performers before heading to the piano for renditions of Easy Like Sunday Morning and All Night Long.
The show also featured performances from Usher, Nicki Minaj, Jennifer Hudson and Chris Brown, who sang his new track Loyal weeks after his release from jail.
The awards show was not without controversy, however.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, one man was fatally shot and another stabbed in two separate BET Awards pre-show parties in Los Angeles at the weekend.
“The BET Awards are the only awards where your family says, ‘Be careful,’” Chris joked, although it was unclear if he was referring to the incidents.
THR reports the parties had no official ties to the ceremony.
A main list of winners for the 2014 BET Awards is as follows:
Best Female Hip-Hop Artist: Nicki Minaj
Viewers Choice Award: I Luv This, August Alsina feat. Trinidad James
Best Group: Young Money
Best Male R&B/Pop Artist: Pharrell Williams
Sportsman of the Year: Kevin Durant
Sportswoman of the Year: Serena Williams
Video of the Year: “Happy,” Pharrell Williams
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist: Drake
Best Actress: Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave
Best Gospel Artist: Tamela Mann
Best New Artist: August Alsina
Lifetime Achievement Award: Lionel Richie
