Beyoncé, Jay-Z Win Big at BET Awards

By Rachel F. Elson

06/30/2004 at 07:00 AM EDT

It was a big night for Beyoncé and her beau.

The diva shared a BET Award with her rapper boyfriend, Jay-Z, for their hit song "Crazy in Love," and the two both picked up solo awards during the three-hour awards show on Tuesday night. Beyoncé, 22, scored best female R&B artist – beating out such stars as Mary J. Blige and Alicia Keys – and Jay-Z edged past 50 Cent, Ludacris and others to take the award for top male hip-hop artist.

OutKast also fared well Tuesday night. The showy duo – whose performance included a get-out-the-vote message from Andre 3000 – took home prizes both for best group and for video of the year, for the song "Hey Ya." Kanye West got the prize for best new artist, while in the sports categories, Serena Williams and LeBron James won for female and male athletes of the year.

Actress Mo'Nique hosted the awards from Hollywood's Kodak Theater, beginning with an on-stage "Crazy in Love" spoof complete with full-figured dancers – after which she joked, "Y'all skinny girls, y'all real nervous right now," according to a roundup on the BET Web site.

The show also featured old-school performances by Rick James and the Sugar Hill Gang, as well as India.Arie's acoustic tribute to Ray Charles, covering his classic "Georgia On My Mind." The ceremony also included a lifetime achievement award for the Isley Brothers and humanitarian honors for Danny Glover.