T.I. lit up the stage at the BET Awards 2026, delivering a fiery performance that saw the rap legend holding court while reaffirming his status as the King of the South.

Opening the ceremony as the first performer of the evening, T.I. began his set with his classic King track “Top Back.” Descending onto the stage on a golden crown, a nod to his standing as Hip-Hop royalty, Tip was joined by a flock of female dancers waving checker flags in matching outfits for his most recent hit, “Let ‘Em Know.”

Performing while perched atop a car with his son King behind the driver’s wheel, T.I. stepped into the crowd to vibe with the audience, with male dancers wearing black Atlanta Braves hats, white shirts, and jeans joining in on the fun. 

Closing his performance with a resounding, “It’s the king” declaration, T.I. received a raucous round of applause, kicking off the night’s festivities on a high note.

T.I. has been enjoying an eventful year, headlined by a resurgence up the Billboard charts with his hit single “Let ‘Em Know.” Produced by Pharrell Williams, the track was released in January amid Tip’s announcement that his upcoming 12th solo studio album, Kill the King, will be his last before officially ending his rap career.

The Atlanta native has been a fixture at the BET Awards throughout his career, earning a total of 18 nominations. This year, T.I. is nominated in the Best Male Hip Hop Artist category as well as Video of the Year for “Let ‘Em Know,” and his, Killer Mike, and Lecrae’s “Headphones” is up for the Dr. Bobby Jones Best Gospel/Inspirational Award. Last year, the Grand Hustler garnered rave reviews for his spirited performance of his classic anthem “Bring Em Out” at BET Awards 2025.

The 2026 BET Awards were held on Sunday (June 28), at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Hosted by Druski, the cultural celebration continued its tradition of honoring the brightest stars in entertainment, with Cardi B, the most-nominated artist of the evening, among the biggest winners.