BET Fest Boasts B-Ball, Free Performances

The BET Experience is set to take Los Angeles by storm, with a celebrity basketball game, musical performances and an awards show all scheduled for June 23-26. The free Fan Fest will feature Rae Sremmurd, Fat Joe and Desiigner, while paying fans will get to see the likes of Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz, Fetty Wap, Usher, Kat Williams and The Roots.

Photo: Facebook.com/RaeSremmurd

Most of the headline acts are grouped in pairs, so Kat Williams/Mike Epps, Usher/Bryson Tiller, and Lil Wayne/2 Chainz are all billed to perform at the Staples Center on Thursday, Friday and Saturday respectively. The Roots are booked with special guests at The Novo on June 25.

The free concerts will be June 25 and 26 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. In addition to established artists such as Remy Ma and O.T. Genasis on the BETX music stage, the event will also feature emerging artists such as Kodie Shane and Chloe x Halle at the Coca-Cola Music Studio.

Fans can secure seats to the Celebrity Basketball Game and Slam Dunk Contest at the LACC separately by registering via the BETX ’16 app. The ball game will have Snoop Dogg, Nick Cannon, Ty Dolla $ign and The Game all taking the court.

There will also be a free series of Gospel performances on June 26 by Tasha Cobbs, Devon Franklin, Tye Tribbet and The Novo

The weekend festivities will also include tapings of “106 & Park” which members of the public are free to attend, an American Black Film Festival, and a number of talks and panels.

Tickets to the Staples shows can be purchased for single-night performances or as a package now. VIP bundles sport a number of perks and, most notably, provide the only way for average joes to purchase tickets to the BET Awards Show June 26.

Head to the BET Experience website for more info on tickets and performances.