Los Angeles ? Producer-rapper Kanye West was the big winner at Tuesday night’s BET Awards, earning trophies for male hip-hop artist and video of the year for his “Jesus Walks.”

But West didn’t show up to accept his awards, leaving the night largely focused on a series of extravagant musical performances instead of acceptance speeches.

West’s discovery, R&B newcomer John Legend, joined established stars Alicia Keys and the soon-to-disband Destiny’s Child as the night’s other big winners.

Legend was named best new artist. Destiny’s Child was named best group, West won for male hip-hop artist, and Usher took the male R&B artist trophy.

Soul diva Alicia Keys hoisted her award for female R&B artist toward the audience and declared: “This is for all my people who are really trying to dream big dreams.”

“Let’s do it,” she said. “Let’s think big. Let’s think beyond what these people are trying to hold us down to. Doctors, lawyers, engineers, musicians.”

Destiny's Child, from left, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams and Beyonce Knowles accept the award for best group during the fifth-annual BET Awards on Tuesday in Los Angeles. The group recently announced it would split up.

She also said backstage she was working on an “MTV Unplugged” live album to be released in October.

The show kicked off with a surprise reunion of The Fugees, who haven’t recorded an album together since 1996’s “The Score” and haven’t even been on speaking terms in recent years.

“If you want another Fugee album, let me see your hands in the air right now,” Wyclef Jean said after climbing into the crowd. The group performed “Ready Or Not” and put a reggae twist on “Fu-Gee-La.”

Lauryn Hill, who had largely dropped out of public view since her 2002 live album, sounded weak at first, saying at one point, “We got a little overzealous in rehearsal.” Her voice returned in time for a rendition of “Killing Me Softly With His Song.”

Hosts Mr. and Mrs. Smith – that’s Will and Jada Pinkett – laid down the rules for the night’s show at Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre. They arrived on-stage in a horse-drawn carriage with spinning custom rims; Smith said they wanted to make the BET Awards on par with shows like “the Emmys, the Oscars, the Grammys, the Tonys.”

“The white ones,” Pinkett Smith added.

Alicia Keys accepts the award for best female R&B artist during Tuesday's show.

The first rule, according to Smith: “You don’t need to come up here with all 15 people that you came with.” “There is a three-homeboy limit tonight, period,” his wife added.

Also, “No bright suits and no gold goblets,” Pinkett Smith said. “This is not the pimp of the year awards.” And finally, “Do not thank God if you can’t show or perform your work in church.”

Performers included Destiny’s Child, Missy Elliott, The Game and Mary J. Blige and 19-year-old Ciara – collaboration winner for her pairing with Missy Elliott on “1, 2 Step.” The Game carried his young son on stage and changed the lyrics to his song, “Hate It Or Love It,” saying, “Got BET on the grill of my low-rider.”

Jamie Foxx won the award for best actor, and though he wasn’t on stage he had recorded an audio message to presenter Tom Cruise, saying: “I’m jumping up and down on the couch right now in my room.”

Winners of the fifth annual awards show were decided by a panel of executives from entertainment companies, record labels and the media, except the viewers’ choice award in which fans voted online for their favorite video.