French Montana, Max B & Rick Ross Set BET Awards 2026 on Fire

The BET Awards 2026 had no shortage of big moments, but when French Montana and Max B stepped onto that stage, the room shifted — a New York frequency crackling through the Los Angeles air that nobody in attendance was ready to shake off. According to Rolling Stone, what followed was one of the night's most talked-about performances, a collision of Harlem swagger, hip-hop legacy, and genuine star power that peaked when a third heavyweight walked out in a mink coat.

NYC Takeover: French and Max B Open the Set

Draped in jewelry and carrying the kind of effortless cool that only comes from years in the game, French Montana and Max B launched into "Ever Since U Left Me (I Went Deaf)," the lead single from their Coke Wave 3.5: Narcos mixtape. A crew of female dancers amplified the spectacle, but it was Max B — locked in all black — who delivered a standout moment mid-performance, flipping the beat for his verse in a way that reminded everyone exactly why the Wavy Crockett's return from prison has been one of hip-hop's most electrifying comeback stories of the year.

The energy was raw, the chemistry undeniable. These two have always had a telepathic creative bond, and on a stage this size, under these lights, it showed.

Rick Ross Arrives and the Temperature Rises

Just when the crowd thought the set had peaked, Rick Ross materialized — and he came dressed for the occasion. All three artists wore lavish fur coats, pyrotechnics erupting around them as they rolled into "Minks In Miami," a track that essentially soundtracks the exact visual unfolding in front of the audience. Miami excess meeting New York edge, the combination felt cinematic.

For Rozay, this marked his fifth BET Awards performance and his first in over a decade — his last appearance on that stage came in 2012, when he performed alongside Meek Mill and Wale during his Maybach Music Group era. Coming back in 2026 alongside French and Max B, surrounded by fire and fur, felt like a statement rather than a cameo.

The Song Behind the Spectacle

"Ever Since U Left Me (I Went Deaf)" is more than a performance vehicle — it has become a genuine cultural moment. Built around a prominent sample of KC and the Sunshine Band's "That's the Way (I Like It)," the track climbed to the top of Billboard's US Rhythmic Airplay chart and spawned two distinct remix chapters: the Ty Dolla Sign-assisted "West Coast" version and the Bronx-rooted "Big Bronx" remix featuring Remy Ma. That level of remix activity signals real staying power, not just a viral spike.

The [2026 BET Awards](../article/cardi-b-bet-awards-2026) has been a night full of heavy hitters across genres, and French Montana and Max B fit squarely into that energy — artists who have navigated the industry's highs and lows and arrived here with something to say.

Nomination Recognition and What It Means

Beyond the performance, French Montana and Max B picked up a Best Group nomination, recognition that underscores how fully the Coke Wave 3.5: Narcos project has resonated with both fans and the industry. Max B's post-prison resurgence feels significant not just personally but culturally — his influence on the melodic, wave-heavy sound that shaped a generation of rap is finally getting the mainstream acknowledgment it deserves.

In a year where spectacle has been abundant — from [Pharrell debuting new material alongside Quavo and Lil Baby](../article/pharrell-debuts-new-songs-with-quavo-lil-baby-at-lv) to [Rosalía transforming Madison Square Garden into a cathedral](../article/rosalia-lux-tour-madison-square-garden-review) — French Montana and Max B offered something different: a performance grounded in history, loyalty, and the kind of gritty authenticity that doesn't need staging tricks to land. The pyrotechnics and fur coats were just the garnish.

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