Chris Brown
Chris Brown Reuters

Funnyman Chris Rock will host the BET Awards when they kick off Sunday at 8 p.m. EST at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles with hip-hop, rap and R&B artists putting on one of the best shows of the year.

Live stream footage of the red carpet and backstage appearance can be viewed here, courtesy of BET.

Performers include Nicki Minaj, Pharrell Williams, Drake, Iggy Azalea Usher and Robin Thicke. R&B star Chris Brown is usually part of the festivities but since his recent incarceration, it has been rumored he didn’t want to go to the awards show on the chance he'd run into ex-girlfriend Rihanna.

“It may not be the best place for him to be because Rihanna might be there and it’s probably too soon for him to be in the same room as her,” a source told Hollywood Life. “He’s still working on his feelings and emotions and just doesn’t need anyone to say anything smart or even look at him the wrong way.”

If Brown doesn’t attend the show, he’s not the only major R&B star to miss out on the event. Beyoncé and Jay-Z won’t be at the 2014 BET Awards because they opened their co-headlining stadium tour Wednesday.

Rapper Azalea, whose song “Fancy” has been at the top of the Billboard charts for weeks is competing against Minaj in the Best Female Hip-Hop category. The “Super Bass” singer has won the award for four consecutive years, but some believe the new comer has a chance to take home the award.

Presenters at the show include Kerry Washington, Kevin Hart and Gabrielle Union. Lionel Richie is set to receive a lifetime achievement award.

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