He popped the question after a whirlwind romance last month.
And the BET Hip Hop Awards was the perfect place for rapper Rick Ross, 39, to show off his new fiancee Lira Mercer on Friday night.
The couple cozied up on the red carpet in Atlanta, Georgia as they joined a host of other stars to celebrate the best of hip hop.
Hot couple: Rick Ross and Lira Mercer made their first public appearance as an engaged couple at the BET Hip Hop Awards on Friday
Lira, 22, put her curves on display in a plunging mini dress with bold black, white and gold embroidery.
The pinup model accentuated her legs with strappy heels and wore her hair sleek in a centre-parted bob.
Rick popped the question with an 11 carat diamond ring worth $350,000 last month after just a few months of dating.
‘That’s my baby. It’s official’ Ross – born William Leonard Roberts II – told New York’s Power 105.1 this week.
Whirlwind: Ross, 39, popped the question to his pin-up girlfriend last months after only a few months of dating
Hip hop style: The 21-year-old beauty showed off her figure in a plunging mini dress and strappy heels while Rick wore a flashy suit jacket and red trainers
Mingling: The lovebirds posed with BET President of Programming Stephen Hill
Host extraordinaire! Snoop Dogg kept it cool in all black
Friday’s ceremony, held at the Atlanta Civic Center – sees Canadian rapper Drake topping the nominees for the second straight year.
And the 28-year-old has received a whopping 12 nominations for the 10th annual BET Hip Hop Awards.
The artist’s chart-topping If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late became the first platinum-selling album this year.
Social media socialites: Stars of new docuseries The Westbrooks; Morgan, Crystal, India Love, Bree Candace and Brooke kept it black and white
Visions in white: India Love opted for a bust accentuating two-piece dress while Crystal looks chic in a jumpsuit
Going strong: Singer Ray J and TV personality Princess Love were a stylish couple in black
Thigh’s the limit: TV star Bambi wore a risque ensemble featuring lingerie and thigh-high boots
Mixing it up: Man of the moment Travis Scott opted for casual plaid with leather pants
He had 14 songs simultaneously placed on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, tying a record set by The Beatles in 1964.
Rap icon Snoop Dogg returned for the third straight year as host of the show, which will be aired on Tuesday October 13.
Big Sean follows just behind Drake with 10 nominations and Nicki Minaj scored nine nods. Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole each got eight nominations.
Like sisters: Rapper Dej Loaf brought her mother along for the glitzy event
Hot duo: DJ Holiday and Ebony ‘Risky’ Jones were all smiles
Family ties: Redman brought his son along to the star-studded event
Rocking it: Soulja Boy looked plush in a velour tracksuit while 2 Chainz sported a colourful poncho
Host with the most: Snoop emceed the event for the third year in a row
Veteran rapper Scarface received the I Am Hip Hop award for musical achievement at the taping on Friday night.
Scarface initially gained fame in the late 1980s with the group Geto Boys through the song Mind Playing Tricks on Me.
One of the few Houston acts to win acclaim outside Texas before 2000, he became a respected influencer in hip-hop with his gritty lyrics and street wisdom.
With 12 solo albums released, Scarface is known for songs such as Smile, My Block and I Seen a Man Die.
Winners: Rapper E-40 (L) and DJ Mustard speak onstage after accepting an award for hit track IDFWU
All smiles: Busta Rhymes appeared in great spirits as he enjoyed the show
Congrats: Busta, 43, gave Ross a hug in the audience
Ravishing redhead: Singer Monica glowed as she took to the stage during the evening
He has collaborated with some of rap’s greatest from 2 Pac to Jay Z.
Previous I Am Hip Hop award recipients have included Doug E. Fresh, MC Lyte, Rakim, LL Cool J, Salt-N-Pepa, Ice Cube, Russell Simmons, KRS-One and Grandmaster Flash.
Chris Brown, T.I., Travis Scott, Fetty Wap and Sean Diddy Combs performed to the packed house.
The awards also included a taped pre-show performance by rapper Future.
He recorded his act on Wednesday night before a crowd at Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park, performing several of his hits from March Madness and Where Ya At.
Doing his thing: T.I. hopped on stage to perform
Raunchy performance: Lil’ Kim strut her stuff in a skimpy ensemble
Pals: The 41-year-old rapper posed with fellow performer King Los
Strike a pose: Busta, Sway, Ross, DJ Khaled and others bundled together for a photo backstage
Feminine flair: Real Housewives star Claudia Jordan was pretty in purple as she posed behind the scenes
BET HIP HOP AWARDS 2015 NOMINEES
Best Hip-Hop Video
Big Sean feat. Chris Brown and Ty Dolla $ign – Play No Games
Big Sean feat. Drake and Kanye West – Blessings
Fetty Wap – Trap Queen
Kendrick Lamar – Alright
Nicki Minaj feat. Beyoncé – Feeling Myself
Best Collabo, Duo or Group
Big Sean feat. Drake and Kanye West – Blessings
Big Sean feat. E-40 – IDFWU
Fetty Wap feat. Monty – My Way
Nicki Minaj feat. Beyoncé – Feeling Myself
Nicki Minaj feat. Drake and Lil Wayne – Truffle Butter
Best Live Performer
Drake
J. Cole
Kanye West
Kendrick Lamar
Nicki Minaj
Lyricist of the Year
Big Sean
Drake
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar
Nicki Minaj
Video Director of the Year
Alan Ferguson
Benny Boom
Chris Robinson/Lil Chris
Colin Tilley
Director X
DJ of the Year
DJ Drama
DJ Envy
DJ Esco
DJ Khaled
DJ Mustard
Producer of the Year
DJ Mustard
J. Cole
Kanye West
Mike Will Made-It
Pharrell Williams
Timbaland
MVP of the Year
Big Sean
Drake
Future
J. Cole
Kendrick Lamar
Nicki Minaj
Track of the Year
Alright – Produced by Pharrell Williams and Sounwave (Kendrick Lamar)
Blessings – Produced by Boi-1da and Vinylz (Big Sean feat. Drake and Kanye West)
Commas – Produced by DJ Spinz and Southside (Future)
IDFWU – Produced by Dj Dahi, Dj Mustard, Kanye West and Key Wane (Big Sean feat. E-40)
Trap Queen – Produced by Tony Fadd (Fetty Wap)
Album of the Year
Big Sean – Dark Sky Paradise
Drake – If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
J. Cole – 2014 Forest Hills Drive
Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
Nicki Minaj – The Pinkprint
Wale – The Album About Nothing
Who Blew Up Award
Bobby Shmurda
DeJ Loaf
Fetty Wap
Rae Sremmurd
Tink
Hustler of the Year
Dr. Dre
Drake
J. Cole
Jay Z
Nicki Minaj
Made-You-Look Award (Best Hip-Hop Style)
A$AP Rocky
DeJ Loaf
Drake
Kanye West
Nicki Minaj
Best Club Banger
Big Sean feat. E-40 – IDFWU (Produced by Dj Dahi, Dj Mustard, Kanye West and Key Wane)
Dej Loaf – Try Me (Produced by Dds)
Fetty Wap – Trap Queen (Produced by Tony Fadd)
Future – Commas (Produced by DJ Spinz and Southside)
Rich Homie Quan – Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh) (Produced by DJ Spinz and Nitti Beatz)
Best Mixtape
Future – 56 Nights
Future – Beast Mode
Future – Monster
Lil Wayne – Sorry 4 The Wait 2
Travis Scott – Days Before Rodeo
Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse
Drake – Blessings (Big Sean feat. Drake and Kanye West)
Drake – My Way (Remix) (Fetty Wap feat. Drake)
E-40 – IDFWU (Big Sean feat. E-40)
Kendrick Lamar – Classic Man (Remix) (Jidenna feat. Kendrick Lamar)
Lil Wayne – Truffle Butter (Nicki Minaj feat. Drake and Lil Wayne)
Impact Track
Big Sean feat. Kanye West and John Legend – One Man Can Change The World
Common and John Legend – Glory (From The Motion Picture Selma)
J. Cole – Apparently
J. Cole – Be Free
Kendrick Lamar – Alright
People’s Champ Award
Big Sean feat. Drake and Kanye West – Blessings
Fetty Wap – Trap Queen
Future – Commas
Kendrick Lamar – i
Rae Sremmurd – No Type
Rich Homie Quan – Flex (Ooh, Ooh, Ooh)
