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)