Jay-Z surprises Kanye West at BET Awards and pokes fun at Taylor Swift incident

Jay-Z stunned rap partner Kanye West at the BET Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday night (01Jul12) by invading the stage as the Stronger hitmaker accepted their Best Group Award.

West, who had opened the show with a dazzling laser display, took to the stage to pick up the honour as one half of The Throne and admitted he wished Jay-Z was there with him "to say something politically correct for me".

On cue, Jay-Z stepped onstage and hugged his pal, before accepting the award.

The rap mogul later poked fun at his pal when they stepped up to collect their Best Video award for The Throne by recalling his infamous MTV Video Music Awards moment when he interrupted Taylor Swift's speech.

As West took the mic and began his acceptance speech, Jay-Z interrupted him and said, "Excuse me, I'm gonna let you continue but...," which is how his hip-hop partner began his speech after breaking into Swift's speech and insisting Jay-Z's then-girlfriend Beyonce should have won the trophy.

In mock indignation, the Stronger rapper said, "I was trying to defend your girl, man!"