BET Awards 2018: Meek Mill pays tribute to late rapper XXXTentacion during performance of 'Stay Woke'

The Philadelphia musician's set centred on police brutality and incarceration

Meek Mill paid tribute to late rappers XXXTentacion and Jimmy Wopo during the performance of his new single "Stay Woke" at the 2018 BET Awards.

The Philadelphia rapper's dedication was timely given that both X and Wopo were both shot dead last week.

Mill - who was released from prison in April - delivered a political performance referencing police brutality and the criminal justice system, while wearing a hoodie featuring the faces of X and Wopo.

He took the stage after being introduced by Lil Uzi Vert, Kevin Hart, Questlove, and Black Thought.

"How can I pledge allegiance to the flag, when they killing all our sons, all our dads?" Mill says on one of the verses. "I come from a place where you kill your own brother, you can brag."

The backdrop of the 31-year-old musician's Sunday night performance highlighted several acts of violence including a young girl being shot dead while her mother wailed.

The scene transformed after a police officer laid an American flag over the young girl's body, and the stage became a prison.

"Stay Woke" is the first new music from Mill since his release from prison in April.

The track also features R&B singer Miguel who accompanied Mill on stage at the awards show.

The last album from Mill was 2017's Wins & Losses.