So I know ya’ll are saying, ‘Where the hell has this heffa been?’

Well if you follow me on twitter (which I strongly suggest you do) then you know that I was tapped to cover the 2009 BET Awards for Giant Magazine and the past couple weeks have been beyond crazy. (Shouts to Mecca for taking one for the team and holding it down over here.)

Let me tell you last night was an experience like no other. I mean first of all to be in LA when the biggest mega-music star (and ya’ll KNOW I don’t use that term ’star’) suddenly passes away, is already jarring enough. But then to have behind-the-scenes access to the awards that were entirely re-arranged in three days to pay tribute to him, was not only a blessing but also the story I will one day tell my grandchildren. (Or my grandpuppies at the rate I’m going.)

Be on the lookout for the official video ‘flyinIN: The 2009 BET Awards Weekend’ coming this week.

The day itself was hot and hectic. After some last minute changes (due to the death of MJ) kept us from broadcasting from the red carpet, my trusty cameraman and I (shouts to JB) took refuge in the air conditioned media center directly off to the right of the stage of the Shrine Auditorium. As it turns out, that was the right move to make. Lots happened back there including memorable questions (like the woman from CNN asking JEREMY PIVEN basically if he’d ever even watched BET – to which he responded that he’s always looking for more black people), impromptu performances (the boys of DAY 26 broke out in song after speaking about MJ) and of course the very humbling surprise appearance by JOE JACKSON (who graciously spoke with us just 3 days after the shocking loss of his son).

Lots more pics and inside scoop after the jump…

Of course everyone’s focus was undoubtedly on Jackson’s passing as everyone who spoke to the press was asked to share their thoughts on the legend, but I’d be lying if I said there weren’t some hilarious Jackson related moments, some intentional and some not so much…

The show’s openers, a reunited NEW EDITION appeared back stage (in two seperate solo groups: BBD and the newly formed HEADS OF STATE – including a visibly drunk BOBBY BROWN) and shared a memory of being young and invited to spend the night at Neverland Ranch with their musical hero. (They also shared that they were the very first to see the historic Thriller video as Jackson screened it for them in his home theater.)

And then of course there was the ridiculous statement heard round the world when TARAJI HENSON said that Michael Jackson paved the way for Barack Obama to become the first African-American President…Sigh.

And then of course there was the part of the night when 1993 came back and took over the Shrine. GINUWINE, GUY and TEVIN CAMPBELL (whom is truly bizarre), all crawled out of nowhere and talked about their current comebacks attempts.

KEITH SWEAT also floated around but ya’ll know he scares me so I skipped taking pictures…

Lifetime Achievement honorees THE O’JAY’S came through the press room and shared their memories of a childhood Michael but their thoughts were tuned out almost immediately as the screens along side of them showed a incredibly emotional JANET JACKSON taking the stage to thank everyone for their support. (Janet declined to talk to the press and arrived almost 7 minutes before and left immediately after her appearance.)

KERI HILSON, TREY SONGZ, KEKE PALMER , LETOYA LUCKETT and the ladies of MARY MARY also graced the mini stage, all sharing their own personal stories.

Keri was asked to delay talking to us so that we could watch the show’s emotional finale of host JAMIE FOXX and NE-YO singing the Jackson 5 classic ‘I’ll Be There‘.

A hilarious moment came when just about every woman in the media center crowded our section as the uber-sexy IDRIS ELBA walked on stage and proceeded to make the room moist. You could actually hear us (yes, me included) moaning during his interview.

I’d like to take this moment to reminisce about the very intense (albeit public) moment Elba and I shared as he told me of his own passion project and how he’s unhappy with the way Africa is portrayed in film. (Elba was born and raised in England but both of his parents are of African decent.)

And probably one of the most tender moments of the night came when CIARA (shortly after performing a snippet of ‘Heal The World‘) began to quietly sob after lamenting how though they’d spoken over the phone, she would now never get to meet her idol in person.  The Atlanta native also went on the explain that this is an emotional time for her as well as she recently lost her God Mother to cancer a mere two weeks ago.

As I said, a lot went on this past weekend. And I’ve got a lot to show you…So stay tuned.

Shouts again to Kev Clark, Mecca Donna, JB, Lyntina Townsend and NTI (Even though you are the most difficult person I know).

And of course THANKS to the most beautiful dress and styling by the incomparable NOBODY JONES