Take to an awards stage with a Lamborghini and a baseball bat, and people are bound to react.

Rapper Kendrick Lamar, who topped last month's Triple J Hottest 100, has divided viewers with a destructive performance at the UK's leading music showcase, the Brit Awards.

The rapper, who won the award for best international male solo artist, performed his song Feel atop a transparent carport in which fellow rapper Rich The Kid smashed the luxury sportscar.

Behind him a sign read, "This is another satire by Kendrick Lamar."

Adding to the confusion, the performance was hampered by a censor with an itchy finger, as large chunks of Lamar's raps were muted due to explicit language.

Viewers online criticised broadcaster ITV for censoring Lamar's words, while others chastised the rapper for destroying the luxury vehicle as part of his act.

"Instead of smashing up a $300,000 car, why don't you donate that amount of money to starving kids?" went one viral comment online.

The performance was one of the most controversial in a ceremony that echoed the political charge of last month's Grammys.

Much like the Grammys, attendees wore white roses in solidarity with the Time's Up movement against sexual harassment in the industry.  

Singer Dua Lipa, who won two prizes for breakthrough artist and female solo artist, used her first speech to honour women in the industry.

"Here's to more women on these stages, more women winning awards, and more women taking over the world," she said.

Rapper Stormzy, who upset Ed Sheeran to take out the album of the year, performed a blistering freestyle that took aim at Theresa May's handling of last June's Grenfell fire disaster.

"You're criminals and you've got the cheek to call us savages, you should do some jail time, you should pay some damages, we should burn your house down and see if you manage this," he rapped.

Former Blur frontman Damon Albarn, whose band Gorillaz took out best group, also targeted May's Brexit plans in a rambling speech.

"Don't let [this country] become isolated. Don't let yourselves be cut off," he implored the audience. "We've got a lot of soul, don't let politics get in the way of that shit."

But it was another '90s Brit-pop hero who drew the warmest applause.

Liam Gallagher, in requisite anorak, performed a rousing version of Oasis's Live Forever in honour of the 22 people who died in last May's Manchester terror attack at an Ariana Grande concert.

Gallagher was a last minute replacement for Grande, who was forced to pull out of performing at the awards due to illness.