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Hip-Hop’s
Finest, Old and New,
Shine at BET Hip-Hop
By CHRISTOPHER WINDHAM
ATLANTA
- Hip-hop’s top artists, producers
and choreographers flocked to Atlanta recently for
the fourth annual BET Hip-Hop Awards, which highlighted
rap’s stars from the past and present.
This
year’s show featured a collection of newcomers
such as Wale, Soulja Boy and Nipsey Hussle sharing
the stage for award presentations, performances and
tributes with hip-hop legends Jay-Z, Ice Cube and
KRS-One.
Winners
included Jay-Z for “MVP of the Year,”
Drake for “Rookie of the Year,’ and T.I.
who won “Best Hip-Hop Collaboration for "Live
Your Life" with Rihanna as well as “Album
of the Year” for "Paper Trail.” The
late DJ AM was also named “Best DJ.”
T.I.,
who is currently in prison on a federal weapons conviction,
was represented at the show by his fiancée
Tameka “Tiny” Cottle, who read a letter
written by the rapper.
"Although
I'm not there with you all, I'm there in spirit,"
Tameka read. "My road to redemption is almost
over. ... Thanks for the support."
Jay-Z’s
appearance came as a surprise to many in the audience,
who cheered loudly during “Real As It Gets,”
which he performed with Atlanta native Young Jeezy.
Jay-Z would soon be called to the stage to accept
the MVP Award.
BET
also honored several hip hop veterans, including choreographer
Fatima Robinson and Missy Elliot, who were featured
in a tribute to women in hip-hop.
Rapper/actor
Ice Cube was presented with the “I AM HIP HOP”
Icon Award, which is given for notable contributions
of outstanding significance to the hip-hop community.
“When
you get recognized by your peers for a life of work,
you got to be humbled, I'm honored by this,”
Ice Cube said. “I have 20 more years of work
left in me. I hope BET is ready to give out two of
these awards.”
This
year’s “Hip Hop Cares” segment of
the awards show spotlighted 50 Cents’ G-Unity
Foundation, Busta Rhymes’ affiliation with RockCorps,
Jim Jones’ service to Entertainers Alliance
for Education Foundation and Young Jeezy’s Street
Dreams Foundation.
The
audience received a concert within the awards show,
which featured 10 performances. Artists that performed
included KRS-One, Gucci Mane, Eminem, Wale and OJ
Da Juiceman, who performed the remix to his hit “Ice
Cream Paint Job” with Snoop Dogg, Jim Jones,
Nipsey Hussle and Soulja Boy.
The
crowd got an even bigger surprise from the reuniting
of Goodie Mob, who performed their classic “Cell
Therapy” to close the show. The performance
was a preview of the energy that will be featured
on Goodie Mob’s upcoming reunion album and tour.
Held
at Atlanta’s Boisfeuillet Jones Civic Center,
the BET Hip Hop Awards had the city bursting with
parities, appearances and other events that brought
together actors, athletes and thousands of hip-hip
fans. Comedian Mike Epps hosted the ceremony, keeping
the show rolling with raw humor and quick punch lines.
BET
will air the 2009 Hip-Hop awards October 27. 
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