Headline, Industry News

BET Hip-Hop Awards Nov. 15

Friday October 13th 2006

ATLANTA, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ – If you thought last summer’s BET AWARDS ’06 were off the hook – and they were – just wait until the inaugural BET HIP-HOP AWARDS premieres on Wednesday, November 15 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The nominees for BET’s first awards show honoring the cream of hip-hop culture in 14 different categories were unveiled today during a press conference at the Metropolitan Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. 

On hand to make the announcements were: Katt Williams, actor/comedian and host of the BET HIP-HOP AWARDS; Multi- platinum rapper and Academy award-winning film Crash cast member Ludacris; hip-hop mogul and super-producer Jermaine Dupri; platinum-selling rapper Young Jeezy; Stephen Hill, BET Executive Vice President for Entertainment, Music Programming and Talent and BET HIP-HOP AWARDS Executive Producer; Lisa Borders, Atlanta City Council President; Sam A. Williams, President of the Atlanta Metro Chamber of Commerce; Spurgeon Richardson, President and CEO of Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau; and Fox Theatre General Manager Allan Vella.

With southern hip-hop being so dominant now, it’s quite appropriate that Atlanta was selected to host the first BET HIP-HOP AWARDS show. ATL’s own T.I., leads all nominees with eight nods. T.I. is up for possible honors in the Video of the Year, Hip-Hop Track of the Year, Hip-Hop MVP of the Year, Lyricist of the Year, Best Live Performance, Best Collaboration, Hip-Hop CD of the Year and Hip-Hop Hustler of the Year categories.

"We are extremely excited to be producing our first BET HIP-HOP AWARDS and look forward to a show that reflects the genre with the respect, acknowledgement and show production value it’s due," said Stephen Hill, Executive Vice President of Entertainment, Music Programming and Talent for BET Networks. "This show is very much about where hip-hop culture is RIGHT now, but we will honor the original 4 elements of hip-hop and show their connection to today’s beats, rhymes and life."

Joining T.I. with multiple nods are: Busta Rhymes with six, Chamillionaire with five, Yung Joc and Lupe Fiasco with four; Kanye West, Lil’ Wayne and Young Jeezy with three each; and Common, Rick Ross, Nelly and Cham with two apiece. The show will also feature live performances by Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, T.I. & Young Dro, and Young Jeezy … and more to be announced at later dates. Although hosting an awards show – particularly one with this caliber of talent – is no easy gig, Katt Williams, perhaps best known for his scene- stealing turn as Money Mike in "Friday After Next" and his recent HBO stand-up comedy special "The Pimp Chronicles, Part 1," says he’s up for the challenge.

"Well, you know, I’m a great believer that enthusiasm is always the most important ingredient," Williams says. "So you want to have somebody hosting a hip-hop show that actually loves hip hop and has for as long as they can remember. So in that respect, there’s not a lot of weight on my shoulders. It’s really a joy, because I’m going to be excited every second that I’m onstage. And the audience needs to see that sort of thing, not ‘I’m qualified to be here and that’s why I’m here.’ But really, I’m so excited to be doing this."

In paying homage to the core tenets of hip hop (DJing, MCing, Breakdancing and Graffiti (art)), The BET HIP-HOP AWARDS has established special recognition for the exceptional work and contributions to the genre in the areas of beat production, lyricism, dance, and film/visual art with four special Element awards: Producer of the Year, Lyricist of the Year, Hip-Hop Dance of the Year and Director of the Year. Additional categories include Rookie of the Year, Hip-Hop Movie of the Year and the Alltel Wireless People’s Champ Award (Viewers’ Choice). BET has again teamed with Cossette Productions, famed producers of the GRAMMY Awards® and the six previous record-setting BET AWARDS shows, to jointly produce this fresh salute to everything hip-hop.

For the first-time ever, BET will splash some international flavor on its awards show with special honors geared around the British urban music scene. Five noted hip-hop artists from the United Kingdom will battle for recognition by British hip-hop fans as Best UK Hip-Hop Artist. BET International is joined through partnerships with British music entities MTV Base and 1 Xtra BBC in establishing this category spotlighting British hip-hop.

The following is a complete list of the 2006 BET HIP-HOP AWARDS nominees and categories:

HIP-HOP VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Busta Rhymes f/ Mary J. Blige, Rah Digga, Missy Elliott, Lloyd Banks,

Papoose & DMX – Touch It Remix

Common – Testify

Lupe Fiasco – Kick, Push

T.I. – What You Know

Yung Joc – Goin’ Down

ELEMENT AWARD: VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Benny Boom:

Chain Hang Low (Jibbs)

Fresh Azimiz Remix (Bow Wow f/ Mike Jones)

Have A Party (Mobb Deep f/ 50 Cent & Nate Dogg)

Hustler Musik/Money On My Mind (Lil Wayne)

Like This (Mack 10 f/ Nate Dogg)

Shooter (Lil Wayne f/ Robin Thicke)

Touch It (Busta Rhymes)

Touch It Remix (Busta Rhymes f/ Mary J. Blige, Rah Digga, Missy Elliott,

Lloyd Banks, Papoose & DMX)

Touchin’ (David Banner f/Jazze Pha)

Dr. Teeth:

Chunk Up The Deuce (Lil KeKe f/ Paul Wall & Bun B)

Diamonds Remix (Slim Thug f/ Young Jeezy, Slick Pulla & Killa)

Everybody Get Up (Pitbull f/ Pretty Ricky)

Front Back (T.I. f/ UGK)

Let’s Cheat (Tango Redd f/ Lloyd)

Spit Ya Game (The Notorious B.I.G. f/ Twista, Krayzie Bone, 8Ball & MJG)

They Don’t Know (Paul Wall f/ Mike Jones & Bun B)

Way I Be Leanin’ (Juvenile f/ Mike Jones, Paul Wall, Skip & Wacko

Hype Williams:

Control Myself (LL Cool J f/ Jennifer Lopez)

Diamonds On My Neck (Smitty)

Drive Slow (Kanye West f/ Paul Wall, T.I. & Gangsta L. Crisis)

Freeze (LL Cool J f/ Lyfe Jennings)

Gold Digger (Kanye West f/ Jamie Foxx)

My Hood (Young Jeezy)

Snap Yo Fingers (Lil Jon f/ E-40 & Sean Paul of YoungBloodZ)

Little X:

Girls (Beenie Man f/ Akon)

Shoulder Lean (Young Dro f/ T.I.)

Temperature (Sean Paul)

U And Dat (E-40 f/ T-Pain & Kandi)
(When You Gonna) Give It Up To Me (Sean Paul f/ Keyshia Cole)

Wild 2 Nite (Shaggy f/ Olivia)

Sanaa Hamri:

Ghetto Story Chapter 2 (Cham f/ Alicia Keys)

Nasty Girl (The Notorious B.I.G. f/ Nelly, Diddy, Jagged Edge & Avery

Storm)

HIP-HOP TRACK OF THE YEAR

Goin’ Down – Yung Joc, Produced by Nitti

Ridin’- Chamillionaire f/ Krayzie Bone, Produced by Play-N-Skillz

Stay Fly – Three 6 Mafia f/Young Buck, 8 Ball & MJG, Produced by DJ Paul &

Juicy J

Touch It – Busta Rhymes, Produced by Swizz Beatz

What You Know – T.I., Produced by DJ Toomp

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Cham

Chamillionaire

Lupe Fiasco

Rick Ross

Yung Joc

ELEMENT AWARD: PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

Jermaine Dupri:

Control Myself (LL Cool J f/ Jennifer Lopez)

Fresh Azimiz Remix (Bow Wow f/ Mike Jones)

Pullin’ Me Back (Chingy f/ Tyrese)

Kanye West:

Drive Slow (Kanye West f/ Paul Wall, T.I. & Gangsta L. Crisis)

Gold Digger (Kanye West f/ Jamie Foxx)

Heard ‘Em Say (Kanye West f/ Adam Levine)

Shake (Ying Yang Twins f/ Pitbull)

Testify (Common)

Touch The Sky (Kanye West f/ Lupe Fiasco)

Lil Jon:

Presidential (YoungBloodZ)

Snap Yo Fingers (Lil Jon f/ E-40 & Sean Paul {YoungBloodZ})

Tell Me When To Go (E-40 f/ Keak Da Sneak)

Nitti:

Goin’ Down (Yung Joc)

I know You See It (Yung Joc f/ Brandy "Ms. B" Hambrick)

Swizz Beatz:

New York **** (Busta Rhymes f/ Swizz Beats)

Spit Ya Game (The Notorious B.I.G. f/ Twista, Krayzie Bone, 8Ball & MJG)

Touch It (Busta Rhymes)

Touch It Remix (Busta Rhymes f/ Mary J. Blige, Rah Digga, Missy Elliott,

Lloyd Banks, Papoose & DMX)

Touchin’ (David Banner f/Jazze Pha)

HIP-HOP MVP OF THE YEAR

Chamillionaire

Lil Wayne

T.I.

Young Jeezy

Yung Joc

ELEMENT AWARD: LYRICIST OF THE YEAR

Busta Rhymes

Common

Lil Wayne

Lupe Fiasco

T.I.

ELEMENT AWARD: BEST HIP-HOP DANCE OF THE YEAR

Chicken Noodle Soup

Hyphy (Go Dumb)

Motorcycle

Shoulder Lean

Snap

BEST HIP-HOP MOVIE

ATL – Director: Chris Robinson

Beef: 3 – Director: Peter Spirer

Boss’n Up – Director: Dylan C. Brown

Get Rich or Die Tryin’ – Director: Jim Sheridan

Waist Deep – Director: Vondie Curtis-Hall

BEST LIVE PERFORMANCE

Busta Rhymes

Kanye West

Missy Elliott

T.I.

Yung Joc

BEST COLLABO

Busta Rhymes f/ Mary J. Blige, Rah Digga, Missy Elliott, Lloyd Banks,

Papoose & DMX – Touch It Remix

Cham f/ Alicia Keys – Ghetto Story Chapter 2

Chamillionaire f/ Krayzie Bone – Ridin’

Nelly f/ Paul Wall, Ali & Big Gipp – Grillz

Young Dro f/ T.I. – Shoulder Lean

HIP-HOP CD OF THE YEAR

King – T.I.

Late Registration – Kanye West

Let’s Get It: Thug Motivation 101 – Young Jeezy

Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor – Lupe Fiasco

Tha Carter II – Lil Wayne

HIP-HOP HUSTLER AWARD

Diddy

Jay-Z

Ludacris

Nelly

T.I.

BEST UNITED KINGDOM ARTIST (BET Intl. Category)

Dizzee Rascal

Sway

Plan B

Kano

Blak Twang

ALLTEL WIRELESS PEOPLE’S CHAMP AWARD (VIEWERS’ CHOICE)

Busta Rhymes f/ Mary J. Blige, Rah Digga, Missy Elliott, Lloyd Banks,

Papoose & DMX – Touch It Remix

Chamillionaire f/ Krayzie Bone – Ridin’

Dem Franchize Boyz f/ Peanut & Charlay – Lean With It, Rock With It

Lil Jon f/ E-40 & Sean Paul (YoungBloodZ) – Snap Yo Fingers

Rick Ross – Hustlin’

Young Jeezy – Trap Star/Go Crazy