Last year the Second Annual BET Hip-Hop Awards show was void of the alleged King of the South TI. The rapper who was set to perform and receive awards at the show was arrested on various gun charges. This year however as the nominees stand it looks like a new King of the South might have been recognized in the way of Lil Wayne.
New King of the South
Riding off the success of his Tha Carter III project, which sold just over one million copies in its first week of release, Lil Wayne received a staggering twelve nominations in this years show. Receiving nominations in the Hustler of the Year, M.V.P of the Year, Lyricist of the Year and Best Live Performer of the Year categories, Lil Wayne also amassed extensive recognition for his tracks A Milli produced by Bangladesh and Lollipop which was produced by Jim Jonsin and Deezle.
Other Nominees
The nominees for Lyricist of the Year include Nas, TI, Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Jay Z who is also up against Lil Wayne in five other categories. Kanye West who released his third album Graduation last year is also up for six awards with his track Good Life featuring T Pain up for Best video, Track of the Year and Best Hip-Hop Collaboration. If Kanye is to prove successful in the Best Video category it will be his second award having been victorious last year with his track Stronger also from his Graduation album.
The Rookie of the Year Award which has been won in past years by Lupe Fiasco and Rich Boy will see Maino, Shawty Lo, Flo Rida, Rocko and Ace Hood go head to head. Flo Rida’s summer anthem Low is also up for Ringtone of the Year.
Each year the show pays homage to the driving forces behind the music and culture which has encouraged Hip-Hop to transcend into the multi-billion dollar industry it has become. 2006 saw the highly coveted DJ Grandmaster Flash recognized in the I am Hip-Hop category and the following year the prolific MC KRS-ONE bagged the title.
At this years event the I am Hip-Hop Honoree is founding father of one of the most notorious Hip-Hop record labels and mastermind behind urban clothing line Phat Farm as well as recognized philanthropist, Russell Simmons.
The BET Hip-Hop Awards is also the first show from the US to designate a category for UK Hip-Hop. This category has had a tremendous impact on how the UK music scene is embraced by America. The Best UK Artist Awards was won in 2006 and 2007 by Sway and Kano respectively.
There are however two things missing this year from the Nominees; female presence and G Unit. Even though 50 Cent is up for Hustler of the Year, the G Unit front man and his label mates Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo are nowhere else to be seen on the list.
Brief Background to the BET Hip-Hop Awards Show
The BET Hip-Hop Awards show, which was established in 2006, has always been staged in Atlanta and for the third consecutive year the Award show has been hosted by comedian Katt Williams. It is the most watched Music Awards on the Black Entertainment Network.
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