When the BET Awards air Thursday night, the South will be heavily represented. Shawty Lo, DJ Khaled and Russell Simmons all took home hardware during Saturday’s taped ceremony. But no entertainer fared better than Lil Wayne, who won three of the 12 awards he was nominated for.
Wayne, who also announced he was expecting a son over the weekend [click to read], won the MVP of the Year and the Alltel Wireless People’s Champ Award. The current owner of the 2008’s top-selling Hip Hop album also bested Jay-Z [click to read], Nas, T.I. [click to read] and Kanye West for the Lyricist of the Year Award.
DJ Khaled took home the Best Hip Hop Collaboration Award for “I’m So Hood (Remix),” which featured Young Jeezy [click to read], Ludacris [click to read], Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Lil Wayne, Fat Joe [click to read], Birdman [click to read] and Rick Ross [click to read].
Bankhead native Shawty Lo surpassed Ace Hood, Flo Rida, Maino and fellow Georgian, Rocko [click to read] for MySpace Music Rookie of the Year honors.
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LL Cool J was also on hand to present his former Def Jam boss, Russell Simmons, with the I Am Hip Hop Icon Award.
Only five of the 13 awards were taped Saturday. Winners of the Best Video, Producer of the Year, Best Live Performer, Ringtone of the Year, Best Director, Track of the Year, CD of the Year and DJ of the Year will all be announced when the BET Hip Hop Awards air Oct. 23 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Nominees for all categories are listed below.
BET Hip Hop Awards Nominees:
Hustler of the Year:
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50 Cent, DJ Khaled, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Diddy
Lyricist of the Year:
Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Nas, T.I., Kanye West
MVP of the Year:
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DJ Khaled, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, T.I., Kanye West
Best Live Performer:
Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, T.I., Kanye West
Best UK Act:
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Chipmunk, Dizzee Rascal, Ghetto, Giggs, Skepta, Wiley
MySpace Rookie of the Year:
Ace Hood, Flo Rida, Maino, Rocko, Shawty Lo
Best Director:
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Gil Green, R. Malcolm Jones, Rage, Chris Robinson, Hype Williams
DJ of the Year:
DJ Drama, DJ Felli Fel, DJ Khaled, DJ Tony Neal, DJ Greg Street
Ringtone of the Year:
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“Low” – Florida (feat. T-Pain)
“Lollipop” – Lil Wayne (feat. Static Major)
“Bust It Baby Part 2” – Plies (feat. Ne-Yo)
“Umma Do Me” – Rocko
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“The Business” – Yung Berg (feat. Casha)
CD of the Year:
Jay-Z – American Gangster
Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III
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Lupe Fiasco – The Cool
Nas – Untitled
Kanye West – Graduation
Track of the Year:
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“A Milli” – Lil Wayne (produced by Bangladesh)
“Dey Know” – Shawty Low (produced by Balis Beatz)
“Good Life” – Kanye West (produced by Kanye West and DJ Toomp)
“Lollipop” – Lil Wayne (produced by Jim Jonsin and Deezle)
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“Roc Boys (And The Winner Is)” – Jay-Z (produced by Diddy, LV and Sean C)
Best Hip Hop Collaboration:
“Get Like Me” – David Banner (feat. Chris Brown and Yung Joc)
“I’m So Hood (Remix)” – DJ Khaled (feat. Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Lil Wayne, Fat Joe, Birdman and Rick Ross)
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“Low” – Flo Rida (feat. T-Pain)
“Bust It Baby Part 2” – Plies (feat. Ne-Yo)
“Good Life” – Kanye West (feat. T-Pain)
Alltel’s People’s Champ:
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“A Milli” – Lil Wayne
“Superstar” – Lupe Fiasco (feat. Matthew Santos)
“Bust It Baby Part 2” – Plies (feat. Ne-Yo)
“Here I Am” – Rick Ross (feat. Nelly and Avery Storm)
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“Put On” – Young Jeezy (feat. Kanye West)
“The Business” – Yung Berg (feat. Casha)