This past Tuesday was the 2009 BET Hip Hop awards. It featured some of hip hop’s most talented artists. The show was hosted by Mike Epps of “All About the Benjamins” and “Next Friday” fame.
He is a stand-up comedian and actor. Epps began his career on Def Comedy Jam back in 1995. Today he has become a well known performer.
This year, the hip hop awards included performances by Gucci Mane, Young Jeezy, Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em, Wale, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, Lil’ Scrappy, Goodie Mob, Dorrough, and Fabolous.
During a presentation, the New Boys got a surprise when Kid ‘n Play came out and showed them that they were the first rap duo to actually rap and dance.
Some of the winners included T.I feat. Rihanna, in Best Collaboration & Best Hip Hop Video for their song “Live Your Life.” T.I also won the CD of the Year award for his Paper Trail album. T.I’s wife Tameka accepted his awards on his behalf. He wrote a sincere thank you letter as his acceptance speech, which she recited.
Busta Rhymes accepted DJ AM’s award for DJ of the Year. DJ AM passed away in August at the age of 36.
Jay-Z took home the Best Live Performance award, Hustler of the Year, MVP of the Year, and Lyricist of the Year. He has proved once again why he is the best of the best.
Young Money had their spotlight this year taking home the award for Track of the Year for “Every Girl” which featured Drake and Lil Wayne. Drake also took home the Rookie of the Year award.
The controversial Kanye West won two awards: Producer of the Year and, not surprisingly, the Made You Look award.
It was probably for his public incident at the VMA’s.
Hype Williams won the Video Director of the Year award.
The audience voted Fabulous and The Dream the Verizon People’s Champ for their song “Throw It in the Bag.”
Every year at the BET awards there is an honoree for the I Am Hip Hop award. This year’s recipient was Ice Cube.
Ice Cube started out in the streets of South Central Los Angeles. He was born O’Shea Jackson in 1969, and became one of the most important icons in hip hop, bringing the genre far beyond the expectations of society. He started out in N.W.A, which was a rap group that gave a powerful voice to West Coast rap.
Cube began his acting career in 1991 when he played in the academy award nominated “Boyz n the Hood.”
He did something big in 1995 when he started his own production company, Cube Vision.
The film that started his producing career was “Friday,”
which he wrote, produced, and starred in.
He has since made movies such as “All About the Benjamins,” the “Barbershop” movies, “Are We There Yet?,” “Are We Done Yet?,” and “The Longshots.”
Ice Cube has evolved from a hardcore rapper from the streets of South Central to a Hollywood star and business man.
During his acceptance speech he told the hip hop nation to do “what we feel.”
He encouraged hip hop artists to only be slaves to their creative minds.
He said not to let the industry make you a slave.
Missy Elliot and Fatima Robinson were also recognized as women in hip hop.
Fatima Robinson is one of the best choreographers hip hop has seen. She has choreographed videos for everyone from Aaliyah to No Doubt. She has also done work in movies, TV shows and commercials.
Missy Elliot is one of hip hop’s most influential artists. She is a triple threat singer, songwriter and producer. She changed the game with her creativity and weirdness. Some of her early work included songs for Aaliyah and Jodeci. She debuted in 1997 with her solo release “Supa Dupa Fly.”
She has had some of the best music videos since then and has worked with various artists. She started her own label called Goldmine and has helped artists get a start on their careers. Missy Elliott is a hip hop icon. Her 7th album “Block Party” will be released in 2010.
Florence K. Hunt-Herrington can be reached at Fh660356@wcupa.edu.