Is the Hip Hop Industry Dirtier Than the Dope Game?

Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris, Katt Williams and Young Jeezy appeared at the Metropolitan Atlanta Chamber of Commerce yesterday (Oct. 12) to announce the nominations for the first-ever BET Hip-HopAwards show.
Atlanta rapper T.I. led all nominees with eight nods, including Videoof 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.
Busta Rhymes received six nominations, Chamillionaire received five, Yung Joc and Lupe Fiasco were nominated in four categoriest, Lil' Wayne and Young Jeezy were nominated three times each, while Common, Rick Ross, Nelly and Cham each were nominated twice.
Hosted by comedian Katt Williams, the BET Hip-Hop Awards show will join the network's already successful ceremonies, the BET Awards and the BET Comedy Awards.
Williams, known for his role as "Money Mike" in the hit movie Friday After Next, also has a hit HBO stand-up comedy special The Pimp Chronicles, Part 1.

Williams says he was the logical choice to host the awards.
"Well, you know, I'm a great believer that enthusiasm is always the most important ingredient," Williams said. "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."
The BET Awards has also establish special recognition for contributions in the areas of beat production, lyricism, dance, and film/visual art, as well as a new international category, Best UK Hip-Hop Artist.
UK Hip-Hop acts Dizzee Rascal, Sway, Plan B, Kano and Blak Twang were each nominated in the Best UK Hip-Hop Artist category.
"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, acknowledgment 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."
The inaugural BET Hip-Hop Awards will be taped at Atlanta's Fox Theatre on Nov. 12.
The show will premiere on Nov. 15 at 9 p.m. on BET.
The following is a complete list of the 2006 BET Hip-Hop AWARDS nominees and categories:
Hip-Hop VIDEO OF THE YEARBusta Rhymes f/ Mary J. Blige, Rah Digga, Missy Elliott, Lloyd Banks,Papoose & DMX - Touch It RemixCommon - TestifyLupe Fiasco - Kick, PushT.I. - What You KnowYung Joc - Goin' Down
ELEMENT AWARD: VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEARBenny 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 & AveryStorm)
Hip-Hop TRACK OF THE YEARGoin' Down - Yung Joc, Produced by NittiRidin'- Chamillionaire f/ Krayzie Bone, Produced by Play-N-SkillzStay Fly - Three 6 Mafia f/Young Buck, 8 Ball & MJG, Produced by DJ Paul &Juicy JTouch It - Busta Rhymes, Produced by Swizz BeatzWhat You Know - T.I., Produced by DJ Toomp
ROOKIE OF THE YEARChamChamillionaireLupe FiascoRick RossYung Joc
ELEMENT AWARD: PRODUCER OF THE YEARJermaine 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 YEARBusta RhymesCommonLil WayneLupe FiascoT.I.
ELEMENT AWARD: BEST Hip-Hop DANCE OF THE YEAR

Chicken Noodle SoupHyphy (Go Dumb)Motorcycle Shoulder lean Snap

HIP-HOP MOVIE

ATL- Director: Chris RobinsonBeef: 3 - Director: Peter SpirerBoss'n Up - Director: Dylan C. BrownGet Rich or Die Tryin' - Director: Jim SheridanWaist 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 RemixCham f/ Alicia Keys - Ghetto Story Chapter 2Chamillionaire f/ Krayzie Bone - Ridin'Nelly f/ Paul Wall, Ali & Big Gipp - GrillzYoung 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 International Category)Dizzee RascalSwayPlan BKano 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 RemixChamillionaire f/ Krayzie Bone - Ridin'Dem Franchize Boyz f/ Peanut & Charlay - Lean With It, Rock With ItLil Jon f/ E-40 & Sean Paul (YoungBloodZ) - Snap Yo FingersRick Ross - Hustlin'Young Jeezy - Trap Star/Go Crazy