T.I., Busta Rhymes and Chamillionaire Top Impressive Nominees List for Inaugural BET HIP-HOP AWARDS Premiering Wednesday, November 15 at 9 P.M. ET/PT

T.I., Busta Rhymes and Chamillionaire Top Impressive Nominees List for Inaugural BET HIP-HOP AWARDS Premiering Wednesday, November 15 at 9 P.M. ET/PT

Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, T.I. & Young Dro, and Young Jeezy Among the Stars Slated to Rock Mics at BET HIP-HOP AWARDS Hosted by Katt Williams at Atlanta's Historic Fox Theatre

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(R) 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 International 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

About BET Networks

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:and)(NYSE:VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 83 million households according to Nielsen media research, and can be seen in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of businesses extensions: BET.com, the Number 1 Internet portal for African Americans; BET Digital Networks - BET J, BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Mobile, a service venture into the lucrative world of ring tones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, an extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

http://www.bet.com/PR

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: BET Networks

CONTACT: Tosha Whitten Griggs, +1-818-655-6712,
tosha.whitten-griggs@bet.net, or Zabrina Horton, +1-818-655-6737,
zabrina.horton@bet.net, both of BET Corporate Communications; or Jeanine
Taylor of JCEC Public Relations, +1-213-739-5009, jcecpr@gmail.com

Web site: http://www.bet.com/

-------
Profile: intent