While you won’t be able to see the 2008 BET Hip-Hop Awards until they air on Thursday, October 23, VIBE was in the house when it all went down. Here are five moments you should watch for this Thursday, that is, if the editors didn’t get to them first.
T-PAIN THE RING LEADER
The 2008 BET Hip-Hop Awards got a jump on the evening’s surprises by having T-Pain take over hosting duties for comedian Katt Williams, who has served as master of ceremonies in previous years. Much like his famed collaborations, Pain helped make the night a hit.
It can’t be easy to introduce your own performance, pull off hot pink sequins or argue with a vocoder, but T-Pain successfully did all of the above. With a stage show that included contortionists, a neon green light show and stilt walkers, even Ludacris and Lil Wayne, who performed “Chopped and Screwed” and “Can’t Believe It” respectively, couldn’t take the shine off T. Pizzle.
KINGS OF THE SOUTH
T.I./Grand Hustle and Ludacris/DTP haven’t always been on the greatest of terms, so what better way to kick off the BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta than to have the two local hip hop heroes unite onstage?
On what was practically the anniversary of his infamous arrest, T.I.’s triumphant return was the talk of the awards show red carpet. That he was chosen to open the show, rapping a few bars of “What Up,” then accompanied by Swizz Beatz to do “Swing Ya Rag,” was fitting to say the least. T.I. made way for Ludacris whose own performance whipped the crowd into a frenzy, which then set the stage for the two kings to come together on T.I.’s “On Top Of The World”.
GO-BAMA
With more nominations than anyone, Lil Wayne should have been the man of the hour, but the biggest star of the awards wasn’t even in the building. Still Barack Obama’s presence was felt throughout the night. Whether it was Young Jeezy, looking mighty presidential at his podium with the black flag backdrop, performing “Crazy World”, T.I. rocking a “Respect My Vote” t-shirt; Nas closing “Hero” by paying homage with a big screen photograph;” Salt N Pepa dedicating “What A Man” to him and Michelle; Russell Simmons sporting his rhinestone embellished likeness on his shirt; Kerry Washington’s outspoken co-sign or the expletive-laced Weezy freestyle most people will never hear. That hip hop is more politically conscious than ever was made abundantly clear.
LADIES FIRST
Michelle Obama might be the future First Lady but even she might have trouble moving a crowd the way MC Lyte, Yo-Yo, Lady of Rage and Salt-N-Pepa did as they performed favorites like “Cha Cha Cha,” “Rough Neck,” “You Can’t Play With My Yo-Yo,” “Afro Puffs,” “Shoop,” “Push It” and “What A Man”.
Say what you will about Rihanna and Beyonce, no one but Yo-Yo, clad in a skintight black jumpsuit, could wave her backside at an audience and still command respect.
BET’s tribute to ladies in hip hop demon-strated how women have contributed some of the most memorable material in the genre’s history. While the absence of femcees like Missy Elliott and Queen Latifah were definitely felt, the females who did grace the stage proved that women in rap will never be played out.
B.I.G.-GER THAN HIP HOP
Notorious cast members Jamal Woolard, Derek Luke and Lil Cease made the first televised introduction to their upcoming film, dedicated to the late great Notorious B.I.G. While the at home audience won’t see Jamal flub his line by saying biological instead of biographical, they will get a glimpse of Derek’s Puff Daddy S-Curl and the movie trailer that showcases Big’s private life as we have only imagined it (think Voletta Wallace dissing Puffy, Big macking down Faith and Faith beating up Kim). Taking the moment in, it was as though Big himself came down to ask the audience, "Who ever thought hip hop would take it this far?"
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Russell Simmons, who was presented his honors from Def Jam veteran LL Cool J, served as a reminder that hip hop has grown into a global entity whose poets are now wealthy entrepreneurs.
Short PSA style videos revealed information about charitable organizations started by Ludacris, Plies, Lil Wayne and T.I.
BET making good use of Jadakiss’ voice. Yonkers finest made the bulk of the nights announcements and literally murdered the show’s The Cypher element, which incorporated new MC’s like Corey Gunz and Ace Hood as well as vets like Fabolous and Q-Tip.
DJ Khaled should get another award for the acceptance speech you’ll most enjoy watching.
The BET Hip-Hop Awards Airs Thursday, October 23 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.
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