The BET HIP-HOP AWARDS ’09 Nominees Are In ...

Kanye West Leads The Pack With Nine Nominations As Hip-Hop’s Crowning Night Returns to Atlanta on Saturday, October 10 and Premieres on BET Tuesday, October 27 at 8:00 p.m.*

NEW YORK, Sept.16 -- The BET HIP-HOP AWARDS ’09 nominations were announced earlier this evening on 106 & PARK, along with the highly respected renowned rapper, actor, screenwriter, film producer and director Ice Cube who will receive this year’s “I AM HIP-HOP” Icon Award. Hosted by actor and comedian Mike Epps, the hip-hop event of the year returns to Atlanta’s Boisfeuillet Jones Civic Center on Saturday, October 10 to celebrate the biggest names in the game - both on the mic and in the community. The BET HIP-HOP AWARDS ’09 will premiere Tuesday, October 27 at 8:00 PM*.

The Hip-Hop Awards Voting Academy which is comprised of journalists, industry executives, and fans has nominated rapper, producer and style aficionado Kanye West for an impressive nine awards. Jay Z and Lil Wayne follow closely behind with seven nominations, and T.I. rounds things off with six nominations. Additionally, BET has added two new nomination categories to this year’s show -- “Made-You-Look Award” (Best Hip Hop Style) which will go to the ultimate trendsetter and “Best Hip-Hop Blog Site,” which will go to the online site that consistently keeps hip-hop fans in the know non-stop.

ABOUT ICE CUBE

Veteran rapper, Ice Cube pioneered the West Coast rap movement back in the late 80’s. His originality and endless creativity helped pave the way for a new and enticing sound for hip hop as well as a successful career in film and philanthropy. The “I AM HIP-HOP” Icon Award recognizes those who have made notable contributions of outstanding significance to the hip-hop community. Ice Cube will join the BET HIP-HOP AWARDS’ Hall of Fame as the fourth “I AM HIP-HOP” Icon Award honoree. Past recipients of this prestigious award include Grandmaster Flash, KRS ONE and Russell Simmons.

Known to be one of the most important figures in the rap game, Ice Cube began his career with the West Coast rap group N.W.A two decades ago. At the height of the group’s success, Ice Cube broke away to start his own solo career. Soon after, Ice Cube became a major Hollywood force. He is the star, producer and catalyst for the “Friday” and “Barbershop” film franchises, all released through his own company, Cube Vision; and has become one of the most bankable actors thanks to his charismatic turns in box office hits such as “First Sunday,” “Are We There Yet?,” “Are We Done Yet?,” “Boyz N The Hood” and “Three Kings” to name a few. Besides rap and film, in 2007 Ice Cube partnered with the prestigious McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, Minnesota to establish an annual music scholarship, which annually awards one student who exemplifies creativity, talent and skill in developing a song based on the elements he provides them with. Also in 2007, Ice Cube and long time collaborator DJ Pooh announced the launch of UVNTV.com, the world’s first real-time streaming television network online. Ice Cube’s latest album “Raw Footage,” made it to 1 on the Hip Hop/R & B charts, selling 69,234 units in its first week and 5 on overall Top 200 Album sales chart.

The following are the nominees and categories for the 2009 BET HIP-HOP AWARDS:

Best Hip-Hop Collabo
Jim Jones & Ron Browz f/ Juelz Santana - Pop Champagne
Lil Wayne f/ Bobby Valentino - Mrs. Officer
Rick Ross f/ John Legend - Magnificent
T.I. f/ Rihanna - Live Your Life
Young Jeezy f/ Kanye West - Put On

Best Live Performer
Busta Rhymes
Jay-Z
Lil Wayne
T.I.
Kanye West

Lyricist of the Year
Drake
Eminem
Jay-Z
Lil Wayne
Kanye West

Video Director of the Year
Gil Green
Anthony Mandler
Mr. Boomtown
Chris Robinson
Hype Williams

Producer of the Year
Ron Browz
Cool & Dre
Tha Bizness
T-Pain
Kanye West

Track of the Year
Day “N” Nite - Kid Cudi
D.O.A. (Death of Auto Tune) - Jay-Z
Every Girl - Young Money (Lil Wayne, Drake, Jae Mills, Gudda Gudda & Mack Maine)
Live Your Life - T.I. f/ Rihanna
Turn My Swag On - Soulja Boy Tell’em

CD of the Year
Eminem - Relapse
Q-Tip - The Renaissance
T.I. - Paper Trail
Kanye West - 808 & Heartbreak
Young Jeezy - The Recession

Rookie of the Year
B.O.B.
Dorrough
Drake
Kid Cudi
Wale

Best Hip-Hop Video
Dorrough - Ice Cream Paint Job
Eminem - We Made You
Jay-Z - D.O.A. (Death of Auto Tune)
Kid Cudi - Day “N” Nite
T.I. f/ Rihanna - Live Your Life

MVP of the Year
Drake
Jay-Z
Lil Wayne
T.I.
Kanye West

DJ of the Year
DJ AM
DJ Drama
DJ Khaled
DJ Tony Neal
DJ Greg Street

Hustler of the Year
Diddy
Drake
Jay-Z
Lil Wayne
Kanye West

Made-You-Look Award (Best Hip-Hop Style)
Jay-Z
Kid Cudi
Lil Wayne
Soulja Boy Tell’em
Kanye West

Best Hip-Hop Blog Site
All Hip Hop
Nah Right
SOHH
This Is 50
World Star Hip Hop

People’s Champ (Viewers Choice)
Dorrough - Ice Cream Paint Job
Fabolous f/ The-Dream - Throw It In The Bag
Kid Cudi - Day “N” Nite
Soulja Boy Tell’em - Turn My Swag On
Kanye West f/ Young Jeezy - Amazing

This year, BET once again teams up with Cossette Productions, the famed producers of the GRAMMY Awards(R) and the seven record-setting BET AWARDS shows, to handle production of the telecast. Stephen G. Hill, BET President, Music and Programming, along with Lynne Harris-Taylor, BET Vice President of Specials, are executive producers of the telecast.

Tickets for THE BET HIP-HOP AWARDS ’09 are by invite only and not available for purchase.