Lil' Wayne gets nods for Hip-Hop MVP of the Year, Lyricist of the Year
and Hip-Hop CD of the Year

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 October 12th during a press conference at the
Metropolitan Atlanta Chamber of Commerce.

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.

In paying homage to the core tenets of hip hop (DJing, MCing,
Breakdancing and Graffiti), 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).

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

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