The awards start off with an act by Kanye West performing "Can't Tell Me Nothing." After the very energetic performance, Katt Williams comes on stage and motivates the viewers and discusses Hip-Hop's impact on the world and how there are videos of people in China rapping and translations of Snoop Dogg's performances in many other countries. As a whole, his speech is about bringing Hip-Hop fans together as a people and to stop fighting with each other because of what they have done to make the world a world of Hip-Hop.
The first award is CD of the Year presented by LL Cool J. The nominees were Common, Jay-Z, Nas, Ludacris and T.I. This award was a tie between Common's "Finding Forever" and T.I.'s "T.I. Vs. T.I.P." This award was followed by a performance by Lil' Wayne, but before the night was over there were other performances by Nelly, Soulja Boy, Common and Ludacris; each one was full of energy and powerful lyrics that is a staple of the Hip-Hop genre.
In the Move the Crowd award that followed, Common, Kanye West, Lil' Wayne, Ludacris and T.I. found themselves going up against each other, and it was Kanye West that won out. David Banner then came on stage to discuss the necessity of Hip-Hop artists and their ability to explain how things are in the real world in the frank manner that is required.
He notes the fear that Hip-Hop is being repressed, but says "It's impossible to silence something so relevant and powerful. To understand why we rap the way that we rap, you only have to go to Riley, North Carolina, Bankhead Court in Atlanta, Cleveland Ohio, Delta in Mississippi, and maybe if you're man enough, go to Southside Baton Rouge, or any other ghetto in America." He exclaims that the new acts prove that "you can rise from the tracks and still get legal money". I have to say, Banner's speech was, by far, my favorite part of the show, and not just because he gave a shout out to my home town (where he went to college). This motivational speech really helps to put the Hip-Hop musical genre in a positive light.
The nominees for Lyricist of the Year were Common, Jay-Z, Lil' Wayne, T.I. and Kanye West. Common won in this category for Element Award. In Best UK Hip-Hop Act, Kano took top billing over the other five nominees, while Best Video Director recognized Hype Williams for the Element Award video.
For the Best Hip-Hop Collaboration, UGK and Outcast won for International Players Anthem over Birdman & Lil' Wayne ("Stuntin' Like My Daddy"), Diddy and Keyshia Cole ("Last Night"), Fabolous and Ne-Yo ("Make Me Better") and "We Takin' Over " by DJ Kahaled, Akon, T.I., Rick Ross, Fat Joe and Lil' Wayne.
The Best Hip-Hop Dance award put moves of "2 Step", "Aunt Jackie", "Crank Dat Soulja Boy", "Pop, Lock & Drop It" and "Chicken Noodle Soup" against each other. Soulja Boy's "Crank Dat Soulja Boy" ultimately took the silver microphone home. Meanwhile, in Best Live Performance, Common, Lil' Wayne, Ludacris, T.I. and Kanye West were once again put together in the ballot box, and this time West nabbed the mic. DJ of the Year was won by DJ Khaled, while 50 Cent took the Hustler of the Year award and T.I.'s "Big Thing's Poppin" won Ringtone of the Year and Timbaland won Producer of the Year.
MVP of the Year had Common, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil' Wayne and T.I. vying for position as the most recognized artist. In the end, it was Lil' Wayne that won. In a similar award, the Alltel People's Champ Award, "Stuntin' Like My Daddy" with Birdman and Lil' Wayne won over "A Bay Bay"," "We Takin' Over," "Wipe Me Down" and "This Is Why I'm Hot".
Before the show is over, the I Am Hip-Hop award was given to KRS-1 for his early influence over the genre and use of Hip-Hop to educate and advance the culture.
I came into BET Hip-Hop Awards 2007 with less than optimal expectations. I did not catch this awards show live, but was pleased. Besides the awards themselves, there were a ton of performers by the highest ranked Hip-Hop artists as well as quite a few positively slanted speeches that really gave meaning to the video as something other than an orgy of rapping and bad grammar. While this DVD won't make Hip-Hop fans out of anyone, it will definitely be a joy to watch for existing fans of the music.
