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BET Hip Hop Awards 2007

BET HIP HOP AWARDS 2007 Released on DVD

Unforgettable Star-Studded Event Arrives on DVD March 18, 2008 Featuring Exclusive, Never-Before-Seen Performances by T.I.

Los Angeles, California – It was a sizzling night in "Hotlanta" when hip hop's brightest stars came together to celebrate the year's greatest musical achievements at the BET HIP HOP AWARDS 2007. On March 18, 2008, BET Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment offer the rare opportunity to own live video performances from some of the biggest names in music by bringing every thrilling, sexy and authentic moment of the televised event to DVD. Hosted by comedian and actor Katt Williams (Norbit, First Sunday), the star-studded show features unforgettable performances by six-time Grammy Award winner Kanye West; rapper Lil Wayne, who recorded the platinum-selling "The Block is Hot"; eight-time Grammy nominee Common; Nelly, whose albums have sold over 40 million copies worldwide; and other chart-topping artists. As a special bonus feature, the DVD also includes exclusive unaired footage of rehearsal performances by red-hot hitmaker T.I. The BET HIP HOP AWARDS 2007 DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.99.

For its second annual Hip Hop Awards ceremony, BET delivered style, substance and swagger as today's hottest musical artists turned in one crowd-pleasing performance after another. A celebration of the genre's universal appeal, the show thrilled a worldwide audience with its talented lyricists and infectious beats. Now fans can also experience previously unreleased rehearsal performances by T.I., the multi-talented superstar whose "King" was the top-selling rap album of 2006 and who recently co-starred with Denzel Washington in the hit feature film American Gangster. This memorable event brings music's greatest stars together under one roof for a night of urban music at its most dynamic.

BET HIP HOP AWARDS 2007 Red Carpet Interviews

Kanye West, Nelly, Common, Dr. Cornel West, MC Lyte, David Banner, Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, Lil' Wayne, Soulja Boy and Hurricane Chris, Among Others, Brought Style, Substance and Swagger to the BET HIP HOP AWARDS 2007

Hosted by Katt Williams, with Appearances by LL Cool J, Ciara, Wyclef Jean, Keyshia Cole, Jermaine Dupri, Hill Harper, Lauren London, Lil Mama, Lil Boosie, Dizzee Rascal, Twista, Phonte, Kardinal Offishal, Stat Quo, Cee-Lo, Melyssa Ford, Rocsi, Terrence

KRS-One Received the "I Am Hip Hop" Icon Award

Two of the Jena 6 Expressed Thanks to the Hip Hop Nation for Its Mobilization and Support

ATLANTA, October 15, 2007 /PRNewswire/ — Featuring talented lyricists, infectious beats, crowd-pleasing performances and powerful affirmations of unity, the BET HIP HOP AWARDS 2007 celebrated the universal appeal of hip hop at Atlanta's Civic Center on Saturday, October 13. Hosted by actor/comedian Katt Williams, the two-hour awards show premiered on BET Wednesday, October 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Kanye West kicked off the night performing two hits from his new album Graduation, "Can't Tell Me Nothing" and "Good Life," which immediately brought the audience to their feet. Crowd favorite Lil' Wayne world premiered a new song, the fiery "Gossip," which had fans mesmerized, and Nelly didn't hold anything back for his world premiere of "Go Lil Mama," bringing out an entire female drumline to accompany his dancers.

Hurricane Chris represented Louisiana with his catchy and entertaining performance of "Ay Bay Bay", and was later joined by fellow Louisiana rep Lil Boosie performing "Wipe Me Down." Common showed off his smooth lyrical prowess with "Drivin' Me Wild," while Playaz Circle featuring Lil' Wayne and surprise guest Ludacris (who wrote his verse especially for this performance) brought "Duffle Bag Boy" to the stage. Though T.I. was absent, Wyclef Jean, DJ Drama, Alfamega and Busta Rhymes held him down, performing a special set, including an ode to free speech and T.I.'s "Hurt." Rounding out the night was Soulja Boy, whose "Crank That" performance featured Superman capes and the wildly popular dance -- with countless audience members dancing along with him.

In addition to its sizzling performances, the BET HIP HOP AWARDS 2007 was, in essence, an extension of BET News' recent special HIP HOP VS. AMERICA, offering insights into the state of hip hop today. The show featured appearances by David Banner, MC Lyte and Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, who shared the reasons why they love hip hop. Katt Williams, host for the second year in a row, once again delivered with hilarious and smart commentary, while the influential Dr. Cornel West presented the "I Am Hip Hop" Icon Award to living hip hop legend KRS-One. Also participating in the BET HIP HOP AWARDS 2007 were two of the young men of the Jena 6, Carwin Jones and Bryant Purvis, who presented the Video of the Year award and thanked the hip hop community for its support.

THE BET HIP HOP AWARDS 2007 is sponsored by General Motors and Alltel Wireless.

Produced by: Jamaal Finkley of BlackTree Media
Personality: Tashia Anderson for BlackTree TV

HIP HOP VS. AMERICA

KRS-One wins Lifetime Achievement Award @ BET HIP HOP AWARDS

Hip Hop Pioneer, KRS-One, stops by to talk to BlackTree TV at the BET Hip Hop Awards 07

Lawrence Anthony Parker (born August 20, 1965), better known by his stage name KRS-One, is an American rapper. Over his career, he has been known by several pseudonyms including "Kris Parker", "The Blastmaster", and "The Teacha". KRS-One is a significant figure in the hip hop community and is often credited by critics and other hip hop artists as epitomizing the "essence" of an MC and for being one of the greatest rappers to hold the mic.

Early life

Parker grew up in the South Bronx section of New York City to parents of Jamaican descent. In his teenage years, he frequently accompanied the Hare Krishnas and was susbsequently nicknamed "Krisna", hence "Kris". "KRS-One" was originally Parker's graffiti tag, short for "Kris Number One". He began using it as his stage name and later devised a backronym for the name: "Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone."

KRS-One began his recording career as one half of the hip hop group Boogie Down Productions alongside DJ Scott La Rock. They met during a stay KRS-One had at the Bronx's Franklin Armory Shelter. La Rock (real name Scott Sterling) worked as a social worker there. The duo would begin to create music. After being rejected by radio DJs Mr. Magic and Marley Marl, KRS-One would go on to diss the two and those associated with them, sparking what would later be known as The Bridge Wars. Additionally, KRS had taken offense to "The Bridge", a song by Marley Marl's protege MC Shan; the song could be interpreted as a claim that Queensbridge was the birthplace of hip hop, which KRS vehemently asserted to the contrary with the BDP record "South Bronx"; a second round of volleys would ensue with Shan's "Kill That Noise" and BDP's "The Bridge Is Over". KRS-One, demonstrating his nickname "The Blastmaster", would give a live performance that would devastate MC Shan, and many conceded he had won the battle.

Parker and Sterling, along with two other fellows, decided to form a rap group together, initially calling themselves "Scott La Rock and the Celebrity Three". That was short-lived, however, as the two peripheral members quit, leaving Parker (now calling himself KRS-One) and Sterling. They then decided to call themselves "Boogie Down Productions". Success is the Word, a 12-inch single produced by David Kenneth Eng and Kenny Beck was released on indie Fresh/Sleeping Bag Records (under the group name "12:41") did not enjoy commercial success. Boogie Down Productions would release their debut album Criminal Minded in 1987. While KRS-One "The Teacha" was equally known for his furiously political and socially conscious raps, the album, whose cover pictured BDP draped in ammunition and brandishing guns, is often credited with setting the template for the burgeoning genres of hardcore and gangsta rap. Scott La Rock was killed in a shooting later that year, after attempting to mediate a dispute between teenager and BDP member Derrick "D-Nice" Jones and local hoodlums.

KRS would be determined to continue Boogie Down Productions through the tragedy, and was joined by beatboxer D-Nice, rapper Ramona "Ms. Melodie" Parker (whose marriage to Kris would last from 1988 to 1992), and Kris's younger brother DJ Kenny Parker, among others. However Boogie Down Productions would remain Kris's show, and their content would become increasingly political. KRS-One was the primary initiator behind the H.E.A.L. compilation and the Stop the Violence Movement; for the latter he would attract many prominent MCs to appear on the 12-inch single "Self Destruction". As Parker adopted this "humanist", less violent approach, he turned away from his "Blastmaster" persona and towards that of "The Teacha", creating the backronym for "KRS-ONE": "Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone".

Yung Joc, "My Chain Was Not Stolen"

His name is Yung Joc, he has the most talked-about piece of jewelry in rap, and no, he has not been robbed of it.

Joc phoned in to the MTV offices on Wednesday (September 26) to talk exclusively about a big rumor going on in hip-hop. The word on the Net and radio is that he got ganked for his eye-catching Hustlenomics "H" pendant and giant rope chain during a recent brawl in a London club after he and T-Pain fought off some rowdy fans.

"The craziest part of about this is I've never seen so much hype about a piece of jewelry except when [NBA star] Kobe [Bryant] bought that ring for his wife [after he admitted to cheating on her]," Joc said, laughing off the rumors.

The Atlanta native said he and Pain did indeed have to defend themselves in London — they were in town to perform at the MOBO Awards — but they came out unharmed and with all their belongings intact. The commotion happened shortly after midnight, when Joc was bringing in his birthday at U.K. club Crystal Club on Thursday.

"When you walk in the building with that sh-- on, with [a chain] that big, you know mutha----as gonna be like, 'Whoa,' " Joc said Wednesday evening. "When you walk out without it on and it was a crazy fight, it looks like you lost your chain."

Joc said he saw a major problem about to occur (can't you imagine him saying to himself, "It's going dowwwn"?) in the club and he simply took his chain off and handed it to his manager Rico Brooks, who kept it secure in a carrying case.

"It was my birthday, so we was poppin' bottles," he continued. "We was bottle-poppin' major. Pain was talking to this chick and this big football-player-looking dude came up. He was big as hell. ... The dude grabbed her arm and she was like, 'I'm not leaving,' and [moves] away from the dude. ... The next thing you know, the dude started talking sh-- to Pain. The dude poured his wine out and ... I looked back at my security [guard], gave him my chain. He put it in my case and handed it to Rico. The dude hit T-Pain's partner in the head with a glass in his hand."

Joc says the unknown assailant then fled the club but didn't make it too far before one of T-Pain's managers caught up to him and floored him with a few punches.

"So my security came out there and [caught up with] the guy," Joc told. "I jumped in and start tappin' on his head. By the time I got out the club, Pain's security was already [involved]. It was crazy. Ne-Yo was outside the club getting ready to come in, and once he saw the commotion, he [left]."

Joc returned to the States a few days ago, jewels in tow, and partied all weekend. On Tuesday, he was in the ATL with the "H" around his neck, showing support to fellow Block Entertainment artist Gorilla Zoe, who released his debut, Welcome to the Zoo, on Tuesday. Zoe is a co-star and performer in Joc's new video "Bottle Poppin'."

"The video is done," explained Joc, who is about to get ready to do a college-tour run, just in time for homecoming season. Hopefully his now-famous bling will still be intact.