Lil Wayne racked up a dozen nominations, including Best CD and MVP of the Year, to lead all nominees for the 2008 BET Hip-Hop Awards. Kanye West picked up 7 nods, while his labelmate Jay-Z was nominated 6 times. LL Cool J presented Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons with the I Am Hip-Hop Icon Award.
This year’s drama-free ceremony went down at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center on October 18th, 2008. It’s set to air on Thursday, October 23rd. T-Pain replaced Katt Williams as host, no thanks to an 11th hour fallout between BET and Williams.
Host: T-PainVenue: Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center, Atlanta, GA
Broadcast Date: October 23rd, 2008
Categories and Nominees
Best Hip Hop Video- David Banner f/ Chris Brown and Yung Joc – "Get Like Me"
- Common – "I Want You"
- DJ Khaled f/ Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Lil Wayne, Fat Joe, Birdman and Rick Ross – "I’m So Hood (The Remix)"
- "Lollipop" – Lil Wayne f/ Static produced by Jim Jonsin & Deezle
- Snoop Dogg – "Sensual Seduction"
- Kanye West f/ T-Pain – "Good Life" (Winner)
Best Hip Hop Collabo
- David Banner f/ Chris Brown and Yung Joc – "Get Like Me"
- DJ Khaled f/ Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Lil Wayne, Fat Joe, Birdman and Rick Ross – "I'm So Hood (The Remix)" (Winner)
- Flo Rida f/ T-Pain – "Low"
- Plies f/ Ne-Yo – "Bust It Baby Pt. 2"
- Kanye West f/ T-Pain – "Good Life"
Best Live Performer
- Busta Rhymes
- Jay-Z
- Lil Wayne
- T.I.
- Kanye West (Winner)
Lyricist Of The Year
- Jay-Z
- Lil Wayne (Winner)
- T.I.
- Kanye West
- Nas
Video Director of the Year
- Gil Green
- R. Malcolm Jones
- Rage
- Chris Robinson (Winner)
- Hype Williams
Producer of the Year
- Akon (Winner)
- Bangladesh
- David Banner
- J.R. Rotem
- The Runners
MVP of the Year
- DJ Khaled
- Jay-Z
- Lil Wayne (Winner)
- T.I.
- Kanye West
Track of the Year
- "A Milli" – Lil Wayne produced by Bangladesh (Winner)
- "Dey Know" – Shawty Lo produced by Balis Beatz
- "Good Life" – Kanye West f/ T-Pain produced by Kanye West and DJ Toomp
- "Lollipop" – Lil Wayne f/ Static produced by Jim Jonsin & Deezle
- "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)" – Jay-Z produced by Sean Combs & The Hitmen
CD of the Year
- Jay-Z – American Gangster
- Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III (Winner)
- Lupe Fiasco – Lupe Fiasco's The Cool
- Nas – Untitled
- Kanye West – Graduation
Rookie of the Year
- Ace Hood
- Flo Rida
- Maino
- Rocko
- Shawty Lo (Winner)
DJ of the Year
- DJ Drama
- DJ Felli Fel
- DJ Khaled (Winner)
- DJ Tony Neal
- DJ Greg Street
Hustler of the Year
Alltel Wireless People’s Champ Nominees
- Lil Wayne – "A Milli" (Winner)
- Lupe Fiasco f/ Matthew Santos – "Superstar"
- Plies f/ Ne-Yo – "Bust It Baby Pt. 2"
- Rick Ross f/ Nelly and Avery Storm – "Here I Am"
- Young Jeezy f/ Kanye West – "Put On"
- Yung Berg f/ Casha – "The Business"
Hottest Hip Hop Ringtone of the Year
- Flo Rida f/ T-Pain – "Low"
- "Lollipop" – Lil Wayne f/ Static produced by Jim Jonsin & Deezle (Winner)
- Plies f/ Ne-Yo – "Bust It Baby Pt. 2"
- Rocko – "Umma Do Me"
- Yung Berg f/ Casha – "The Business"
Best UK Hip Hop Act
- Chipmunk
- Dizzee Rascal
- Ghetto
- Giggs (Winner)
- Skepta
- Wiley
