Despite what critics would have you believe, 2006 wasn't all about Borat, Britney, and "bringing sexy back." They forgot to tell you about those stripper-loving singers and self-shooting rappers. Yeah, it was that bad. However, we've chosen to reflect on the good stuff rather than dwell on the year's mishaps. We present to you: The Best of 2006 in Hip-Hop. Hate it or love it.
Single of the Year: Snoop Dogg ft. B Real - "Vato"
Runner-up: T.I. - "What You Know"
Best Mixtape: Joe Budden - Mood Muzik 2
Runner-up: The Roots & J Period - Best of The Roots
Best Mixtape Song: Joe Budden - "Broken Wings"
Runner-up: Lil' Wayne - "Cannon"
Best Mixtape DJ: DJ Drama
Runner-up: Clinton Sparks / Mick Boogie
Producer of the Year: Will.i.am
Runner-up: Just Blaze
Best New Producer: J.R. Rotem
Runner-up: The Runners
Best Production: Just Blaze - "Remedy" (Doctor's Advocate)
Runner-up: The Neptunes - "I Gotcha" (Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor)
Instrumental Album of the Year: Jay Dee/J Dilla - Donuts
Runner-up: K Def - Willie Boo Boo the Fool / Madlib - The Beat Konducta vol 1-2
Best Remix: Busta Rhymes ft. Lloyd Banks, DMX, MJB, Papoose - "Touch It (Remix)"
Runner-up: Lloyd ft. Andre 3000 & Nas - "You (Remix)"
Best Collaboration: Hi-Tek ft. Common, Nas, Busta Rhymes, and Marsha Ambrosius - "Music for Life"
Runner-up: Nas ft. Jay-Z - "Black Republican"
Best Rap/R&B Collaboration: Justin Timberlake & T.I. - "My Love"
Runner-up: Nas & Chrisette Michele - "Can't Forget About You"
Best Group / Duo: The Roots
Runner-up: Clipse
Best Music Video: Talib Kweli - "Listen!!!"
Runner-up: The Roots - The "Don't Feel Right" Trilogy
Nas
Best Hip-Hop Label (Major): Def Jam
Best Hip-Hop Label (Independent): Babygrande
Best Music Magazine: URB
Runner-up: Scratch
Most Improved Rapper: Snoop Dogg
Runner-up: Weird Al Yankovic
Song of the Year: Lupe Fiasco f/ Jill Scott - "Daydreamin'"
Runner-up: Ghostface Killah - "The Champ"
Psalm One
Best New Artist: Lupe Fiasco
Runner-up: Chamillionaire
Male Artist of the Year: Nas
Runner-up: The Game
Female Artist of the Year: Psalm One
Runner-up: Remy Ma
Album of the Year: Ghostface Killah - Fishscale
Runner-up: The Roots - Game Theory
