NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- This year marked the seventh annual BET HIP HOP AWARDS hosted by funnyman Mike Epps. The BET HIP HOP AWARDS delivered an exceptional night filled with hip hop's biggest stars and highly anticipated performances. Wiz Khalifa opened the show with a performance of "Work Hard / Play Hard" featuring Juicy J and Young Jeezy accompanied by a live band. Other highlights included Meek Mill's performance of "Amen" and "Young and Getting' It" featuring Kirko Bangz; Kendrick Lamar introducing a medley of his popular songs, "The Recipe" and "Swimming Pools;" G.O.O.D. music star 2 Chainz taking the stage to perform "Birthday Song" and "I'm Different," Rick Ross' performance of "Hold Me Back" joined by Omarion for their single "Ice Cold;" Atlanta's own T.I. entertaining the crowd with newest singles "Trap Back Jumpin" and "Go Get It;" Future featuring Diddy, French Montana, Machine Gun Kelly and Uncle Luke had everyone on their feet with "Turn on the Lights," "Same Damn Time," "Wild Boy" and "Pop That;" and closing out the show, Violator artists reunited on stage in honor of music executive, Chris Lighty culminated with pure star power – a Tribe Called Quest, Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, Spliff Star, 50 Cent and Fat Joe paid their respect during an unforgettable performance with some of Violator Music's biggest hits and Chris Lighty's personal favorites. It was a night filled with Hip Hop at its best!
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Rakim was presented and honored by his peers with this year's "I AM HIP HOP ICON" Award for his seemingly effortless style and delivery that stems not just from Hip-Hop, but from Jazz and R&B influences. Rakim has a style like no other. Always a key highlight at the awards are "The Cyphers." Snoop Dogg, T.I., DMX, A$AP Rocky, Cassidy, Mystikal, Talib Kweli, B.o.B, Eve, Boy Jones, Brianna Perry, Childish Gambino, Chipmunk, Lil Chuckee, The Kid Daytona, Driicky Graham, E-40, YG, Hopsin, Iggy Azalea, Joey Bada$$, K'La, Kendrick Lamar, Kosha Dillz; Kurupt; Mac Miller, Mystikal, Murda Mook, DJ Quik, RZA, ScHoolboy Q, Tito Lopez, Trae Tha Truth, Xzibit, Angel Haze and Ab-Soul.
The following are the list of winners from the BET HIP HOP AWARDS 2012:
Best Hip Hop Video: "HYFR" - Drake f/ Lil Wayne
Reese's Perfect Combo Award (Best Collabo): "Mercy" - Kanye West f/ Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz
Best Live Performer: The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West)
Lyricist of the Year: Kendrick Lamar
Hip Hop Video Director of the Year: Hype Williams
DJ of the Year: DJ Khaled
Producer of the Year: Kanye West
MVP of the Year: Rick Ross
Track of the Year: "Ni**as In Paris" - Produced by Kanye West, Hit-Boy and Mike Dean (The Throne – Jay-Z & Kanye West)
CD of the Year: Watch The Throne - The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West)
Rookie of The Year: 2 Chainz
Hustler of The Year: Jay-Z
Made-You-Look Award (Best Hip Hop Style): Kanye West
Best Club Banger: "Ni**as In Paris" - The Throne (Jay-Z & Kanye West)
Best Mixtape: "Dreamchasers2" – Meek Mill
Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse: 2 Chainz – "Mercy" (Kanye West f/ Big Sean, Pusha T & 2 Chainz)
Impact Track: "Daughters" - Nas
People's Champ Award Powered by Verizon: 2 Chainz f/ Drake – "No Lie"
Best Hip Hop Online Site: World Star Hip Hop
BET.com/HipHopAwards is the official site for the BET HIP HOP AWARDS 2012 where fans can visit to get up-to-date info on this year's show and take a look back on past BET Hip Hop Awards. In the coming weeks, BET.com will launch a series of interactive timelines, exclusive video content, games and quizzes leading up to the show. To become a BET.com member and register for our BET Newsletter log on to http://www.bet.com/register.html.
BET's inaugural HIP HOP AWARDS APP is available now for iPhone and Android. It provides a detailed history of the show since its inception in 2006 - hundreds of artists, past winners, cyphers, acceptance speeches and more. "The Lineup" allows app users to predict the order of this year's show performer and a real-time Tweet map shows you what the country and your favorite artists are saying about the show. And for the first time ever, one award – the Best Hip Hop Online Site – will be determined solely by app users.
Join the conversation on social media by logging on to BET's multiple social media platforms:
• On Twitter by using hashtag: #HipHopAwards; and following us @HipHopAwards and @BET
• On Facebook by liking the fan page at facebook.com/HipHopAwards
Stephen G. Hill, BET's President of Music Programming and Specials, Lynne Harris Taylor, BET's Vice President of Specials, will serve as Executive Producers for the BET Hip Hop Awards, along with Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment.
Official sponsors of The BET HIP HOP AWARDS include Sprite, Verizon, Reese's, Ubisoft/Hip Hop Dance Experience, Dodge Dart, NBCU/'Man with the Iron Fist'.
*All times ET/PT
About Jesse Collins Entertainment
Jesse Collins Entertainment is a full service film and television production company founded by entertainment industry veteran Jesse Collins. Over the past decade, Collins, the company's CEO, has played an integral role in producing some of television's most memorable moments in the music entertainment arena. Formerly Executive Producer/Executive Vice President of Cossette Productions, Collins has produced award winning television programming including the Grammy Awards, the BET Awards, BET Honors and BET's Rip the Runway and has worked with superstar talent such as Will Smith, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Kanye West, Mary J. Blige, Kid Rock, Lil Wayne and many more.
About BET Networks
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks - BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET operates in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.
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