T.I. was awarded two awards — best collaboration award for “Live Your Life” with Rihanna, and album of the year for Paper Trail.
His fiancee Tameka “Tiny” Cottle accepted his awards on his behalf, and read a letter by the rapper, who began serving a year-long sentence in late May.

“Although I’m not there with you all, I’m there in spirit,” she quoted T.I , “My road to redemption is almost over… Thanks for the support.”

As for other winners, Jay-Z won the MVP of the Year honor, while newcomer Drake accepted the Rookie of the Year award.

Legendary Ice Cube was in attendance, and was honored with BET’s “I Am Hip-Hop” icon award. Credited with helping pioneer the gangsta rap genre, Cube said he was humbled by the honor.

Then later in the ceremony, the late DJ AM received the DJ of the Year honor. Rapper Busta Rhymes presented the award. The word on the streets was that the CEO of the Core DJs was supposed to receive that award and they asked him to come to the back. They told him that they gave DJ AM the sympathy award. Well better luck next time Tony I’m sure you will be nominated again next year.

Other show highlights included a performance by Jay-Z and Young Jeezy with “Real As It Gets,” and a recently reunited Goodie Mob performing their 1995 hit “Cell Therapy.”

Other performers included Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, Gucci Mane, and Soulja Boy as well as, Plies and Shawty Lo. Speaking of which, Plies came out on the stage swaying back and forth and was caught off guard when his chain broke and rolled across the stage. Everybody in the whole building was laughing. You could see he clearly got distracted. After the performance he quickly picked up his broke jewelry. If I was him I would fire my jeweler. But then again that’s what happen when your coonish ass comes across the stage acting like Mr Bojangles SMDH.

Mike Epps served as the evening’s host. That dude was funny as hell he was the high light of everybody’s night.

Over all the BET hiphop awards was very well organized but one thing that I found kind of interesting is the fact that they seated you according to order of importance. You would think with over 200 empty seats in the place if not more that it would not have mattered. One executive from BAD BOY tweeted “have you ever attended an event and then got mad for the rest of the show because of where you are seated?” Wow I guess if you are not hot now then BET kicks you to the curb cold blooded.

The awards show is set to air October 27th on BET.

Winners mentioned above are:

MVP of the Year: Jay-Z
Rookie of the Year: Drake
Best Hip-Hop Collabo: T.I. & Rihanna – “Live Your Life”
DJ of the Year: DJ AM
I Am Hip-Hop Award: Ice Cube