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JUBILEE
on-line magazine
Truth.Culture.Style
And the winner is..:
Hip-Hop CD of the Year: Common & T.I. (TIED)
Hip-Hop Video of the Year: Kanye West, “Stronger”
Producer of the Year: Timbaland
Video Director of the Year: Hype Williams
Icon Award: KRS-ONE
Hip-Hop MVP of the Year: Lil' Wayne
Hip-Hop Hustler Award: 50 Cent
Lyricist of the Year: Common
Rookie of the Year: Rich Boy
People’s Champ Award: Birdman & Lil' Wayne
Best Live Performance (aka Move the Crowd:) Kanye West
Best Collabo: UGK feat. Outcast
Hip-Hop Track of the Year: Shop Boyz, “Party Like a Rockstar”
Best Hip-Hop Dance: Crank Dat Soulja Boy
Best Hip-Hop Movie: “Stomp the Yard”
Best BET Mobile Hot Ringtone Award: T.I., “Big Things Poppin”
Best U.K. Hip-Hop Act: Kano
Hip-Hop CD of the Year: Common & T.I. (TIED)
Hip-Hop Video of the Year: Kanye West, “Stronger”
Producer of the Year: Timbaland
Video Director of the Year: Hype Williams
Icon Award: KRS-ONE
Hip-Hop MVP of the Year: Lil' Wayne
Hip-Hop Hustler Award: 50 Cent
Lyricist of the Year: Common
Rookie of the Year: Rich Boy
People’s Champ Award: Birdman & Lil' Wayne
Best Live Performance (aka Move the Crowd:) Kanye West
Best Collabo: UGK feat. Outcast
Hip-Hop Track of the Year: Shop Boyz, “Party Like a Rockstar”
Best Hip-Hop Dance: Crank Dat Soulja Boy
Best Hip-Hop Movie: “Stomp the Yard”
Best BET Mobile Hot Ringtone Award: T.I., “Big Things Poppin”
Best U.K. Hip-Hop Act: Kano
On Saturday, Oct 13th the BET Hip Hop Awards returned
to ATL. Style.Substance.Swagger was this year's theme.
Streets surrounding the Boisfeuillet Jones Civic Center
were blocked in preparation for the industry's top names
in entertainment. You may have already seen the show,
but this is my account of what happened before the
show. Since it's not everyday you attend such an event,
allow me to take you there...
Around 2:30pm, shuttles transported the media and
attendees from a secured parking garage to the venue.
Once we arrived, there were security check points every
few feet. All you could see were trailers, steel production
equipment and lots of buff men dressed in black ready
to handle any situation that could pop off. They checked
my media badge, handed me my tickets and escorted
me to the next point.
As I turned the corner everything was big and bright. On
pre-show, surrounded by hundreds of screaming fans.
In the middle were rows of media like People magazine
and MTV. To my right was the red carpet, rows of velvet
rope, bright lights and the blue BET logo wall which
appeared to be never-ending. With my voice recorder
and digital camera in hand, I found my spot on the red
carpet and made a few friends. This was going to be an
interesting night.
Around 4:30pm the limos began to approach. First up
was the cast from BET's reality show College Hill:
Interns. No one really knew who they were because the
show hadn't aired yet. Next was YoYo sporting a classy
look with feathered hair and burgundy velvet blazer. More
celebs started pouring in like Cee-Lo aka "Gnarls
Barkley", LL Cool J, Ne-Yo, Ciara, Jermaine Dupree with
his daughter and BET executives. Some just zoomed
down the carpet while others took the time to take
photos and answer questions.
One of which was Chamillionaire. Dressed in a white
jacket drenched with several diamond chains around
his neck, he walked up to me ready to state his views.
JUBILEE: How important is it for you to be a role model
for young men?
CHAMILLIONAIRE: I think the people that are built for it
should do it. A lot of people try to force rappers to be role
models for their kids. Some are not built to do that.
Those that are built for it should stand up.
JUBILEE: Do you think the ones fit to be a role model
will make the world better?
CHAMILLIONAIRE: Nobody can change the world like
that. Take me for example. I lead by example.
JUBILE: Since you are a public figure, don't you think
there comes a certain responsibility with the territory
because people hear your voice and buy your music?
CHAMILLIONAIRE: Honestly, it's all about supply and
demand. People want a certain thing and you supply it.
The young people buying hip hop is not gonna flock to
something that sounds like brain surgery.
JUBILEE: Do you think it's important to have a spiritual
foundation?
CHAMILLIONAIRE: Yea, definitely. Most definitely.
Oh how I wanted to continue that conversation. He
rushed off to head inside.
Next Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr.,
comes over. She's sporting a black leather jacket with
gorgeous pink eyeshadow.
JUBILEE: What brings you out to the Hip Hop awards?
KING: Hip Hop! (she laughs)
JUBILEE: Do you have a favorite hip hop artist?
KING: I do not. However, I have a favorite hip hop song
I'm loving right now. It's with NeYo & Fabulous (You
Make Me Better). They sent madd props to my mom at
the end. It says, I'mma need Coretta Scott, if I'm gonna
be King. That awakened and sparked something inside
of me! I see so much potential in these young brothers
and sisters.
JUBILEE: What do you think your father would say
about the awards being here in Atlanta?
KING: "On one hand, He would be excited to see that
there's a generation contributing great social and
economic capital to our nation. On the other hand, he
would be here to connect with his brothers and sisters.
He'd want them to know that he's here to help, guide and
counsel with them. He'd find a common ground and
show them how they could change this nation and
world."
JUBILEE: As we approach 2008, how do you feel about
us still dealing with a lot of issues your father dealt
with?
KING: There's nothing new under the sun. Some of
these same events first occurred back in the bible.
That's why we have to continue to evolve to the place
God wants us to be. Which is to be ambassadors for
Him. Bad events like Jena 6 are tragic, but it doesn't
surprise me. Life is always about transforming,
therefore it keeps happening because we get
comfortable. We should never get to an "arrival" point.
That won't happen until Jesus comes back.
Bernice King has such a conquering and passionate
spirit. Looks like we're on a similar assignment.
Carwyn Jones and Byran Purvis, two of the Jena 6,
approaches:
JUBILEE: Your schoolmate Michael Bell is back in jail.
How do you feel about that?
JONES: It's hard for him but we are praying for him.
JUBILEE: Being from a small town in Louisiana, how
have you adjusted to the instant world wide attention?
PURVIS: We just take it day by day and put God first. He'll
make a way because we believe in Him.
I gave them a comforting smile and nod to assure him
that his head is in the right place.
Next comes a group of wise men. I'm talking about
Cornell West, Professor of Religion & African American
Studies at Princeton and Dr. Michael Eric Dyson,
University Professor at Georgetown University, where he
teaches Theology, English and African American
Studies. Dyson is also a panelist on BET's Hip Hop vs
America. They were huddled together smiling and
laughing as they approached. The conversation turned
serious as we discussed Jena 6 and the 2008
Presidential Election. "We hope Obama will be able to
turn this nation around. We need more integrity...we
need more humanity...we need more morality, states
West." We also discussed his new CD, Never Forget: A
Journey of Revelations featuring Talib Kweli, Black
Thought, Prince, Andre 3000, and many other headlining
artists.
It's getting close to 6pm. Many more souls paraded
down the carpet. Some women were dressed
professionally, some casual and some advertised their
singleness. I can't help but wonder if they are as content
as they appear to be. I know the answer. That's why I'm
here. On the hunt for those looking for a way out. I head
inside to a stage full of large props and fabulous special
effects. Kanye West opens the show...
to ATL. Style.Substance.Swagger was this year's theme.
Streets surrounding the Boisfeuillet Jones Civic Center
were blocked in preparation for the industry's top names
in entertainment. You may have already seen the show,
but this is my account of what happened before the
show. Since it's not everyday you attend such an event,
allow me to take you there...
Around 2:30pm, shuttles transported the media and
attendees from a secured parking garage to the venue.
Once we arrived, there were security check points every
few feet. All you could see were trailers, steel production
equipment and lots of buff men dressed in black ready
to handle any situation that could pop off. They checked
my media badge, handed me my tickets and escorted
me to the next point.
As I turned the corner everything was big and bright. On
pre-show, surrounded by hundreds of screaming fans.
In the middle were rows of media like People magazine
and MTV. To my right was the red carpet, rows of velvet
rope, bright lights and the blue BET logo wall which
appeared to be never-ending. With my voice recorder
and digital camera in hand, I found my spot on the red
carpet and made a few friends. This was going to be an
interesting night.
Around 4:30pm the limos began to approach. First up
was the cast from BET's reality show College Hill:
Interns. No one really knew who they were because the
show hadn't aired yet. Next was YoYo sporting a classy
look with feathered hair and burgundy velvet blazer. More
celebs started pouring in like Cee-Lo aka "Gnarls
Barkley", LL Cool J, Ne-Yo, Ciara, Jermaine Dupree with
his daughter and BET executives. Some just zoomed
down the carpet while others took the time to take
photos and answer questions.
One of which was Chamillionaire. Dressed in a white
jacket drenched with several diamond chains around
his neck, he walked up to me ready to state his views.
JUBILEE: How important is it for you to be a role model
for young men?
CHAMILLIONAIRE: I think the people that are built for it
should do it. A lot of people try to force rappers to be role
models for their kids. Some are not built to do that.
Those that are built for it should stand up.
JUBILEE: Do you think the ones fit to be a role model
will make the world better?
CHAMILLIONAIRE: Nobody can change the world like
that. Take me for example. I lead by example.
JUBILE: Since you are a public figure, don't you think
there comes a certain responsibility with the territory
because people hear your voice and buy your music?
CHAMILLIONAIRE: Honestly, it's all about supply and
demand. People want a certain thing and you supply it.
The young people buying hip hop is not gonna flock to
something that sounds like brain surgery.
JUBILEE: Do you think it's important to have a spiritual
foundation?
CHAMILLIONAIRE: Yea, definitely. Most definitely.
Oh how I wanted to continue that conversation. He
rushed off to head inside.
Next Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King, Jr.,
comes over. She's sporting a black leather jacket with
gorgeous pink eyeshadow.
JUBILEE: What brings you out to the Hip Hop awards?
KING: Hip Hop! (she laughs)
JUBILEE: Do you have a favorite hip hop artist?
KING: I do not. However, I have a favorite hip hop song
I'm loving right now. It's with NeYo & Fabulous (You
Make Me Better). They sent madd props to my mom at
the end. It says, I'mma need Coretta Scott, if I'm gonna
be King. That awakened and sparked something inside
of me! I see so much potential in these young brothers
and sisters.
JUBILEE: What do you think your father would say
about the awards being here in Atlanta?
KING: "On one hand, He would be excited to see that
there's a generation contributing great social and
economic capital to our nation. On the other hand, he
would be here to connect with his brothers and sisters.
He'd want them to know that he's here to help, guide and
counsel with them. He'd find a common ground and
show them how they could change this nation and
world."
JUBILEE: As we approach 2008, how do you feel about
us still dealing with a lot of issues your father dealt
with?
KING: There's nothing new under the sun. Some of
these same events first occurred back in the bible.
That's why we have to continue to evolve to the place
God wants us to be. Which is to be ambassadors for
Him. Bad events like Jena 6 are tragic, but it doesn't
surprise me. Life is always about transforming,
therefore it keeps happening because we get
comfortable. We should never get to an "arrival" point.
That won't happen until Jesus comes back.
Bernice King has such a conquering and passionate
spirit. Looks like we're on a similar assignment.
Carwyn Jones and Byran Purvis, two of the Jena 6,
approaches:
JUBILEE: Your schoolmate Michael Bell is back in jail.
How do you feel about that?
JONES: It's hard for him but we are praying for him.
JUBILEE: Being from a small town in Louisiana, how
have you adjusted to the instant world wide attention?
PURVIS: We just take it day by day and put God first. He'll
make a way because we believe in Him.
I gave them a comforting smile and nod to assure him
that his head is in the right place.
Next comes a group of wise men. I'm talking about
Cornell West, Professor of Religion & African American
Studies at Princeton and Dr. Michael Eric Dyson,
University Professor at Georgetown University, where he
teaches Theology, English and African American
Studies. Dyson is also a panelist on BET's Hip Hop vs
America. They were huddled together smiling and
laughing as they approached. The conversation turned
serious as we discussed Jena 6 and the 2008
Presidential Election. "We hope Obama will be able to
turn this nation around. We need more integrity...we
need more humanity...we need more morality, states
West." We also discussed his new CD, Never Forget: A
Journey of Revelations featuring Talib Kweli, Black
Thought, Prince, Andre 3000, and many other headlining
artists.
It's getting close to 6pm. Many more souls paraded
down the carpet. Some women were dressed
professionally, some casual and some advertised their
singleness. I can't help but wonder if they are as content
as they appear to be. I know the answer. That's why I'm
here. On the hunt for those looking for a way out. I head
inside to a stage full of large props and fabulous special
effects. Kanye West opens the show...
By Kim Ford
106 & Park pre-show
106 & Park pre-show
Big Tigga sports his bling.
Swizz Beatz
Kanye West offers his Best Video award
to UGK f/ Outcast. An humble gesture...
to UGK f/ Outcast. An humble gesture...
Keisha Cole
Chamillionaire
YoYo
SoSo Def represents with
JUBILEE publisher, Kim Ford
JUBILEE publisher, Kim Ford
Wyclef Jean with
his fly bling guitar.
his fly bling guitar.
Bernice King
Hip Hop royalty MC Lyte
Michael Eric Dyson
& Cornell West
& Cornell West
Ciara
Ne-Yo
Hill Harper
Lil' Wayne
Youaa! Crank dat Soulja Boy
GA Senator hopeful Vernon Jones
makes his way on the red carpet.
makes his way on the red carpet.
Cornell West & KRS1
Host Katt Williams. What a character...
JUBILEE publisher, Kim Ford
(Jena 6) Carwyn Jones & Byran Purvis
Photos: BET, I. Edwards, JUBILEE
