Too bootleg for TV: The best rest of the BET Hip Hop Awards
October 20th, 2008 by Rodney Carmichael in Music news
How do you prepare to walk the red carpet at hip-hop’s biggest media event of the year?
“I just drunk a few Budweisers,” said Attitude (above), a rapper/songwriter who’s penned songs for Nelly Furtado, Timbaland and Keri Hilson. The Birmingham native and Atlanta resident was one of hundreds ranging from big-name to no-name artists who fed sound bites and swaggerlicious poses to the zoo of photographers, bloggers, journalists and video crews for three hours before the show.
Some, like newcomer Jay Rock, sounded outright clueless. “I ain’t really even know I was gonna be here, man, it’s crazy,” said the Watts, Calif., native, whose single “All My Life” features Lil Wayne, the night’s three-time winner. “Like, all I did was got dressed, threw my clothes on, and they were like, ‘Man, you finna go to the BET Awards.’ I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s what’s up.’”
T.I., on the other hand, spoke with sober appreciation to be in the right place one year after making a detour that earned him federal gun charges and a year-long jail sentence that he begins serving next year. “It feels like a long road traveled, and it feels like a lotta hard work paying off. And now we came through it bigger, better, stronger. Period.” When asked what after-party he planned to attend, T.I. responded, “I’m working, no time for that.”
Forget the over-hyped performances (though the old-school medley featuring Salt N Pepa, MC Lyte, Yo-Yo and Lady of Rage was the night’s best) and over-the-big top fashions (how many top hats does show host fill-in T-Pain own, anyhow?); the BET Hip Hop Awards — like all celebrity-driven media events — is all about being seen and heard, pushing your agenda and promoting your next drop date.
So if you want to see who won what, tune into BET at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23 and labor through the two hour show. But if you want to see the stuff that’s too bootleg for TV, check out our list below:
BEST BIGGIE BLOOPER: The biggest blooper of the night came when Jamal “Gravy” Woolard — who plays deceased rapper Notorious B.I.G. in the biopic due to hit theaters January ‘09 — slipped and called Notorious “hip-hop’s first biological feature” instead of first biographical feature. They shot a retake.
BEST PRE-PARTUM SHOUTOUT: Lil Wayne gave his unborn son a big push, announcing during one of three acceptance speeches that the boy is due to drop (literally) from his mother’s womb any day now.
BEST HOW-TO-KEEP-IT-SEXY-ON-THE-RED-CARPET CELEBRITY ADVICE: Tiffany Evans (above) kept it real while explaining why she limited her pre-red carpet meal to peanuts. “When a lady walks down the red carpet and she’s showing her stomach [or] wearing a tight dress, you gotta make sure that nothing is gonna bloat your stomach up so you gotta eat peanuts,” said the New York transplant who was busy promoting her new single, “Ponytail.” “But later I’ma throw down.”
BEST ACROSS THE VELVET ROPE COMPLIMENT: In the middle of being interviewed by the lovely Maricela Soto of the Mike Sherman Show, the Lady of Rage couldn’t help but notice Soto’s pearly whites. “What kinda toothpaste you use,” she asked in awe. “Yo teeth nice ‘n’ white.”
BEST RED CARPET ESCORT: We’ve learned to expect curve balls from B.O.B. (right). It’s part of the reason why we awarded Hi! My Name is B.O.B. Best Mixtape in CL’s 2008 Best of Atlanta issue. But we were still surprised to see him strolling down the red carpet with his arm slung around a guitar instead of a woman’s hip. “I grabbed my guitar, man. Her name is Tiffany. She’s very dear to me so I had to. I promised her, my first BET Awards show I’d bring her down the red carpet so I’m doing that.”
BEST ‘IS IT SAFE TO LAUGH YET’ MOMENT: When a reporter complimented 50 Cent (below) on his thug-free attire, he replied, “So you trying to say I don’t usually look good?” No one laughed until he did.
BEST SINCERE “WHERE’S THE BANKHEAD BEEF” MOMENT: When asked if his overstated beef with T.I. was officially dead, Shawty Lo (who won Best New Artist) responded, “We both agreed to let it go, but some more stuff snuck out from his camp. They said it wasn’t meant to be released, but I guess they want me to be quiet with the last lick on me. But, you know, beef music really don’t sell anyway. He can’t kill me; I can’t kill him. And I’m here to make good music.”
Later, when Lo won the night’s Best New Artist award, he saved his best thank you for last. “And I can’t forget, Tip. What’s hapnin’ homie. Bankhead!”
BEST WTF:
‘Nuff said.
(Photos by Tara-Lynne Pixley. See all photos at SideshowAtlanta.com)
October 21st, 2008 at 9:46 am
LOL! The “Best Biggie Blooper” is too funny! Wonder how the guy does in the biology, oops I mean the biographical movie of the late Frank White??
October 22nd, 2008 at 9:42 am
Funny spin on the event vs. the usual ho hum comments about the celebs…and Lil Wayne shouting out his unborn son… Ghetto!