Hosted by none other than Uncle Snoop (aka Snoop Lion) at the Boisfeuillet Jones Civic Center in Atlanta, Georgia, the BET “Hip Hop Awards” 2014 delivered yet another notable year of celebrating hip-hop’s most influential artists with nineteen categories, nine outstanding performances, and five cyphers. For me. however, the best moment of the night was during Doug E. Fresh’s moving ‘I Am Hip Hop Icon’ award acceptance speech.
I was honored to be in the building when one of ours, Barbados-born, Doug E. Fresh (born Douglas E. Davis) accepted the “I Am Hip Hop Icon’ Award. During his speech, he told the audience about how his mother had recently passed away. The normally composed rapper could barely speak. He not only spoke highly of his dearly departed mother but also shared her recorded voice and a photograph. It was indeed one of the best acceptance speeches I have ever witnessed and there was not a dry eye in the building.
The 2014 complete list of BET “Hip Hop Awards” winners are:
Best Hip Hop Video
Drake – “Worst Behavior”
Best Collabo, Duo or Group
YG f/ Jeezy & Rich Homie Quan – “My Hitta”
Best Live Performer
Kanye West
Lyricist of the Year
Kendrick Lamar
Video Director of the Year
Hype Williams
DJ of the Year
DJ Mustard
Producer of the Year
DJ Mustard
MVP of the Year
DJ Mustard
Track of the Year
“My Hitta” – Produced by DJ Mustard (YG f/ Jeezy & Rich Homie Quan)
Album of the Year
Drake – “Nothing Was The Same”
Who Blew Up Award
Iggy Azalea
Hustler of the Year
Dr. Dre
Made-You-Look Award (Best Hip Hop Style)
Nicki Minaj
Best Hip Hop Online Site
WorldStarHipHop.com
Best Club Banger
Future f/ Pharrell, Pusha T & Casino – “Move That Doh” (Produced by Mike WiLL Made It)
Best Mixtape
Wiz Khalifa – “28 Grams”
Sweet 16: Best Featured Verse
Kendrick Lamar – “Control” (Big Sean f/ Kendrick Lamar & Jay Electronica)
Impact Track
Common f/ Vince Staples – “Kingdom”
People’s Champ Award
Drake – “Worst Behavior”