Los Angeles, Oct 12 (THAINDIAN NEWS) The annual BET Awards that are exclusive for the Blacks were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate and honor the achievements of the African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. These awards are an annual affair and are broadcast live on BET. The Award sculpture has been designed by the Artist/Sculptor and Hip Hop culture icon Carlos Mare139 Rodriguez.

Jamie Foxx was the host of the 2009 BET Awards and he promised the audience that this would be the best awards function that they would ever see. Besides hosting the show, he also had 3 nominations in the awards himself.

Best Male R&B Artist was won by Ne-Yo. Whereas the Best Female R&B artist was Beyonce.

Jay-Z was honored as the “MVP of the Year,” while Drake took home “Rookie of the Year,” and Ice Cube got the “I Am Hip-Hop” icon award. “When you get recognized by your peers for a life of work, you got to be humbled,” the rap veteran said. “I’m honored by this. I have 20 more years of work left in me. I hope (BET) is ready to give out two of these awards.”


Rapper T.I., who is locked up in an Arkansas penitentiary on a federal weapons conviction, won the best collaboration award with Rhianna for the song “Live Your Life” and the album of the year award for “Paper Trail.” His fiancée Tameka “Tiny” Cottle accepted the awards on his behalf at the ceremony in Atlanta and read a letter penned by the rapper, who began serving a yearlong sentence in late May.

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


All the stars paid their tributes to the Pop King Michael Jackson.