BET Hip-Hop Awards Wrap Up: T.I., Drake, Jay-Z Big Winners

The BET Hip-Hop Awards took place Saturday (October 10) in Atlanta, with Jay-Z, Drake, Ice Cube and T.I. taking home the event's biggest awards.

Jay-Z won MVP of the Year over Lil Wayne and Drake, who picked up the Rookie of the Year award, while incarcerated MC T.I. picked up two awards, including Album of the Year for 'Paper Trail.'

The ATL came out in full force, with Young Jeezy kicking off the evening by welcoming the crowd to Atlanta with a performance featuring Jay-Z. Gucci Mane performed periodically throughout the night, supported by fellow ATL rappers OJ Da Juiceman and Shawty Lo. DJ Drama was the house DJ, and a reunited Goodie Mob closed out the show.

In addition to the many hometown heroes who performed during the course of the night, the show also featured sets by reunited 'House Party' rappers Kid 'N Play and Cali king Snoop Dogg, along with guest appearances by Jim Jones, Dorrough, Nipsey Hussle and Wale.

There were several moving moments as well, such as DJ AM's victory for DJ of the Year, which Busta Rhymes received in the recently-deceased turntablist's stead, giving shout outs to fellow DJ greats who passed this year, the legendary Mr. Magic and Roc Raida.

Ice Cube was awarded the I Am Hip-Hop award, which was introduced via voice over by his former groupmate/nemesis Dr. Dre, and presented by Young Jeezy, alongside Cube's favorite MC, Chuck D.

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"As long as you got a tongue, you're not too old to rap," Cube exclaimed, urging his fellow legends to never put down the mic.

In between performances, BET presented several of their signature cyphers, featuring groups of MC's rhyming over DJ Premier instrumentals. The cyphers included KRS-One and Wale, Joe Budden and Nikki Minaj and the highlight, Mos Def, Black Thought and Eminem, who characteristically murdered his verse.

The 2009 BET Hip-Hop Awards was an exultant night for hip-hop. The show will air on October 27.