BET Hip-Hop Awards go political
http://www.philly.com/dai..._Awards_go_political.html
A steady stream of political energy will electrify the flow during tomorrow's broadcast of the 2008 BET Hip-Hop Awards. And for one longtime hip-hop
activist, the timing couldn't have been better.
"The awards were very political, with every single performer telling the audience to work," said the Rev. Lennox Yearwood, president of the Hip-Hop Caucus, who's been working closely with rapper T.I., a spokesman for the "Respect My Vote!" voter registration effort.
"T.I. wore a 'Respect My Vote' T-shirt . . . [he's] been very much engaged in the political process.
"T.I. can't vote [due to his guilty plea last year to several gun charges], and he really wants to make up for that," Yearwood continued. "He feels he owes a lot of fans in general, so his perspective is to do all he can to teach others about the system, and wants people to learn more about the political process."
Taped last weekend in T.I.'s hometown of Atlanta, the event, airing on BET at 8 p.m. tomorrow, lacked the over-the-top, iced-out glitz and drama that have permeated past hip-hop award shows.
BET "wanted to show the other side of hip-hop," Yearwood said.
"BET really wanted to show that hip-hoppers and rappers do have nonprofits and do care about their communities," said Yearwood, who served on Diddy's "Vote or Die" campaign and was also a political director for hip-hop mogul and political activist Russell Simmons. "We all took from the awards that there was a political sense - but a real empowering sense."
Politics may have been the theme but this is still an awards show, though many of the winners and honorees came as no surprise. (The full list of award-winners will be revealed tomorrow.)
Rapper Lil' Wayne won lyricist of the year, "Alltel Wireless People's Champ" and MVP of the year. LL Cool J presented Simmons with the "I Am Hip-Hop" icon award.
"The Hip-Hop Caucus is nonpartisan; the awards were not," Yearwood said, referring to the dominance of certain big-label rappers in the winner's circle.
For example, Lil' Wayne faced steep competition for the lyricist title from Nas, Jay-Z, Kanye West and T.I.; in the MVP category, Lil' Wayne outpointed DJ Khaled, Jay-Z, T.I. and Kanye West.
Another highlight of the broadcast is sure to be the performances, such as an amazing collaboration by female rap legends MC Lyte, Yo-Yo, the Lady of Rage and Salt-N-Pepa.
Separately, those tuning in should enjoy Lyte's performance of "Cha Cha Cha" and Salt-N-Pepa's spirited run-through of their provocative mid-'80s hit, "Push It."
But, like those who attended, viewers should long remember the night for its political bent.
"And it's not superficial," Yearwood said.
"There's a real sense of support and people trying to work together.
"Cats really wanted to be engaged politically." *
Return to Davey D's Hip Hop Corner
