By Chris Richburg
Atlanta rapper T.I. emerged as the man to beat as nominations were announced for this year’s BET Hip-Hop Awards.
T.I.'s album T.I. Vs T.I.P. received nine nods for Best Collabo, Best Live Performance, Lyricist of the Year, MVP, Track of the Year, CD of the Year, Hustler of the Year, Best Ringtone and Viewer's Choice.
Other nominees included Lil' Wayne with seven nominations, Kanye West with six, Common with five and Jay-Z with four.
Ludacris and 50 Cent each reach received three nods, while Diddy and UGK garnered two nominations.
In addition to honoring the best in Hip-Hop, the BET Hip-Hop Awards 2007 will recognize rap legend KRS-One with the "I Am Hip-Hop" Icon Award.
Comedian/actor Katt Williams will play host for the second straight year at the General Motors and Alltel Wireless-sponsored event, which will take place on Oct. 13 at Atlanta's Civic Center and feature performances by Nelly, Lil' Wayne, Kanye West and Common.
Continuing its acknowledgment of international Hip-Hop, BET partnered with British music entities MTV Base and 1 Xtra BBC to create a special award around the British urban music scene.
Five Hip-Hop artists from the United Kingdom will for the Best UK Hip-Hop Artist award. The winner will be announced on Oct. 1 in the UK via radio and MTV BASE News.
This year’s BET Hip-Hop Awards follows last year's inaugural event, which was watched by 3.64 million viewers (2.44 million households), according to Nielsen Media Research.
For Stephen Hill, BET executive vice president of Entertainment Programming, Music and Talent, the BET Hip-Hop Awards allows an opportunity to highlight the influence of Hip-Hop as well as the aspects of the culture that people love.
"We're at a crucial point in the life of this music; its messages and language have been scrutinized more this year than any other time in its history," said Hill, who was excited about the event’s return to Atlanta. "I hope all Hip-Hop critics and fans will watch this show that will show all sides of the genre proudly and authentically. Love it. Hate it. The 'BET Hip-Hop Awards 2007' will have style, substance and swagger."
The BET Hip-Hop Awards 2007 will air at 8 p.m. ET/PT Oct. 17 on BET.
The following is a complete list of The BET Hip-Hop Awards 2007 nominees and categories:
BEST Hip-Hop VIDEO
50 Cent "I Get Money"
Chamillioinaire f/ Slick Rick "Hip-Hop Police"
Common "The People"
Ludacris f/ Mary J. Blige "Runaway Love"
UGK f/ Outkast "International Players Anthem"
Kanye West "Stronger"
BEST COLLABO
Birdman & Lil' Wayne "Stuntin' Like My Daddy"
Diddy f/ Keyshia Cole "Last Night"
DJ Khaled f/ Akon, T.I., "We Takin' Over"
Rick Ross, Fat Joe, and Lil' Wayne
Fabolous f/ Ne-Yo "Make Me Better
UGK f/ Outkast "International Players Anthem"
BEST LIVE PERFORMANCE
Common
Lil' Wayne
T.I.
Ludacris
Kanye West
BEST MOVIE
Gridiron Gang
IdlewildShottas
Smokin' Aces
Stomp the Yard
BEST DANCE
2 Step
Aunt Jackie
Chicken Noodle Soup
Crank Dat Soulja Boy
Pop, Lock, & Drop It
LYRICIST OF THE YEAR
Common
Lil' Wayne
Jay-Z
T.I.
Kanye West
VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Bryan Barber
Benny Boom
F. Gary Gray
Chris Robinson
Hype Williams
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
Mannie Fresh
Polow Da Don
Swizz Beatz
Timbaland
Kanye West
MVP
Common
Lil' Wayne
Jay-Z
T.I.
Kanye West
TRACK OF THE YEAR
"A Bay Bay" Hurricane Chris (produced by Phunk Dawg)
"Big Things Poppin' (Do It)" T.I. (produced by Mannie Fresh)
"Can't Tell Me Nothing" Kanye West (produced by Kanye West and DJ Toomp)
"I Get Money" 50 Cent (produced by Apex)
"Party Like A Rockstar" Shop Boyz (produced by Pit)
CD OF THE YEAR
Common Finding Forever
Jay-Z Kingdom Come
Ludacris Release Therapy
Nas Hip-Hop Is Dead
T.I. T.I. vs. T.I.P.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Hurricane Chris
Lil Boosie
MIMS
Plies
Rich Boy
DJ OF THE YEAR
DJ Drama
DJ Enuff
DJ Irie
DJ Khaled
Tony Neal
HUSTLER OF THE YEAR
50 Cent
Diddy
Lil' Wayne
T.I.
Jay-Z
Dizzie Rascal
JME
Kano
Klashnekoff
Lethal B
Wiley
BEST RINGTONE
Crime Mob f/ Lil Scrappy "Rock Yo Hips"
Hurricane Chris "A Bay Bay"
MIMS "This Is Why I'm Hot"
Rich Boy f/ Polow Da Don "Throw Some Ds"
T.I. "Big Things Poppin' (Do It)"
THE ALLTEL PEOPLE'S CHAMP (VIEWER'S CHOICE)
Birdman & Lil' Wayne "Stuntin' Like My Daddy"
DJ Khaled f/ Akon,
T.I., Rick Ross, "We Takin' Over"
Fat Joe and Lil' Wayne
Lil Boosie f/ Foxx and Webbie "Wipe Me Down"
MIMS "This Is Why I'm Hot"