Atlanta rapper TI was the big winner Saturday (Nov. 11) at the inaugural BET Hip-Hop Awards.
The lyricist, who was nominated for eight awards, took home honors for Best CD and Best Hip-Hop Video for “What You Know,” from his latest album King.
“You can’t hate on hard work and talent,” said TI, who also collected the MVP of the Year award.
Hip-hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash was also honored with the I Am Hip-Hop Icon award at the event.
The recognition was one of many highlights of the first-ever BET Hip-Hop Awards, which took place in Atlanta.
The event kicked off with a performance of the 2001 hit “Welcome to Atlanta” by Ludacris, Jermaine Dupri and Young Jeezy.
Dupri took home the prize for Best Producer. “For the awards to be in my city and I win something for producing, it’s exciting,” he said. “The outcome was something I could never imagine.”
Other winners included Diddy, Jay-Z and Sway, who was voted best U.K. act by MTV Base viewers and BBC 1Xtra listeners in the U.K.
The BET Hip-Hop Awards will air Wednesday (Nov.15) on BET.
