The Third Annual Ozone Awards and TJs DJs Tastemakers Only Music Conference came to a successful and peaceful close in at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston last night (August 11), despite a pair of attention grabbing altercations and a late start to the four-day weekend’s marquee event.
Celebs and fans came together to recognize the best and brightest in Southern and West Coast Hip-Hop, continuing Ozone Magazine’s tradition of spotlighting those artists – established and up-and-coming – who are often overlooked by the mainstream media.
Following the now infamous altercation between Houston rappers Mike Jones and Trae The Truth, which created a need for increased security measures backstage and an extensive delay, comedian DeRay Davis kicked off the Ozone Awards.
The Ozone’s honored winners in 32 categories selected by their fans via online ballots.
Lil’ Wayne and DJ Khaled tied for the most wins, walking away with two awards each, with Wayne capturing the titles of Best Rap Artist and Best Lyricist and DJ Khaled taking the DJ of the Year and TJ’s DJ’s Hustler Awards.
High profile awards were also presented to Rap-A-Lot Records founder J. Prince, David Banner, and T-Pain.
J. Prince took home the Living Legends Award which was presented to him by the Geto Boyz, David Banner won the Pimp C Award – presented to the Trillest Artist, and the TJ’s DJ’s Tastemaker Award was presented to T. Pain for his trendsetting music and fashion sense.
Banner deferred his win to Scarface, creating one of the most memorable moments of the evening.
But by far the highlight of the show was a moving tribute to fallen Port Author pioneer Pimp C, performed by several of his contemporaries and the artists he inspired and signed to his label, Trill Entertainment.
Rappers like Hezaleo, Eightball, Too Short, David Banner, Big Boi, Webbie and Lil’ Boosie all took the stage to perform some of the legendary rapper’s best known verses.
Bun B addressed the crowd, while paying homage to his partner in rhyme through minor technical difficulties, urging the crowd to value their loved ones and their time on earth.
“I want to thank everybody,” he said from the stage. “When your time comes, make sure that you right.”
Pimp C’s eldest son and mother took the stage to a standing ovation, closing the tribute as pictures of the late rapper flashed on a monitor.
Immediately following the Ozone Awards, Mike Jones spoke to Greensboro, North Carolina radio personality Waleed Coyote about the earlier incident with Trae the Truth.
The incident resulted in minor onsite medical treatment for Mike Jones, as well as a brief police detention for his assailant Trae the Truth, who was recently honored by the Mayor of Houston for his work in the community.
Mike Jones, who appeared on stage as planned during the Awards to present the nominees in the DJ of the Year category, explained that he felt the attack was a publicity stunt.
“Everybody seen it was the perfect time to do this, and they aint gotta pay for advertising and promotion and they did that,” Mike Jones explained. “Dude came and shook my hand. And I guess he was mad [that] I call myself The President, ‘cause I am the president of H-Town. I run this city. So after he shook my hand and we had our words, he went his way, I went my way. Next thing you know, he snuck up from behind me and he tried to swing at me. But I still got up there at the Ozone Awards and kept it playa and kept it G. Because what happen in the street is supposed to stay in the street.”
While he would not address his nemesis by name during the brief on air interview, Jones did send him a direct message.
“Tell him I said when you sell two million your first time out, when your name is known worldwide, then you can talk,” he said of Trae, who was eventually allowed to return to the venue and accepted the Mixtape Monster Award. “Get your resume up [and] get your staff up before you come holla at me.”
Ozone Award Winners
BEST RAP ALBUM Rick Ross – Trilla BEST RAP ARTIST Lil Wayne BEST R&B ARTIST Chris Brown BEST RAP GROUP UGK BEST LYRICIST Lil Wayne BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST Shawty Lo BEST RAP/R&B COLLABORATION Usher f/ Young Jeezy “Love In This Club” CLUB BANGER OF THE YEAR Webbie f/ Lil Boosie & Lil Phat “Independent” MIXTAPE MONSTER AWARD Trae MOST SLEPT ON ARTIST Z-Ro PIMP C AWARD (TRILLEST ARTIST) David Banner TJ’s DJ’s HUSTLER AWARD DJ Khaled TJ’s DJ’s TASTEMAKER AWARD (Trendsetter in music, fashion/style, etc.) T-Pain BEST VIDEO UGK f/ Outkast “International Players Anthem” DJ OF THE YEAR DJ Khaled BEST MIXTAPE / STREET ALBUM Tie: B.G. & DJ Drama – Gangsta Grillz: Hood Generals Chamillionaire – Mixtape Messiah 3 BEST PRODUCER Polow the Don BEST RAP ARTIST (WEST COAST) The Game BEST RAP GROUP (WEST COAST) DPG (Dogg Pound) BEST RAP ALBUM (WEST COAST) Snoop Dogg “Ego Trippin” LIVING LEGEND AWARD J Prince PATIENTLY WAITING: FLORIDA Brisco PATIENTLY WAITING: GEORGIA B.O.B. PATIENTLY WAITING: TEXAS Lil Will PATIENTLY WAITING: MISSISSIPPI Lil C PATIENTLY WAITING: ALABAMA Jackie Chain PATIENTLY WAITING: LOUISIANA Mack Maine PATIENTLY WAITING: TENNESSEE All Star PATIENTLY WAITING: CAROLINAS Snook Da Rokk Star PATIENTLY WAITING: KENTUCKY Hurricane PATIENTLY WAITING: CALIFORNIA The Jacka PATIENTLY WAITING: ARIZONA Willy Northpole
