Lil Wayne Takes BET's Top Honors

Def Jam creator Russell Simmons was recognized as a philanthropic inspiration to other artists at the annual hip-hop event

By Jovie Baclayon Oct 19, 2008 3:00 PMTags
Lil WayneKevin Winter/Getty Images

Lil Wayne hit it big at the BET Hip-Hop Awards last night in Atlanta, winning Lyricist of the Year and the Alltel Wireless People's Champ.

The "Lollipop" rapper, who received 12 nominations, also beat out Jay-Z, DJ Khaled, T.I. and Kanye West to win the MVP of the Year award, which he dedicated to his daughter. In his acceptance speech, the 26-year-old New Orleans native revealed that he's going to be a dad again soon. "I got a son dropping any day, pray for me," he told the crowd.

Also honored at the ceremony was Def Jam creator Russell Simmons, who received the "I Am Hip-Hop" Icon award from LL Cool J for being a philanthropic inspiration to other artists.

T.I. actually made it to this year's show after being arrested last year just hours before he was scheduled to headline the ceremony. The "Live Your Life" rapper pleaded guilty earlier this year to trying to purchase semi-automatic guns and silencers, and is scheduled to be sentenced in March.

The awards show will air Oct. 23 on BET and feature performances by Lil Wayne, Soulja Boy, Bow Wow, MC Lyte, Yo-Yo, Salt-N-Pepa, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Fat Joe, Birdman, Rick Ross and Young Jeezy.