November 13, 2006

Atlanta, Georgia - Atlanta made history as the first host city of the first annual BET Hip/ Hop Awards. Taking place on Sunday, November 12, 2006 at the historic Fox Theatre in downtown Atlanta, the awards show was a tip of the hat to Atlanta’s undisputed powerhouse status in the music industry.

Local artists and stars Ludacris, Young Jeezy and Lil Jon got the party started with a passionate performance of Jermaine Dupri’s hit battle cry tune, “Welcome to Atlanta”! Sean Diddy Combs was the first presenter of the evening and did a tribute to Gerald Levertt who had just died days before.

ATL, as the city is affectionately known, is home to the greatest numbers of players in the music business. It is also home to Hip Hop’s most successful stars and star makers include Andre 3000 and Big Boi of Outkast, Dallas Austin, Jermaine Dupri, T.I., the Ying Yang Twins, TLC, Young Bloods, the Ying Yang Twins, Lil Jon, Young Jeezy, Yung Joc, L.A. Reid, Usher Raymond, etc.

Jermaine Dupri took home the Producer of the Year award. He is widely credited for putting the city on the map of the music world and for launching the careers of many big stars from the city. On that he said, "All the artists performed. All the artists [were] recognized. The city was recognized. Everybody came out," he said.

Atlanta is one fire right now. It is the 9th largest television market in the USA. It is comparatively one of the wealthiest cities in world. It’s artists dominate the industry at this time. This is more than evidenced by more than half of the 17 awards going home with Atlanta artists. T.I. led with a total of 4 awards. And of the five artists nominated for BET's MVP of the Year award, T.I., Young Jeezy and Yung Joc all come from the ATL.

"We control and monopolize so much of this hip-hop industry, it's only right that they start bringing these awards down here," T.I. said at a news conference after the show. "Save me some tim...

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