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T.I. Wins BET Awards From Prison
T.I. is serving a one-year sentence at an Arkansas penitentiary for a federal weapons conviction. His fiancée Tameka “Tiny” Cottle read an acceptance letter on his behalf.
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“Although I’m not there with you all, I’m there in spirit,” Cottle read from the letter. “My road to redemption is almost over. … Thanks for the support.”
Other artists honored at the Saturday awards event in Atlanta included Jay-Z for MVP of the Year and Drake receiving Rookie of the Year.
The “I Am Hip-Hop” award went to Ice Cube, who said his filmmaking career might result in more awards in the future.
“When you get recognized by your peers for a life of work, you got to be humble,” said the artist whose real name is O’Shea Jackson. “I’m honored by this. I have 20 more years of work left in me. I hope [BET] is ready to give out two of these awards.”
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Busta Rhymes presented the DJ of the Year award to DJ AM, who died in August from what the medical examiner ruled was an accidental overdose.
The BET Hip-Hop Awards will air Oct. 27. For more information, please click here for the BET Web site.