THE BET HIP HOP AWARDS

NEW YORK, NY, September 13, 2007 - BET Networks today announced the nominees for the 2nd annual BET Hip Hop Awards, paying homage to urban music artists at the top of their game. If you thought last year's show was unbeatable, then hold on to your seats because BET is back in "hotlanta" with veteran host actor/comedian Katt Williams, who is sure to deliver a high energy show filled with hot performances by the best in the business! The BET Hip Hop Awards will take place on Saturday, October 13 at Atlanta's Civic Center, and premiere on the network Wednesday, October 17 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Nelly, Lil Wayne, Kanye West and Common are scheduled to perform. Additional presenters and performers to be announced shortly.

Southern hip-hop will dominate the stage once again, as ATL native T.I. leads all Hip Hop Awards nominees with nine nods. T.I. is up for possible honors in the Best Collabo, Best Live Performance, Lyricist of the Year, MVP, Track of the Year, CD of the Year, Hustler of the Year, Best Ringtone and Viwer's Choice categories.

""We are so glad to be back in Atlanta once again for this year's version of what, in its debut, became the single hottest show in hip-hop," says Stephen Hill, Executive Vice President, Entertainment Programming, Music and Talent. "We're at a crucial point in the life of this music: Its messages and language have been scrutinized more this year than any other time in its history. I hope all hip-hop critics and fans will watch this show that will proudly show all sides of the genre proudly and authentically. Love it. Hate it. The 'BET Hip Hop Awards' will have style, substance and swagger."

Joining the ranks of T.I. with multiple nods are: Kanye West and Lil Wayne with seven, Common with five, Jay-Z with four, Ludacris and 50 Cent with three, and Diddy and UGK with two. Also, the legendary hip hop artist KRS-One, known for his political and socially conscious raps, will be honored with the "I Am Hip Hop" Icon Award.

For the second year in a row, BET also adds an international twist to the Hip Hop Awards by partnering with British music entities MTV Base and 1 Xtra BBC to create a special award around the British urban music scene. Five established hip-hop artists from the United Kingdom will battle for recognition by British hip-hop fans as Best UK Hip-Hop Artist. This category allows BET International to spotlight British hip-hop, and the winner will be announced in the UK on October 1 via radio and MTV BASE News.

Additionally, this year BET viewers and BET Digital users will have an opportunity to enter the BET Hip Hop Awards Hot 16 Challenge, judged by hip-hop mogul Jermaine Dupri. The winners will become VIP's at specified BET Hip Hop Awards events. The contest prizes include: A trip to the BET Hip Hop Awards for the winner and their entourage, a walk down the red carpet, party passes to the SoSoDef/BET Digital Pre-party and tickets to the Hip Hop Awards show. Log on to bet.com for more information. www.bet.com/hot16.

Elevating the star presence at Atlanta's Fox Theatre is red-hot host, comedian/actor Katt Williams. Although hosting an awards show - particularly one with this caliber of talent - is no easy gig, Katt says he's up for the challenge. Perhaps best known for his scene-stealing turn as Money Mike in "Friday After Next" and his recent HBO stand-up comedy special "The Pimp Chronicles, Part 1," Williams will lace the historic event with his edgy, brash and hilarious flavor.

Last year's inaugural BET Hip Hop Awards drew an impressive 2.93 rating, which translated into 3.64 million viewers (2.44 million households) according to Nielsen Media Research. The show featured massive hip-hop stars Diddy, Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg, Nelly, Chamillionaire, Yung Joc, Keyshia Cole, Remy Ma, Rick Ross and the dirty south's own Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris, T.I. and Young Jeezy, among others. Additionally, it honored one of the hip-hop world's pioneering figures, Grand Master Flash, with the "I Am Hip Hop" Icon Award.

The BET Hip Hop Awards is sponsored by General Motors and Alltell Wireless.

For up-to-the-minute and archival press information including releases and photographs, visit BET's press-only Web site at www.bet.com/pr

The following is a complete list of the 2007 BET HIP HOP AWARDS nominees and categories:

BEST HIP-HOP VIDEO

50 Cent - I Get Money

Chamillioinaire f/ Slick Rick - Hip Hop Police

Common - The People

Ludacris f/ Mary J. Blige - Runaway Love

UGK f/ Outkast - International Players Anthem

Kanye West - Stronger

BEST COLLABO

Birdman & Lil Wayne - Stuntin' Like My Daddy

Diddy f/ Keyshia Cole - Last Night

DJ Khaled f/ Akon, T.I., Rick Ross, Fat Joe, and Lil Wayne - We Takin' Over

Fabolous f/ Ne-Yo - Make Me Better

UGK f/ Outkast - International Players Anthem

BEST LIVE PERFORMANCE

Common

Lil Wayne

T.I.

Ludacris

Kanye West

BEST MOVIE

Gridiron Gang

Idlewild

Shottas

Smokin' Aces

Stomp the Yard

BEST DANCE

2 Step

Aunt Jackie

Chicken Noodle Soup

Crank Dat Soulja Boy

Pop, Lock, & Drop It

LYRICIST OF THE YEAR

Common

Lil Wayne

Jay-Z

T.I.

Kanye West

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Bryan Barber

Benny Boom

F. Gary Gray

Chris Robinson

Hype Williams

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

Mannie Fresh

Polow Da Don

Swizz Beatz

Timbaland

Kanye West

MVP

Common

Lil Wayne

Jay-Z

T.I.

Kanye West

TRACK OF THE YEAR

A Bay Bay (Hurricane Chris)

Big Things Poppin' (Do It) (T.I.)

Can't Tell Me Nothing (Kanye West)

I Get Money (50 Cent)

Party Like A Rockstar (Shop Boyz)

CD OF THE YEAR

Common-Finding Forever

Jay-Z-Kingdom Come

Ludacris-Release Therapy

Nas-Hip Hop Is Dead

T.I.- TI vs. T.I.P.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Hurricane Chris

Lil Boosie

MIMS

Plies

Rich Boy

DJ OF THE YEAR

DJ Drama

DJ Enuff

DJ Irie

DJ Khaled

Tony Neal

HUSTLER OF THE YEAR

50 Cent

Diddy

Lil Wayne

T.I.

Jay-Z

BEST UK HIP HOP ACT

Dizzie Rascal

JME

Kano

Klashnekoff

Lethal B

Wiley