THE KEEPIN’ IT PUSHIN’ AWARD Winner: Clyde Carson Runner Up: Jay Rock A major deal on Capitol, 2 hot singles, and a whole lot of street cred from one of the toughest markets to get respect from, Clyde Carson still wasn’t at the top of the major label’s priority list. But it didn’t stop him from doing shows, dropping freestyles and being everywhere across the U.S. this year.
DON’T RAP, JUST RAISEYOUR KIDS AWARD Winner: Marvaless Runner up: Luni Coleone Marvaless was a prime example of hard female gangsta rapper who didn’t take no shit... but that was also early 90s when she still looked up to par. Based on the looks of her latest album cover, she needs to hang up the mic and concentrate on picking up the kids from school.
THE BARRY BONDS AWARD Winner: Dr. Dre Runner Up: Bishop Lamont Didn’t know dude from BALCO had a connect in the City of Angels… At any rate, after Dr. Dre’s guest appearance onstage at the VMAs, it’s clear why Detox didn’t come out last year (as if it ever will). Dre’s on ster— er uh, he’s been in the gym.
DAMN NIGGAYOU OLD AWARD Winner: Too $hort Runner up: Trey D To his credit, Short has continued to make hits on time (listen to “Blow the Whistle”), introduce new talent (see The Pack) and create new avenues to rep the Bay (purchase the I Love the Bay compilation). We love and respect you for doing your thing for so long, but damn nigga you old!
RAY TAMARRA
DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY AWARD Winner: Keyshia Cole an ‘em Runner Up: Thizz Ent Let’s see, the mother’s a convicted felon, the sister is an obsessive wreck and the rap prodigy isn’t really worth mentioning. The Addams family ain’t got shit on the Coles and that’s just “The Way It Is”!
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SHOWYOU HOW TO GRIND AWARD Winner: Mistah F.A.B. Runner up: Innerstate Ike Being signed to a major deal doesn’t always mean you’re a star. Atlantic Records doesn’t push FAB on their roster, acts like they don’t know him at conferences and MTV banned his “Ghost Ride It” video. Through it all, the Prince of the Bay manages to stay relevant and visible at award shows, in magazine articles, on mixtapes, MC battles and usually outshines any artist in the room with him. AND, he still gets his show money on a consistent basis. Now that’s a grinder.
GHOST RIDE IT AWARD Winner: J Diggs Runner Up: Mistah FAB Mistah FAB was the poster boy for everything hyphy and rode the yellow bus from the Bay to the Big Apple, but J Diggs remains the originator of the Turf Dance. Known specifically for ghostriding his own Range Rovers, Diggs is the definition of a self-made daredevil.
THE“ENGLISH NIGGA, ENGLISH!” AWARD Winner: Keak Da Sneak Runner Up: Tech N9ne Keak speaks less and less English with every album he drops. With lines like “bada bop ba byyyy” and “yadadaaadaaaaaaaameea”, Keak is definitely the nigga that makes you rewind the track and turn it off to wonder what the hell he just said. THE STICK TOYOUR DAY JOB AWARD Winner: Tyrese Runner Up: Katt Williams The transition from music to movies was a good and graceful one, but that Black Ty shit was not the business! Bruh, you’re multi talented and all, but leave the rappin’ to the rappers. R&B stands for “Rhythm and Blues,” not “Rap and Bullshit!”
KING YELLA
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CANT STAY OUT OF JAIL AWARD Winner: Messy Marv Runner up: Askari X With all these damn albums and compilations that Messy Marv is presenting and doing, you start wondering how they are getting done with him going in and out of jail. Mess will be out for a month and next thing you know, he’s right back in. We know Mess is a gangsta, but enough is enough.
HOW LONG WILL THEY MOURN ME AWARD Winner: Mac Dre Runner Up: 2Pac Never truly appreciated for his accomplishments and contributions while he was alive, Mac Dre supporters and mourners popped up more than a little bit after his untimely demise. Heavy radio spins, various collaborations, vids, etc. of the charismatic rapper would follow. SHINE LIKE ME AWARD Winner: Fabby Davis Jr. Runner Up: Kafani Da Ice King From the A’s to the Yellow Bus and the now infamous Mistah Fab “Skittles Kid” piece, the son of a pimp stayed true to his roots, investing in a new chain every six months. Wouldn’t be surprised if he has the whole damn Yay on the next one. BOSS UP AWARD Winner: E-40 Runner Up: Snoop Dogg Since he cinched the deal for the long awaited vitamin water (his own company, not Glaceau), appropriately dubbed “40 Water,” it’s kinda easy to forget that Feasible still owns his own company (SickWidit), bought into Fatburger and Wingstop franchises, has a book (Dictionary of Slang) coming, his own liquor (Cloud 9) and a cartoon on the way! KING OF THE COAST Winner: Ice Cube Runner Up: The GAME Fuck what you heard. Cube went from Dough Boy to Nick Persons, stopped abruptly to drop an album that reminded us all who started this gangsta shit and produced a top rated television show that exposed the racial divide. With a forthcoming album (Raw Footage) and two more movies (First Sunday, The Comeback) to chock under his belt in ’08, Cubevision is clearer than ever.