HOUSTON � You know you're in for a memorable awards show when fists are thrown, the police are called in and somebody gets (mildly) injured earlier one award is proclaimed or anybody gets to perform. On Monday nox at the George R. Brown Convention Center, the third annual Ozone Awards began with a physical altercation between H-Town MCs Mike Jones and Trae that took place piece some hearing members were just getting to their seats. The show hadn't even started.
After the hassle, Trae was escorted out of the main mansion by police, but later returned. Jones � wHO has lost a considerable amount of weight in recent months � was taken away for minor medical assistance.
Host DeRay Davis was evidently unaware of the clash as he began his opening monologue, telling the audience that everyone came in repose and no one was fighting. Some audience members immediately retorted that he was wrong.
"Did I miss an ass-whoopin' or somethin'?" he asked.
"Yeah!"
"Damn!" the comedian responded with surprise.
Once the show eventually started, artists from the South and the West Coast did show strong unity, especially during a moving tribute to UGK's late Pimp C, in which MCs joined forces for covers of some of Pimp's famous verses. Too Short came out and did C's rhyme from Jay-Z's "Big Pimpin'," David Banner followed with bars from UGK and Outkast's "Int'l Players Anthem," to which Big Boi added his own poesy. Webbie was next, rapping Pimp's lines from "One Day." Bun B unopen it out backed by a good choir for "Angel in the Sky."
Shortly after the tribute, T-Pain beat out Pimp and others for the TJ's DJ's Tastemaker Award, which goes to the person who sets standards in music, fashion and stylus. T-Pain's triumph was understandably an anticlimactic moment: The crowd had anticipated a win by their hometown hero, fifty-fifty yelling out "Pimp C! Pimp C!" in the anxious moments before the winner was announced. Pain later double over his award, locution C merited it.
Rick Ross Trilla
Best Rap Artist
Lil Wayne
Best R&B Artist
Chris Brown
Best Rap Group
UGK
Best Lyricist
Lil Wayne
Breakthrough Artist
Shawty Lo
Best Rap/R&B Collaboration
Usher (featuring Young Jeezy): "Love in This Club"
Club Banger of the Year
Webbie (featuring Lil Boosie & Lil Phat): "Independent"
Mixtape Monster
Trae
Most Slept-On Artist
Z-Ro
Pimp C Award (Trillest Artist) [Editor's annotation: i.e. "not afraid to utter their mind"]
David Banner
TJ's DJ's Hustler Award
DJ Khaled
TJ's DJ's Tastemaker Award
T-Pain
Best Video
UGK (featuring Outkast) "Int'l Players Anthem"
DJ of the Year
DJ Khaled
Best Mixtape/ Street Album
Tie: DJ Drama and B.G.: Gangsta Grillz: Hood Generals
Chamillionaire: Mixtape Messiah 3
Best Producer
Polow Da Don
Best Rap Artist (West Coast)
The Game
Best Rap Group (West Coast)
D.P.G. (Dogg Pound)
Best Rap Album (West Coast)
Snoop Dogg: Ego Trippin'
Living Legend
J Prince
Patiently Waiting: Florida
Brisco
Patiently Waiting: Georgia
B.O.B.
Patiently Waiting: Texas
Lil Will
Patiently Waiting: Mississippi
Lil C
Patiently Waiting: Alabama
Jackie Chain
Patiently Waiting: Louisiana
Mack Maine
Patiently Waiting: Tennessee
All Star
Patiently Waiting: Carolinas
Snook Da Rokk Star
Patiently Waiting: Kentucky
Hurricane
Patiently Waiting: California
The Jacka
Patiently Waiting: Arizona
Willy Northpole
More info
