Other honors go to T.I., Nas, Kanye West, DJ Drama, Green Lantern, Whoo Kid and more.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes
50 Cent
Photo: Getty Images
They all came through. Lil' Wayne, 50 Cent, Nas, Rick Ross, DJ Khaled, Ace Hood, Young Jeezy, the Clipse, Ludacris, LL Cool J, DJ Drama, Joe Budden, Fat Joe, Tha Dogg Pound, Snoop Dogg, Charles Hamilton, B.O.B., T.I., Fabolous, Soulja Boy and even Katt Williams. The best of the best appeared on Mixtape Monday and we have to thank all the artists and all of you who have watched and logged on every week to support us.
This was our biggest and best year ever and, in 2009, we promise to only make it even better. Look for some big enhancements and a continuation of the big names. But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let's take few minutes to reflect on the dopest segments from your favorite day of the week.
You didn't think we would let 2008 close without us sending major big ups (once again) to the artists who keep this underground circuit we love thriving? OK, no more time to waste, here are our annual Mixtape Monday Awards — and check back later today for more talk about our picks! Trumpets, please!
Mixtape Act of the Year
Shaheem Reid's Pick: G-Unit
Rahman Dukes' Pick: G-Unit
Mixtape DJ of the Year
Shaheem Reid: Drama
Rahman Dukes: Green Lantern
Radio and/or Satellite DJ of the Year
Shaheem Reid: Green Lantern
Rahman Dukes: Whoo Kid
Lyricist of the Year
Shaheem Reid: Nas
Rahman Dukes: Nas
Most Slept-on Album of the Year
Shaheem Reid: The Game,
L.A.X.
Rahman Dukes: Mobb Deep,
H.N.I.C. 2
Album of the Year
Shaheem Reid: Lil Wayne,
Tha Carter III
Rahman Dukes: T.I.,
Paper Trail
Concert of the Year
Shaheem Reid:
Kanye West's Glow in the Dark Tour (Close second props to the Rock the Bells Jones Beach stop)
Rahman Dukes:
Atlanta's Birthday Bash
Producer of the Year
Shaheem Reid: Kanye West
Rahman Dukes: Kanye West
Topic of the Year
Shaheem Reid:
The Auto-Tune takeover
Rahman Dukes:
Did Jay-Z and Beyoncé get married?
Breakthrough DJ of the Year
Shaheem Reid: Infamous
Rahman Dukes: DJ Scream
Breakthrough MC of the Year
Shaheem Reid: Shawty Lo
Rahman Dukes: Shawty Lo
Live Performer of the Year
Shaheem Reid: Kanye West (Gotta give a shout to my runner up T.I. His shows had so much energy.)
Rahman Dukes: Lil Wayne
Internet Superstar
Shaheem Reid: Charles Hamilton
Rahman Dukes: Consequence
Breakthrough Of The Year (Producer)
Shaheem Reid: Drumma Boy
Rahman Dukes: Don Cannon
Craziest Collaboration
Shaheem Reid:
Jay-Z, T.I., Lil Wayne and Kanye West on "Swagger Like Us"
Rahman Dukes:
Young Jeezy and Nas on "My President"
Check for in '09
Shaheem Reid: Obviously, that three-headed monster from the land of Interscope is going to be extremely successful when and if 50 Cent, Eminem and Dr. Dre put out albums. But I'm thinking Jay-Z's
Blueprint 3 will be the album the year. Hov's rhymes and a lot of Kanye's beats? That's guaranteed timeless music. On a more underground level, I'm hoping Joe Budden and the Clipse get more shine. They have been some of the doper MCs in the game for the past few years. I thoroughly enjoyed all of Fabolous' guest appearances, so I have faith in the upcoming
Loso's Way.
Rahman Dukes: I'm still waiting on that classic album from my boy Saigon's
The Greatest Story Never Told. "Believe It" is still an amazing record, and that's just a taste of what to expect from the album. Of course, keeping it Queens, I can't wait to see what 50 Cent does. Fif is by far the realest cat doing it in the game. Jay-Z has been on a streak lately with all of the Kanye West-produced tracks, so his album will probably be the best of '09. Can't forget about the Clipse, and hopefully we'll finally get that
Cuban Linx II. Lets go, Rae!
Of course, not everyone can win an award, so here's the best of the rest:
Standout Street CDs and Independent Albums of '08
50 Cent's
Sincerely Yours, Southside
G-Unit's
Return of the Body Snatchers and
Elephant in the Sand
Lil Wayne and DJ Drama's
Dedication 3
The Clipse's
Road to Till the Casket Drops
DJ Khaled's
We Global
Prodigy's
H.N.I.C. 2
J. Period's
March 9th Mixtape and
Best of Mary J. Blige (Three CD Edition)
Notorious B.I.G. and Big L's
Live From Amsterdam
Nipsey Hussle's
Bullets Ain't Got No Name, Vol. I and II
Crooked I's
Block Obama I and II
We are the best in the business, baby. See you in '09!
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50 Cent And G-Unit Are Mixtape Act Of The Year In 2008's Mixtape Monday Awards
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