It’s that time of year…… No, not colorful leaves, football, or costumes – HIP HOP!
This is when Atlanta goes from being a major player in the everyday business that is mainstream hip-hop – to being the center of the hip-hop universe; the 2008 BET Hip-Hop Awards Show is in town. Allthough the actual show is taped on Saturday night at the Atlanta Civic Center, this event is about a weekend of high profile club events, seminars, and errrr traffic.
Immediately 2 things seem clear – Lil Wayne will most likely be the star of the show, but hometown entertainer Ludacris seems to be the likely star outside of the show.
Weezy leads this year in nominations with 12. His 2008 Release Tha Carter III has pulled off a difficult feat for a commercial rap album, it has largely garnered the respect of the masses, the critics, and the ‘true heads.’
Luda will be all over Atlanta during the weekend. Aside from being at the show taping, he will be on a summit panel discussing financial empowerment, launching a collector baseball cap with New Era, at the premier of his new movie Max Payne, and Hosting a party at E.S.S.O. with Def Jam label-mate Young Jeezy.
With all the flash going on, don’t assume that this weekend is only about the youngsters. BET will present hip-hop patriarch Russell Simmons with the "I Am Hip-Hop" Icon Award for being "an individual
who, during their lifetime, has made notable contributions of outstanding significance to the hip hop community." A Town Hall discussion dubbed “Fly Girls Vote: Hip-Hop Women For Change” will feature M.C. Lyte, esteemed professors, activists, and journalists. Chaiman and CEO of BET Networks Debra Lee will host "Conversation with a Legend." Saturday night, old-school Acts Camp-Lo and Slum Villiage will join Amanda Diva on stage at The Loft. 
Each year the BET Hip-Hop awards weekend seems to strive to be about more than stereotypes, as a result it continues to grow in importance on Atlanta’s musical calendar.
