If you thought last summer's BET AWARDS '06 were off the hook -- and they were -- just wait until the inaugural BET HIP-HOP AWARDS premieres on Wednesday, November 15 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The nominees for BET's first awards show honoring the cream of hip-hop culture in 14 different categories were unveiled today during a press conference at the Metropolitan Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. On hand to make the announcements were: Katt Williams, actor/comedian and host of the BET HIP-HOP AWARDS; Multi- platinum rapper and Academy award-winning film Crash cast member Ludacris; hip-hop mogul and super-producer Jermaine Dupri; platinum-selling rapper Young Jeezy; Stephen Hill, BET Executive Vice President for Entertainment, Music Programming and Talent and BET HIP-HOP AWARDS Executive Producer; Lisa Borders, Atlanta City Council President; Sam A. Williams, President of the Atlanta Metro Chamber of Commerce; Spurgeon Richardson, President and CEO of Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau; and Fox Theatre General Manager Allan Vella.

With southern hip-hop being so dominant now, it's quite appropriate that Atlanta was selected to host the first BET HIP-HOP AWARDS show. ATL's own T.I., leads all nominees with eight nods. T.I. is up for possible honors in the Video of the Year, Hip-Hop Track of the Year, Hip-Hop MVP of the Year, Lyricist of the Year, Best Live Performance, Best Collaboration, Hip-Hop CD of the Year and Hip-Hop Hustler of the Year categories.

"We are extremely excited to be producing our first BET HIP-HOP AWARDS and look forward to a show that reflects the genre with the respect, acknowledgement and show production value it's due," said Stephen Hill, Executive Vice President of Entertainment, Music Programming and Talent for BET Networks. "This show is very much about where hip-hop culture is RIGHT now, but we will honor the original 4 elements of hip-hop and show their connection to today's beats, rhymes and life."

Joining T.I. with multiple nods are: Busta Rhymes with six, Chamillionaire with five, Yung Joc and Lupe Fiasco with four; Kanye West, Lil' Wayne and Young Jeezy with three each; and Common, Rick Ross, Nelly and Cham with two apiece.

The show will also feature live performances by Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, T.I. & Young Dro, and Young Jeezy ... and more to be announced at later dates. Although hosting an awards show -- particularly one with this caliber of talent -- is no easy gig, Katt Williams, 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," says he's up for the challenge.

"Well, you know, I'm a great believer that enthusiasm is always the most important ingredient," Williams says. "So you want to have somebody hosting a hip-hop show that actually loves hip hop and has for as long as they can remember. So in that respect, there's not a lot of weight on my shoulders. It's really a joy, because I'm going to be excited every second that I'm onstage. And the audience needs to see that sort of thing, not 'I'm qualified to be here and that's why I'm here.' But really, I'm so excited to be doing this."

In paying homage to the core tenets of hip hop (DJing, MCing, Breakdancing and Graffiti (art)), The BET HIP-HOP AWARDS has established special recognition for the exceptional work and contributions to the genre in the areas of beat production, lyricism, dance, and film/visual art with four special Element awards: Producer of the Year, Lyricist of the Year, Hip-Hop Dance of the Year and Director of the Year. Additional categories include Rookie of the Year, Hip-Hop Movie of the Year and the Alltel Wireless People's Champ Award (Viewers' Choice). BET has again teamed with Cossette Productions, famed producers of the GRAMMY Awards(R) and the six previous record-setting BET AWARDS shows, to jointly produce this fresh salute to everything hip-hop.

For the first-time ever, BET will splash some international flavor on its awards show with special honors geared around the British urban music scene. Five noted hip-hop artists from the United Kingdom will battle for recognition by British hip-hop fans as Best UK Hip-Hop Artist. BET International is joined through partnerships with British music entities MTV Base and 1 Xtra BBC in establishing this category spotlighting British hip-hop.