By April MacIntyre Oct 11, 2009, 19:18 GMT
Incarcerated rapper T.I. didn't need to attend the BET Hip-Hop Awards to win two trophies on Saturday.
Incarcerated rapper T.I. didn't need to attend the BET Hip-Hop Awards to win two trophies on Saturday. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER
T.I. is cooling his heels currently in an Arkansas penitentiary on a federal weapons conviction, yet he still won the best collaboration award with Rihanna for the song 'Live Your Life' and the album of the year award for 'Paper Trail.'
Fiancee Tameka "Tiny" Cottle accepted his awards at the ceremony.
According to MTV, Tameka read a letter by the rapper, who began serving a yearlong sentence in late May. "My road to redemption is almost over. ... Thanks for the support," Cottle quoted the rapper as writing.
Jay-Z was honored as the 'MVP of the Year,' while Drake took home 'Rookie of the Year,' and Ice Cube received the "I Am Hip-Hop" icon award. Ice Cube said he was humbled by the award.
"When you get recognized by your peers for a life of work, you got to be humbled," the rap veteran said. "I'm honored by this. I have 20 more years of work left in me. I hope (BET) is ready to give out two of these awards."
Rapper Busta Rhymes presented the award for "DJ of the Year" posthumously to DJ AM, who recently died of an accidental drug overdose in August.
Kanye West was a no-show.
The award show will air on Oct. 27.
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