The BET Hip Hop Awards took place at the Atlanta Civic Center on Saturday evening (October 1) and the network took time to pay homage to legends as well as current big dogs with the annual show.

Ironically, the big winner of the night during the taping was R&B star Chris Brown, who obviously isn't an MC and also wasn't in attendance. Although all the award winners were not announced at the ceremony, Breezy's blockbuster "Look At Me Now" took home three awards.

Busta Rhymes, who co-stars on the record, accepted the honors for Chris and the most nominated man of the night Lil' Wayne. Weezy also did not make the show.

Both Brown and Bussa Buss flexed their lyrical acumen during several taped rhyme cypher segments, which included MCs such as Machine Gun Kelly, Big K.R.I.T., B.o.B, Tech N9ne, Skillz, 2 Chainz, Blind Fury and The Lady of Rage.

"They say my music's pop, I call it buying cribs for my mama, shaking hands with Obama," Bobby Ray rapped.

The two cypher highlights were by rap labels Maybach Music Group and Shady Records. Captained by Eminem, "Shady 2.0" took the spotlight with Slaughterhouse and Yelawolf.

"I'm not trying to watch the throne, I'm trying to sabotage it," Joe Budden spit.

Earlier, Rick Ross lead Pill, Stalley, Meek Mill and Wale in treacherous bars as well as live medley that commanded the crowd stand at their feet. Wale commenced the stage performances with "That Way" and then Meek and Ricky Rozay finished with "I'ma Boss."

A shirtless, jumping Wiz Khalifa did "Taylor Gang," and Lupe Fiasco brought out Erykah Badu and a live band for "Word I Never Said."

Big surprises of the night were legends Heavy D and DMX performing unadvertised medleys of their hits. The growling human dog brought out Swizz Beatz for a flurry that consisted of "Get at Me Dog," "Ruff Ryders Anthem" and Party Up." The Heavy D set included "We Got Our Thing," "The Overweight Lover's in the House" and "Is It Good to You."

The biggest surprise of the night however was the recently uncaged King of the South,T.I., who performed "F.A.M.E" with Young Jeezy.

The BET Hip Hop Awards air on the network on October 11 at 8 p.m. —Shaheem Reid

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