Ozone Awards Going Down August 8-11 in Houston, Texas

OZONE Magazine today announced actor/comedian, DeRay Davis [MTV’s Wild ‘n’ Out, BET’s Comic View] as host for its 3rd Annual OZONE Awards show in Houston, Texas, Monday August 11th, at the George R Brown Convention Center. Topping the list of nominees for this year’s award ceremony is Lil Wayne, with 8 nominations in more than 5 categories including TJ’s DJ's Hustler Award, Club Banger of the Year and Best Lyricist. Other Nominees include T-Pain, Rick Ross, Plies, Kanye West, Killer Mike, Trick Daddy, Shawty Lo, Bun B, Trey Songz, Flo Rida, Usher, Young Jeezy, DJ Khaled, Greg Street, Akon, Ice Cube, Snoop and The Game.

Honoring the memory of the late UGK rapper, Pimp C, OZONE will dedicate a new category, the “PIMP C AWARD (TRILLEST ARTIST)”, to a list of nominees who have expressed personal views and been outspoken about controversial topics in and outside of music. Nominees included Kanye West, David Banner, Killer Mike, Lil Wayne, Trae and Trick Daddy.

“We wanted to dedicate a category this year for the Trillest Artist Award,” explains OZONE Founder and producer of the OZONE Awards, Julia Beverly. “Since Pimp C was one of the most vocal members of our community we felt it was appropriate to name the award after him. While we are guests in Houston, we hope to do as much as we can to represent the city's unique culture, which includes remembering Pimp C and other Texas legends who have passed, like DJ Screw, Big Hawk, Fat Pat and Big Moe."

A complete list of nominees across more than 25 categories including “Best Rap Album”; “Breakthrough Artist”; “Best Rap Group”; Best Video”; and “DJ of The Year” listed below.

To vote for this year’s nominees please log onto www.ozonemag.com/toa_voting/

BEST RAP ALBUM

Plies - Real Testament

Rick Ross – Trilla

Shawty Lo - Units in the City

UGK – Underground Kingz

BEST RAP ARTIST

Bun B

Lil Wayne

Plies

Rick Ross

T.I.

Young Jeezy

BEST R&B ARTIST

Chris Brown

Keyshia Cole

Ne-Yo

T-Pain

The Dream

Trey Songz

BEST RAP GROUP

Birdman & Lil Wayne

Grit Boys

Little Brother

Playaz Circle

Three 6 Mafia

UGK

BEST LYRICIST

Andre 3000

Bun B

Lil Boosie

Lil Wayne

Scarface

T.I.

BREAKTHROUGH ARTIST

Flo Rida

Gorilla Zoe

Rocko

Shawty Lo

Soulja Boy

BEST RAP/R&B COLLABORATION

2 Pistols f/ T-Pain “She Got It”

David Banner f/ Chris Brown & Yung Joc “Get Like Me”

Plies f/ Ne-Yo “Bust It Baby Pt. 2”

Ray J f/ Yung Berg “Sexy Can I”

Rick Ross f/ R Kelly “Speedin’”

Usher f/ Young Jeezy “Love In This Club”

CLUB BANGER OF THE YEAR

DJ Khaled f/ Rick Ross, Plies, & Trick Daddy – “I’m So Hood”

Flo Rida f/ T-Pain “Low”

Lil Wayne f/ Static Major “Lollipop”

Playaz Circle f/ Lil Wayne “Duffle Bag Boy”

Shawty Lo “Dey Know”

Webbie f/ Lil Boosie & Lil Phat “Independent”

MIXTAPE MONSTER AWARD

B.O.B.

Gucci Mane

Lil Wayne

Shawty Lo

Trae

Yo Gotti

MOST SLEPT ON ARTIST

BloodRaw

B.O.B.

Killer Mike

Trick Daddy

Z-Ro

PIMP C AWARD (TRILLEST ARTIST) (Not afraid to speak what’s on their mind)

David Banner

Kanye West

Killer Mike

Lil Wayne

Trae

Trick Daddy

TJ's DJ's HUSTLER AWARD

Akon

Bigga Rankin

DJ Khaled

Lil Wayne

T-Pain

TJ's DJ's TASTEMAKER AWARD (Trendsetter in music, fashion/style, etc.) Greg Street

Jermaine Dupri

Pimp C

Polow da Don

Soulja Boy

T-Pain

BEST VIDEO

Chamillionaire f/ Slick Rick “Hip Hop Police”

Lil Wayne “Lollipop”

Lupe Fiasco “Hip Hop Saved My Life”

Rick Ross f/ R Kelly “Speedin’”

UGK f/ Outkast “International Players Anthem”

DJ OF THE YEAR

Bigga Rankin

DJ Drama

DJ Khaled

DJ Q45

Greg Street

Tony Neal

BEST MIXTAPE / STREET ALBUM

B.G. & DJ Drama - Gangsta Grillz: Hood Generals

B.O.B. & Mick Boogie - Hello My Name Is BOB

Bigga Rankin & Brisco - From Dade to Duval: WRNR

Chamillionaire – Mixtape Messiah 3

Rich Boy – Bigger Than The Mayor

Shawty Lo & DJ Scream – I’m Da Man 2

Yelawolf - Stereo Y

Gotti & DJ Smallz – Cocaine Muzic

BEST PRODUCER

DJ Montay

DJ Toomp

Drumma Boy

J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League

Polow the Don

The Runners

BEST RAP ARTIST (WEST COAST)

Ice Cube

Keak da Sneak

Mistah FAB

Snoop Dogg

The Game

BEST RAP GROUP (WEST COAST)

Dem HoodStarz

DPG (Dogg Pound)

Mob Figaz

Strong Arm Steady

The Pack

BEST RAP ALBUM (WEST COAST)

Blu “Below the Heavens”

Keak Da Sneak “Deified”

Mistah FAB “Baydestrian”

Snoop Dogg “Ego Trippin”

Too Short “Get Off The Stage”

LIVING LEGEND AWARD

J Prince

PATIENTLY WAITING: FLORIDA

Ace Hood

BallGreezy

Brisco

Frank Lini

Grind Mode

Haitian Fresh

PATIENTLY WAITING: GEORGIA

Alfamega

B.O.B.

O.J. Da Juice Man

Rock City

Yung LA

Yung Ralph

PATIENTLY WAITING: TEXAS

Damm D

Lil Will

Spark Dawg

TMI Boyz
Trai D

PATIENTLY WAITING: MISSISSIPPI

Gutta Twins

Lil C

Rob Gold

XVII (“Seventeen”)

Scrilla Boy

PATIENTLY WAITING: ALABAMA

C Hall

Deuce Komradz

Jackie Chain

Yelawolf

PATIENTLY WAITING: LOUISIANA

3 Deep

9th Ward

Lil Cali

Mack Maine

PATIENTLY WAITING: TENNESSEE

All Star

Cowboy

JAG

Novokane

PATIENTLY WAITING: CAROLINAS

Carlos Cartel

Shelly B

Snook Da Rokk Star

Sonny Rich

PATIENTLY WAITING: KENTUCKY

Hurricane

Kasanova

R Prophet

YV

PATIENTLY WAITING: CALIFORNIA

Bishop Lamont

G. Malone

Jay Rock

Kuzzo Fly

Roccett

The Jacka

PATIENTLY WAITING: ARIZONA

Cinque

Hot Rod

Jiggolo

Willy Northpole