(October 19, 2008)—Rapper Lil Wayne has been named lyricist of the year and Russell Simmons has been honored as hip-hop icon at the BET Hip-Hop Awards taped Saturday in Atlanta.

The New Orleans rapper, who was nominated for 12 awards, was also named MVP of the Year and the Alltel Wireless People's Champ at the ceremony.

T-Pain hosted the event instead of scheduled host, comedian Katt Williams.

The show featured a hip-hop matriarch medley that included MC Lyte, Yo-Yo and Salt-n-Pepa.

The award for Best Hip-Hop Collaboration for "I'm So Hood (The Remix)" went to DJ Khaled, Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Lil Wayne, Fat Joe, Birdman and Rick Ross.

LL Cool J presented Simmons with the "I Am Hip-Hop" Icon award, which is given to an individual who has made notable contributions of outstanding significance to the hip-hop community.

BET airs the awards show Oct. 23.

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