First Annual OZONE Awards: Sunday, August 6th at the Bob Carr Auditorium in downtown Orlando, FL red carpet: 4-6 PM showtime: 7 PM

in association with TJ’s DJ’s Tastemaker’s Music Conference (August 4th-5th) visit www.ozonemag.com or www.tjsdjs.com to register for weekend passes to all events Tickets to the OZONE Awards are also available through www.ticketmaster.com Nominees were selected by a panel of DJs, journalists, and other knowledgeable, non-biased individuals in the rap community. OZONE is widely known and respected as the premiere voice of Southern rap music, so it’s only right that our nominations this year are focused on Southern artists. Keep in mind that this year’s nominations are based solely on music released between May 1, 2005 and April 30, 2006.

BEST ALBUM - RAP Bun B - Trill

Rap-A-Lot/Asylum

The king of collaborations brought together the entire South for his perfectly-timed first solo album, even uniting Houston - if only for a few minutes - on the “Draped Up” remix.

Juvenile - Reality Check

Atlantic

Facing with the challenge of adjusting to a new recording home and picking up his life after Katrina, Juve came with his best material since his groundbreaking Cash Money release 400 Degreez.

Lil Wayne - The Carter 2

Cash Money/Universal

Wayne became a critical and media darling with the superior lyrical dexterity he showcased on his latest project.

T.I. - King

Grand Hustle/Atlantic

He claimed the throne years ago, and backed it up in a major way in 2006 with one of his strongest efforts to date.

Young Jeezy - Thug Motivation: Let’s Get It

Def Jam

The highly-anticipated major label debut from the South’s hottest underground commodity spawned numerous hit singles and club anthems.

BEST RAP ARTIST (MALE)

BEST RAP ARTIST (FEMALE)

Bun B

Crime Mob (Diamond & Princess)

Left alone to keep the UGK flame burning, the Trillest of the Trill came strong with a gang of top notch collaborations and elevated himself to become one of the finest solo artists in the rap game.

Lil Wayne

Cash Money’s most loyal soldier took shots at former labelmates Juvenile and B.G., but backed it up with a release that captured his confidence, growth, and versatility.

Paul Wall

In addition to dropping his first national release, The People’s Champ was everywhere this year. He dropped verses for everyone from T-Pain to Nelly to Bun B and even using the birth of his firstborn son as an opportunity to market his side hustle selling grills.

T.I.

This young duo kept their crew’s name alive after people got tired of knucking and bucking.

Jacki-O

The self-proclaimed Madam of Miami will take your attention, your man and your jewelry if the cameras aren’t watching. But, when on the mic, she takes no shit.

Khia

Raw and uncut, Khia still represents for the ghetto females in the ongoing battle of the sexes (“J.O.D.D.,” “Snatch the Cat Back”).

Rasheeda

The “R” in her name must stand for resilient. This “Georgia Peach” has proven that she’s here to stay.

This Urban Legend told you he was Serious, but he still had to Trap you with his Muzik until you crowned him the King he’d always claimed to be.

Shawnna

Young Jeezy

Trina

After helping to establish Boyz N Da Hood, the Snowman used his charisma to entrance the entire nation as he vividly described the realities of street life.

Slowly but surely stepping out of Ludacris’ shadow, this Chi-Town queen is about to make the world respect female emcees again. Attitude for years, sassiness for months and ass for days, Trina “blah blah blah”-ed her way to the top and snagged Birdman Jr. on the way.

ozone 161 13 awards