Hold Down The Block: DVD Awards

FIRST-EVER DVD AWARDS SALUTES THRIVING STREET CULTURE.

A sea of artists, crew members and rap fans packed NYCs Club Avalon on December 6 to celebrate the booming street DVD industry with the inaugural Urban DVD Awards. Trophies were presented to rappers, DVD producers and street-marketed videos, the status of which has risen to the level of mixtapes recently, with the popularity of DVDs like S.M.A.C.K. and All Access. Categories included Best Commercial DVD [All Access], Most Consistent Artist on a DVD [Maino] and Best Celebrity Booty DVD [Kay Slay].

Afterward, New York rap staples Saigon, Tru Life, Red Cafe, Grafh, Stack Bundles, Jae Millz and Maino—members of a new rap collective called the New Big East—took the stage, while celebs such as Remy Ma, Marley Marl, Consequence and Kay Slay watched. Although miscommunication, impromptu freestyles and a lack of security slowed the pace of the evening, the respect seemed long overdue. "It's a lot of hard work, chaos and pandemonium, but it's worth it," said Bruce "Mook Diamond" Hatcher, co-organizer of the event, with rapper Littles. "Everyone who's working hard and putting their efforts forward needs to be awarded." The streets were watching. Now the world is, too.


XXL March 2007 no. 89