LL Cool J will receive the "LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT" at the Source Magazine Hip-Hop Awards. Jermaine Dupri, Lil' Bow Wow and Trick Daddy did the honors of helping hip-hop magazine The Source announce the nominations for its annual awards, which will be handed out in Miami in August. LL's accomplishments are unparallel in this genre and will deservedly be rewarded for pioneering hip-hop and rap music from the underground to the mainstream and for over 15 years of critical and commercial musical success.

There were few surprises at the press conference, held on Monday afternoon (June 11), as Eminem and OutKast received five nominations each, including Single of the Year nods for "Stan" and "Ms. Jackson," respectively. Snoop Dogg and his laid-back drawl followed up with four, including Live Performer of the Year. 

Lil' Bow Wow announced that those three acts will be competing against one another for the Album of the Year award, along with Jay-Z, M.O.P. and Nelly. Earlier in the conference, the teen rhyme-slinger received his own props — he was named a candidate for New Artist of the Year, along with Ludacris, Nelly, Shyne and Trina.

"It's a beautiful experience," said Bow Wow, who built anticipation for his multi-platinum debut with a kinetic performance of "Bounce With Me" at last year's ceremony. "Hopefully I can win, but it's not about winning. The fact that I'm nominated, that's enough. That's a blessing." 

Trick Daddy also had the happy-just-to-be-here mentality as he learned firsthand of his nomination for Live Performer of the Year, though the Miami native was mostly concerned about throwing the ultimate buckwild shindig when his peers visit his hometown for the show. "I gotta have some type of event going on," said Trick, showing off his gold-flooded grill with a grin. "I'm thinking of something now to make it off the chain. That's why I have to know what day it is!"

The date of the ceremony won't be released for another couple of weeks, though David Mays, founder and publisher of The Source, did disclose precautions that he and his company are taking to ensure that the violence that marred last year's ceremony, which was held in Pasadena, California , will not be repeated. "We're only going to invite friends of The Source and friends of hip-hop," Mays said. 

In previous years, the publication sold tickets to people working in the music industry. However, after last year's show ended abruptly following a fracas — which Mays downplayed as a "fistfight" — the event will be invitation-only, with the Fruit of Islam taking over the reins of security for the show. "We don't want to make the security issue an overbearing one," Mays said. "We want everybody coming to be excited about the wide array of talent we've lined up." In the coming weeks, Mays says he'll let the public know which crooners and MCs will be a part of the program. Heavyweight video director Hype Williams has been hired as the show's creative director and will come up with concepts for the live performances.

Last year's much-publicized melee hasn't swayed UPN's faith in hip-hop, as the network announced it will air this year's Source Awards on August 28. After working overtime in the edit room last year, the show's producers delivered a violence-free program to the network, with anti-violence public-service announcements added in. 

The Source Hip-Hop Music Awards started in 1991 as a plaque-giving ceremony on the series "Yo! MTV Raps." They returned in 1994, took a hiatus and have been an annual event since 1999. The 2001 Source Awards recognize work released between April 1, 2000 and March 31, 2001. The full list of nominations:

Lifetime Achievement Award
LL Cool J

Album of the Year
Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP 
Jay-Z - The Dynasty - Roc La Familia (2000) 
M.O.P. - Warriorz 
Outkast - Stankonia 
Snoop Dogg - Tha Last Meal


Single of the Year
Eminem - "Stan" 
Ja Rule - "Put It on Me" 
Ludacris - "Southern Hospitality" 
Mystikal - "Shake Ya Ass" 
Nelly - "Country Grammar" 
Outkast - "Ms. Jackson"


Artist of the Year/Solo
Eminem 
Eve 
Ja Rule 
Jay-Z 
Snoop Dogg


Artist of the Year/Group
Cash Money Millionaires 
M.O.P. 
Outkast 
Three 6 Mafia 
Wu-Tang Clan


Producer of the Year
Dr. Dre 
Mannie Fresh 
Neptunes 
Rockwilder 
Timbaland


New Artist of the Year
Lil' Bow Wow 
Ludacris 
Nelly 
Shyne 
Trina


R&B Artist of the Year
Joe 
R. Kelly 
Musiq Soulchild 
Jill Scott 
Carl Thomas


Lyricist of the Year
Eminem 
Jay-Z 
Talib Kweli 
Prodigy 
Scarface


Video of the Year
De La Soul featuring Redman - "Oooh." 
Eminem - "Stan" 
Lil' Kim featuring Sisqó - "How Many Licks" 
Outkast - "B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad)" 
Snoop Dogg - "Snoop Dogg (What's My Name Part 2)"


Live Performer of the Year
Mystikal 
Outkast 
Snoop Dogg 
Trick Daddy 
Xzibit 

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