The Official Stellar Award Nominations are in!  We announced to you a few weeks ago who all were in the runnings for Category #24: Rap/Hip Hop Gospel CD of the Year, and out of 23 nominees SAGMA has selected 4 onto the final ballot.  They are Dooney da Priest (Pull Your Pants Up!), Papa San (Heigher Heights), Da' T.R.U.T.H. (The Big Picture) and Lecrae (Rebel).

A few things to ponder...

Last year there were 5 finalists - Da' T.R.U.T.H. (who won), FLAME, Frontlynaz, Sho Baraka and Trip Lee. Why there aren't 5 this year? We have no idea.  As well, and no disrespect to Papa San... But why is he in the Rap/Hip Hop Category???  Sorry, but we don't consider him Rap or Hip Hop at all.  SAGMA needs to possibly create a Reggae category.  They finally had it right last year by having all Hip Hop artists, so we wonder what happened this year??? It's like... when you don't know where to place an artist, you just slap them into the "Rap/Hip Hop" section.

Who are some that were in this category in the past?

• 21:03 (Twenty One O Three, 2008)... They are a boy band... this is r&b/pop music... they won that year too...
• Tonex (Out the Box, 2005; O2, 2003 ).... not a Hip Hop album at all....
• Natalie Wilson (Good Life, 2005)... this is clearly not a Hip Hop album...
• Percy Bady & Papa San (Hold Up the Light, 2005).... This is reggae people (also in this category in 2004, 2000)
• Hezekiah Walker & LFCC (Family Affair, 2001)... ???????????.... Self-explanatory...
• Lexi (And That's The Way It Is, 2001)... again, self-explanatory...
• Kirk Franklin (Kingdom Come Soundtrack, 2002)... this soundtrack was not a Hip Hop soundtrack y'all!
• Kirk Franklin presents 1NC (1NC, 2002)... sigh... we all know what this was... no disrespect Kirk! :-)
• Charles Wolfork & Covenant (Tru2God, 2002)... the name alone lets you know...
• Brent Jones & The TP Mobb (Beautiful, 2003)... this ain't Hip Hop y'all....

How did any of the above (we didn't even name them all) get in the Rap/Hip Hop category??? Because someone spit 16 bars on one song? C'mon SAGMA!!!!!!!!!!! We love and appreciate you, but y'all really lettin' us down.  "Us" being the Christian Hip Hop community.  And if Papa San wins (again, no disrespect) I don't think we will be pleased.  The Award loses its merit if the artists nominated don't meet the qualifications of the select genre.  That's like putting a jazz CD in the country music category.  Clearly not the same thing!

What about all of the other finalists who were in runnings?  There were some great independent artists who were nominated - those who had put in some work.... Where are they?  And we're sure people voted, because we sent many your way to vote.

Okay, okay... Off the soap box...  And no, we are not angry.  If no-one ever says anything though, nothing will ever be done about it.  Again, you had it right last year for the first time ever, but... sigh...

It's a good thing that most (if not all) of the artists in our genre do not do what they do for awards and accolades anyway. No disrespect to SAGMA.

Nevertheless, without further ado... here are the four finalists in the Rap/Hip Hop category.

To learn more visit www.gospelflava.com or www.thestellarawards.com.

Dooney Da Priest - Pull Your Pants Up!

Papa San - Heigher Heights

Da' T.R.U.T.H. - The Big Picture

Lecrae - Rebel

Comments (23)

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written by nathnael, December 02, 2009

I say Lecrae gota win

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State of HHH or whatever we call it...
written by legacy, November 09, 2009

This is what we get for who we are?

Not Hip-Hop to me. Respect to those who do music, but this category stinks and the Stellar's are out of touch imo

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This is a joke!
written by Pearl, November 09, 2009

Where's T-dot, Thi'sl, Viktory?

In any case, TRUTH should get't; for one thing, The Big Picture is... banginn!! For another (to whom it may concern; in, and with all rescpect)the lbum fits the Stellar's desires -there's worship, rock and all.
Go TRUTH!

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???
written by Simoko James Phiri, November 07, 2009

Mayne, seriously thnk Tdott en G-Notes wer hard done though, nt even a nomination, afta all dat grindin! Well, our reward iz Christ, ryt Truth?! Gud lak 2 da finalists by tha way, am sure they deservd it!

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written by Joseph King, November 03, 2009

I agree with "?!?!?!?! This is out of Control!!!!!!!" No Tedashii? Bananas. They also could have nominated G-Notes or The Tonic, or Fedel.

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?!?!?!?! This is out of Control!!!!!!!
written by Jonathan Montgomery, November 03, 2009

1 papa san is a reggae artist REGGAE!!! why is he in their? 2 you will nominate an album (not bashing just stating) named "pull ya pants up". While tedashii's "identity crisis" album was one of the most challenging albums for our generation 3 why do we act like we must just stick people in the category as if ther are not enough artist out there. I could understand if it was like a countryneosoulgospeljazz or something outrageous like that. Yet so many people put itheir heart time and prayers in the music and are won out by boy bands and southern gospel chior. I beleive that people under-estimate our culture, live in the sterotypes and refuse to believe that God uses hip-hop, they do not understand that christian hip-hop effect people just like secular hip-hop does, just for the better rather than the worst. The Lord has created everything for his glory, he also used a donkey to speak in the bible, I am moee than sure he can make what was menat for evil tourn out for good not matter how coruupt the world has made it. So when we do not recognize that we dumb down the effort of artist trying to make a diffence in our culture, generation, our world

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Wheres VIK??
written by Mathew Sen, November 02, 2009

Why Viktory's Song of the King is not on there... im not sure at all!!!

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Lecrae
written by Tim Johnson, October 31, 2009

Lecrae's Rebel Should win hands down. It had the best everything. Whatever happens though Jesus is still the KING of kings and the LORDS of lords. Revelation 19:16

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written by Shonneri Herndon, October 31, 2009

Da Truth's cd in my opinion was just okay, but Lecrae's Cd deserves to win, i mean my family that's not even in Christ like that said some of the lyrics spoke to them and the liked the beats. Those things combined always equal a win.

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Dude... 4 real
written by Bryan Sanders, October 30, 2009

Hezekiah Walker & LFCC.. ah ha ha ha ha. I started crying from the laughter when I read this. Hezekiah Walker in a Hip hop cat? No sir. No disrespect but Holy Hip gets mad down play in all awards. They treat rap is not a gift or something. But how many people are going to chose Hezekiah Walker over LeCrae 2 bump in the car. No disrespect to H Dub his music go hard, but come on. I listen to Christian Rock/ Metal & Hip-hop many. I mean when I pray yeah I through on Shekinah Glory or some Donnie. But they down play Hip-Hop at The Stellar's mainly GMA shows way more love in the little bit that they do. But God gets the glory regardless & if LeCrae don't win I’m a know something. His CD is harder than all of the nominees in my opinion. Like at the Doves. I love Group 1 Crew but Crayola should of won that award hands down!

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LECRAE
written by Keith Harrison, October 30, 2009

Lecrae all day, this dude is truly gifted. So my vote is for LECRAE

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Lecrae has to be named anyway
written by Damon, October 30, 2009

Lecrae is one of my favorite artist, so although I am slightly bias I can't imagine anyone else beating him after all that he has accomplished for HHH. If he doesn't win, the award loses creditability in my eyes. No disrespect to the others, but we must give credit where credit is due. Lecrae's work has broaden the borders of HHH, and touched people that no others artist have touch. That is why he even ranks on secular charts.

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AAGGHH!
written by Lil Prophet, October 30, 2009

Man this is crazy! Somebody needs to respect us as a genre. We need to do something about this!

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Why wait?
written by DJ D-Lite, October 30, 2009

Get this fam...my pastor says this - the enemy of a new move of God is ALWAYS the former move! People don't and never will fully embrace change...b/c change is uncomfortable. I totally respect our fathers and mothers of the Gospel music community, but why are we waiting for them to open doors for us!? We have all we need to do it ourselves! Even some of the elders of the gospel music industry told us at the DJ conference that we did not need them to help us. That we were the cutting edge for what we are doing and who we are aiming at reaching.

What young people (saved or unsaved) are looking at your average gospel music show or listening to their shows on radio? YOU KNOW what they are listening to, and most of it is not godly. THAT is our mission field.

So if they miss who we are, that is not our fault. Let's SHOW THEM who we are and what we can do! The Holy Hip Hop Awards in the ATL are the same weekend as the Stellars...so got there and support your own. And let's continue to love and respect the "old regime" BUT we don't have to accept their opinion of us.

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Simple Solution
written by Eric B, October 30, 2009

daSouth.com should have Hip Hop awards. Reveiwers put people on the ballot and the community votes. The Trophy could be a mic. Problem solved.

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DJ Sean Blu
written by Sean , October 30, 2009

uh! maybe I should get a Emmy Nomination for a GameShow/Talk Show Host... for Hosting "It's Official"...In the Talk Show Category? oh!but Sean Blu is a DJ...My Point!!

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written by OCTAVIUS JAMES, October 29, 2009

thats the truth

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written by Terrell, October 29, 2009

This is because the church has refused to except Rap music or Hhh for what it is. We know it as a tool for christ. We rep the king but when someone sings its considered a gift. The church has been hatin on Rap music for a while this is why you get a catoragory like this. I agree that we all need to get on a vote to make a better representation of what this culture is really about but should we have to if we are all part of the kingdom. The fact of the matter is that we stay quiet and make no noise when it comes to this but we will watch and cheer for our favorite singer entertainer in the world. Its time to do what christ did and challenge people, move people and rep the king like he should be.

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WOW.
written by Prophecy, October 29, 2009

Just when I thought they got they heads right...I mean...Papa San..is one of my favorite artists, hands down but what the heck...he ain't hip hop...and Dooney...I mean love the dude....eh..I'ma keep my mouth closed there i just.......idk...that's the way the cards fell with the voting...ultimately all things are the will of the Father, right? So why complain.

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written by DJ Will, October 29, 2009

I hate to be the start of bad new, but ask yourself this!!! ARE YOU A SAGMA MEMBER???!!!
If you are not, YOU REALLY HAVE NO SAY IN THE MATTER.
I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN VOTE IN THIS CATEGORY!!!
WE NEED MEMBERS.
I do have a remedy.
This years Stellar award, I will be giving everybody a chance to have your voices heard!!!

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DJ Sean Blu
written by Sean , October 29, 2009

Man I looked at this Category and Felt like EX-Colts Coach Jim Mora Sr. when a reporter asked him did he feel that his team was going to the playoffs!! he said," Playoffs..Playoffs..playoffs?? Are Kidding Me?"Holy Hip Hop"-whatever you wanna Call it gets the dooky end of the stick once again!!...yeah call me HATER!!

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this is horrible
written by james , October 29, 2009

This makes you wonder who in the ham sandwich is creating these ballots, and are they even listening to this music before they throw in hip hop section. They should rename it hip hop/ misc. music we don't know what to do with........Better question have any of these artists been a lil offended, or are they just to happy to get the award regardless of the category. Its almost like stealing. And did Dooney da Priest whole church get on a vote a 100 times each or what?!

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you have got to be kidding me!!!!
written by David Green, October 29, 2009

Why is Papa San in the Rap/HIP HOP catagory!?
He is Reggae! Viktory's "Son of the King" should have been in the final ballot!

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