It was a wild night at the 2013 NOLA Hip Hop Awards (NOHHA) last Saturday, where both unsung pioneers and rising talents alike were honored. Though it was no surprise that Big Freedia took home the prize for Bounce Artist of the Year, or 3D Na’Tee for Female Artist of the Year (both ladies absent, out on tour), a few new artists emerged victorious at what was the first hip hop show at the Civic Theatre.

August Alsina‘s collaboration with Trinidad James this year proved beneficial as he left the building with three of the night’s biggest awards: Song of the Year (for “I Luv This Shit“), Male Vocalist of the Year and the prestigious, only-in-New Orleans Soulja Slim Award for 2013 (winning over both Turk and 3D Na’Tee). The Hottest New Artist of the Year, Daniel Heartless, scored twice in his first year at the NOHHA this year, also taking home the award for Hottest Mixtape of the Year for Who’s Daniel Heartless?. JaSoRude made her breakthrough with her video for “Go Ignant.” Veteran DJ Black n Mild cleaned up in both DJ categories, as well as with Producer of the Year, but the name that everyone knew after Saturday’s event was Dusty Money.

Even with serious competition among fellow nominees like Da U Boys, The Rap Pack and the 0017th crew in the Group of the Year category, Dusty Money Entertainment came out on top. Not only did they also score the Album of the Year award for Ain’t No I In Team,  but the they also scored major points for audience participation when they rolled out on stage raining actual dollar bills all over the stage and first several rows of seats. And yes, those bills were a little dusty. Coincidentally, “Dusty Money” would become a theme at the 2013 awards when Sissy Nobby won Bounce Song of the Year with her recent hit, “Dusty Money” — last season’s popular track and music video, that does not feature the currency-tossing group of the same name.

The night was not without a few tear-jerking moments. Heartfelt speeches were given by those the knew and loved the late No Limit rapper, Mr. Magic, as they presented his younger sister with his Lifetime Achievement Award, while silence fell on an otherwise rowdy audience during Sthaddeus “Polo Silk” Terrell‘s Lifetime Achievement acceptance speech. “Mama” Mia X preached about taking one’s music seriously and treating it like a business, while she gave fellow hip hop queen 3D Na’Tee her props in the game. Spirits rose with bounce originator DJ Jimi‘s appearance for his Lifetime Achievement appreciation and finally, an ever-enthusiastic Linda Tapp, and daughter Peaches (a hip hop artist herself), personally presented the 2013 Soulja Slim Award, named for her late son, to August Alsina before the evening’s closing performance.

No crazy surprises this year, but Supreme Street clearly demonstrated that the New Orleans (Underground) Hip Hop Awards are here to stay, and that the people’s choice still rules the Crescent City. The awards may have dropped the “underground” in the title, but make no mistake about it — the artists nominated here have one foot in the streets and one foot on the stage.

 

COMPLETE ROSTER OF 2013 NOLA HIP HOP AWARD WINNERS