Jailed rapper TI captures big BET Awards

T.I. didn't need to attend the BET Hip-Hop Awards to win two trophies on Saturday.

The rapper, who is locked up in an Arkansas penitentiary on a federal weapons conviction, won the best collaboration award with Rhianna for the song Live Your Life and the album of the yearhonour for Paper Trail.

His fiancee Tameka (Tiny) Cottle accepted his awards at the ceremony in Atlanta and read a letter by the rapper, who began serving a yearlong sentence in late May.

"Although I'm not there with you all, I'm there in spirit," Cottle quoted the rapper as writing. "My road to redemption is almost over. ... Thanks for the support."

Canada's Drake also honoured

Jay-Z was honored as MVP of the year, while Canadian Drake once a regular on the TV series Degrassi: The Next Generation took home rookie of the year and Ice Cube received the I Am Hip-Hop icon award.

Ice Cube said he was humbled by the award, and believes his career as afilmmaker could earn him more honours in the future. He helped launch the gangsta rap genre with the group NWA, and starred in Barbershop and Friday, which he also co-wrote.

"When you get recognized by your peers for a life of work, you got to be humbled," the rap veteran said. "I'm honoured by this. I have 20 more years of work left in me. I hope [BET] is ready to give out two of these awards."

Rapper Busta Rhymes presented the award for DJ of the year to DJ AM, the celebrity spinner who died of an accidental drug overdose in August.

Kanye West, meanwhile, couldn't hijack the stage, because the rapper was a no-show. West had been expected to attend the fourth annual awards show. He fell under scrutiny for interrupting Taylor Swift's award-winning moment at last month's MTV Video Music Awards.

The awards show will air on Oct. 27.