Jennifer Drake, Devyne Stephens & Mali Hunter pose during Atlanta’s monthly live music series ‘ATL Live on The Park‘, which held their October edition last Monday evening (October 12, 2015).
The event, held on the heels of BET Hip-Hop Awards weekend, honored a few music industry legends with the 3rd annual ‘Hip Hop Professional Awards’ and awards were presented to leading individuals in Atlanta’s Hip Hop community.
[FLASHBACK: Lyfe Jennings, Demetria McKinney & More Perform at #ATL Live On The Park (PHOTOS)]
This year’s honorees were Devyne Stephens, Jennifer Drake, Hurricane Dave, Malissa “Mali” Hunter, Aiyisha T. Obafemi, Keinon Johnson.
Guests also enjoyed performances by hip-hop acts Mykell Vaughn, Audio Push and EarthGang as well as guest DJ sets from DJ Nabs, Kawan “KP” Prather and DJ Kemit.
Attendees included: Monyetta Shaw (Atlanta Exes), Mint Condition, Rico Wade (Organized Noize), Princess (Crime Mob), Trey the Truth, Carlos Emmons (Former NFL player and owner of Wet Willie’s Atlanta), Takeo Spikes (Former NFL player and media personality on NBC Sports Network), Tim Davies (VP/GM of Radio One), Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream), Chubbie Baby, VP of A&R for Epic Records and many more.
Check out photos from the event below…
DJ Nabs, Reco Wade & KP strike a pose…
Jennifer Drake receives the Hip Hop Pro Legend Award recipient
Angel McCoughtry (Atlanta Dream) and her wife…
Monyetta Shaw poses with honoree Malissa ‘Mali’ Hunter (Tree Sound Studios) & Guest
Mali received the Hip Hop Professional Pioneer Award recipient
Keinon Johnson – Interscope Executive, founder ‘Never Sold Dope’ founder
Johnson received the Hip Hop Professional Trendsetter Award and during his speech, shared the story of how his ‘Never Sold Dope’ brand was inspired by his experiences in the music industry:
It felt like the only message they were portraying is that you have to do negative in order to succeed.
I’m from the hood and I never sold dope and there’s a million people out there that’s just like me. I stay getting money… what’s corny about that?
‘Never Sold Dope’ to me was never about censoring anybody but where’s the balance? I love a good ratchet record more than anyone but where’s the ‘tribe called quest’ to go with the ‘NWA’?
I want kids to see me pulling up to Lenox in my nice car, with my tight sneaker game, with my bad woman, with my ear ring in my ear, with my bad watch and I want them to see subconsciously that I ‘never sold dope’.
Devyne received the Hip Hop Professional Pioneer Award recipient
Hurricane Dave, Radio One – Hip Hop Professional Trailblazer Award recipient
Aiyisha T. Obafemi, DTP/Ludacris Mgmt – Hip Hop Professional Legend Award recipient
Princess (Crime Mob)
Frank Walker & Takeo Spikes
Taiye Samuel a.k.a “The Wild Afrikan” hosted the event and pumped up the crowd alongside DJ Mars and the house-band, Quinn and Jukebox. The October edition of ATL Live on the Park was sponsored by Jim Ellis Audi, Gentleman Jack, Jack Daniels Tennessee Honey, BOOM 102.9, and Magic 107.5.
Special thanks to Angela Watts (10SquaredPR)!
Photos: Prince Williams (ATLPics)