2008 BET AWARDS IN THE BOOKS: West, Keys, T-Pain & UGK among winners.

The BET Awards went down Tuesday night and Kanye West went home with two prizes. 

      West was named best male hip-hop artist and shared a second BET prize with R&B singer T-Pain for their collaboration on the hit single “Good Life.”

      “This man, T-Pain, is a genius,” said West of T-Pain. “I’m one of the kings in this game right now, so my opinion counts.”

       “I appreciate it everybody,” T-Pain responded. “Three years ago, I couldn’t even get a ticket to get up in here.” T-Pain entered the show with the most nominations, five in all.

      The only other multiple winner was the hip-hop duo UGK, which now only consists of Bernard “Bun B” Freeman as his partner, Chad “Pimp C” Butler, died last year from sleep apnea.

      The three hour show, broadcast from Los Angeles’ Shrine Auditorium, gave out 15 prizes in music, acting and sports

      Alicia Keys, who shared the stage with three leading female groups from the 1990s — TLC, En Vogue and Sisters with Voices — for a medley of R&B music, also won best female R&B artist, and offered a heartfelt endorsement to Obama, who would be the first African-American elected to the nation’s highest office.

      “Together we can do anything — Obama, y’all!” she enthused.

      Speaking of Obama, BET’s Stephen Hill said they had been hoping Obama would attend the event.

      “We would’ve loved it if he would’ve stopped by,” he said.

      Meanwhile, perhaps the evening’s most awaited moment was when veteran soul soul man Al Green, recipient of a lifetime achievement award, got the audience in the on its feet singing, and dancing, to his classic 1970s smash hit “Let’s Stay Together.”

      However, backstage in the press room, Green didn’t think his performance went that well.

      “I’m sorry I didn’t sing as well as I should because I got scared. I was nervous,” he said. Green, 62, earlier this month hit the top 10 of the U.S. pop chart with his first album in three years, “Lay It Down.”

      The prize for best female hip-hop performer went to Missy Elliott, who has not had an album out since 2005 but has a new CD set for release in August.

      The Dream was named best new artist, and the viewers’ choice award, determined by an online vote of fans, went to Lil Wayne and his single “Lollipop,” featuring Static.

      The best and actress awards went to Oscar winners Denzel Washington and Halle Berry, neither of whom attended. Neither did Kobe Bryant, who won best male athlete

Here’s a list of this year’s BET Awards nominees and *winners:

Best Female R&B Artist
* Alicia Keys
Mary J. Blige
Mariah Carey
Keyshia Cole
Rihanna

Best Male R&B Artist
* Chris Brown
Raheem DeVaughn
J. Holiday
Ne-Yo
Trey Songz

Best Group
* UGK
Danity Kane
Day 26
Gnarles Barkley
Playaz Circle

Best Gospel Artist
* Marvin Sapp
The Clark Sisters
Deitrick Haddon
Kirk Franklin
Trin-I-Tee 5:7

Best Female Hip-Hop Artist
* Missy Elliott
Eve
Kid Sister
Lil Mama
Trina

Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
* Kanye West
Common
Jay-Z
Lil Wayne
Snoop Dogg

Video of the Year
* “International Player’s Anthem” – UGK & OUTKAST
“The Way That I Love You” – Ashanti
“Honey” – Erykah Badu
“Just Fine” – Mary J. Blige
“Like You’ll Never See Me Again” – Alicia Keys
“Good Life” – Kanye West featuring T-Pain

Best Video Director
* Erykah Badu and Mr. Roboto
Benny Boom
Gil Green
Chris Robinson
Hype Williams

Best Collaboration
* “Good Life” – Kanye West featuring T-Pain
“Kiss Kiss” – Chris Brown featuring T-Pain
“Let It Go” – Keyshia Cole featuring Missy Elliott & Lil’ Kim
“Low” – Flo-Rida featuring T-Pain
“I’m So Hood (The Remix)” – DJ Khaled featuring T-Pain, Young Jeezy, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Big Boi, Lil Wayne, Fat Joe & Birdman

Viewer’s Choice
* “Lollipop” (featuring Static) – Lil’ Wayne
“No One” – Alicia Keys
“Kiss Kiss” (featuring T-Pain – Chris Brown
“Let It Go” (featuring Missy Elliott and Lil’ Kim) – Keyshia Cole
“Crank Dat (Soulja Boy)” – Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em
“No Air”(featuring Chris Brown) – Jordin Sparks

BETJ Award
* Raheem DeVaughn
Chaka Khan
Ledisi
Jill Scott
Angie Stone

Best New Artist
* The-Dream
Estelle
Flo-Rida
Chrisette Michelle
Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em

Best Actress
* Halle Berry
Angela Bassett
Queen Latifah
Jill Scott
Chandra Wilson

Best Actor
* Denzel Washington
Anthony Anderson
Don Cheadle
Idris Elba
Terrence Howard