[AKA2D '91]

Rappers Nelly, Lil' Kim Win at Source Awards
Tue Oct 14, 3:11 AM ET Add Entertainment - Reuters to My Yahoo!



MIAMI (Reuters) - Legendary St. Louis rapper Nelly was named male solo artist of the year on Monday night at Hip-Hop's annual gala, The Source Awards 2003, while the diminutive diva, Lil' Kim, took top solo honors in the female category.




Lil' Jon and the East Side Boyz were named best group of the year in a music genre that grew up in the urban streets of the United States but now regularly heads the U.S. billboards Top Ten and embraces millions of fans around the world.


Fighting an image of drive-by shootings and gang warfare, Hip-Hop has moved on from pure music to become a multibillion-dollar industry dictating fashion trends and street cred.


The Album of the Year award, and Single of the Year award for a male solo artist, were handed down for "Get Rich or Die Tryin'," and "In Da Club," by controversial rapper 50 Cent, a newcomer to mainstream success but a veteran of street shootings and stabbings.


The Source Awards, launched in 1991 by Hip-Hop music magazine The Source, began behind schedule and under tight security in downtown Miami.


Not all of the 22 award categories were announced before the show the show ended early on Tuesday. It was taped to be broadcast next month.


The winners announced were as follows:


Artist of the Year -- Male Solo -- Nelly


Artist of the Year -- Female Solo -- Lil' Kim


Artist of the Year -- Group -- Lil' Jon and the East Side Boyz


Album of the Year -- 50 Cent -- "Get Rich or Die Tryin"' (Label: Shady/Aftermath/Interscope)


Single of the Year -- Male Solo Artist -- 50 Cent -- "In Da Club" (Producer: Dr Dre)


Single of the Year -- Group -- Clipse -- "Grindin"' (Producer: Neptunes)


Single of the Year -- Collaboration (Two or more artists on single track) -- Bone Crusher feat, TI and Killer Mike -- "Neva Scared" (Producer: A. Johnson)


R&B/Rap Collaboration of the Year -- "Thug Lovin"' -- Ja Rule feat, Bobby Brown (news) (Producer: C-Santana)


Video of the Year -- "I Don't Give a #%!" -- Lil' Jon and the East Side Boyz feat, Mystikal & Krayzie Bone (Director: Gil Green)


Producer of the Year -- The Neptunes





Dancehall-Reggae Album of the Year -- Sean Paul -- "Dutty Rock" (Label: VP/Atlantic)

International Album of the Year -- Kaos -- "Exit" (Label: Astralworks) Canada

Best Acting in a Movie by a Rapper -- Cam'Ron -- "Paid in Full" (Character Rico)

Categories that were not immediately announced included

Single of the Year for a Female Solo Artist, R&B Artist of the Year, Lyricist of the Year and Live Performer of the Year.