Jay-Z and Nicki Minaj were the big winners at BET Hip Hop Awards.

The US award show was aired on TV last night (10/12/2010), which saw the '99 Problems' rapper take home three awards, for Best Live Performer; Perfect Combo- for his collaboration with Alicia Keys, 'Empire State Of Mind' - and the same song was awarded Best Hip Hop Video.

Newcomer Nicki won the People's Champ Award, Rookie of the Year and the Made-You-Look Style Award at the event.

She said: "I'm paving the way for girls. I wanna thank all the girls of hip hop."

Jay-Z wasn't at the event to pick up his trophies, but the night saw a joint performance from Rick Ross, P.Diddy and MC Hammer and Trey Songz presented an award.

The evening's most confusing moment came, however, during an MC cypher by Wu Tang crew member Raekwon during which he stopped beatmaker DJ Premier to seemingly pay tribute to one of his band members.

He said: "Yo stop the music Premier. Yo, rest in peace my brother from the Wu, Inspectah Deck."

Although it appeared he was referring to the passing of Inspectah Deck - who is in fact not dead, and is working on a new album - the reference was made in respect to Deck's mother, who has recently passed away.

Full list of winners at the BET Hip Hop awards 2010

MVP of the Year

Drake

Hustler of the Year

Diddy

Best Hip Hop Video

Jay-Z ( featuring Alicia Keys), 'Empire State of Mind'

Rookie of the Year

Nicki Minaj

Made-You-Look Style Award

Nicki Minaj

Perfect Combo Award

Jay-Z and Alicia Keys for 'Empire State of Mind'

Track of the Year

Lex Luger - Rick Ross' 'B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)'

Best Live Performer

Jay-Z

People's Champ Award

Nicki Minaj, 'Your Love'

I Am Hip-Hop Award

Salt-N-Pepa