Several St. Louisians were big time winners last weekend and walked away with physical awards to prove it.
MPAC’s monthly Eye Candy Party packed the Loft Friday with its 3rd Annual Eye Candy Finale and February Eye Candy Party. Tony J had the Roberts Orpheum on “swoll” on Sunday, giving out a bevy of plaques to St. Louis’s local and national performers and achievers.
Ladies first: Teresa Hodges walks away with the Eye Candy Spokemodel crown, beating out 11 other monthly winners from the 2008 Eye Model year.
Miss January ‘08 Michelle Friener and Miss October ’08 Paige Coleman tied for runner up.
“It was hard to put one in front – they were equally on point,” Mo Spoon said.
But it was Hodges who stood out and alone in the end. She demonstrated superior speaking skills and her outfits were sexy, but classy, which helped her to a unanimous win.
“She stood out more and came out the box even with her speech in a hostile environment,” said Mo Spoon, founder and CEO of MPAC and Eye Candy Modeling.
The 2nd Annual Traffic Music Awards (TMAs) had its own standout. Shorty the Prince (and Kid), the youngest radio jockey in St. Louis (100.3 The Beat), took home two coveted awards: Best Song and Best Club Song for his instant hit “Wah Wah Wow.”
“This is for all y’all who say I’m just a DJ,” Shorty told the crowd. During his second award, he let off a round of “F” bombs to all his haters. Shorty mobbed to the mic each time with a gang including producer Laudie, who produced Shorty’s popular song.
Laudie took home the coveted Producer of the Year Award.
Bradd Young, the producer turned singer, was dubbed Best Songwriter. Jus Bleezy rapped up the Best Male Artist award and Y Esha spit out the Best Female Artist award. Nikko Smith got his hands on the R&B Artist award. Best was Unlady Like and Best Business went to Black Pearl.
Best Label fell in the capable hands of UCME, Murphy Lee’s label. Murph also took home the Best Radio Song for his black tar-hot hit, “My Shoes.”
“This is the first time I won anything,” Murph said at the podium with his crew that included St. Lunatics Kyjuan and City Spud.
Mocha Latte, who’s no stranger to winning, won Best Promoter for her Monopoly Promotions company. She celebrated her 37th birthday Friday at Lush and had a packed house, though the Loft right across the street was also filled to capacity for the Eye Candy Finale.
Dana Christian, who gets more urban footage than a local newsman, reeled in the Film/Videographer of Year award. Funnyman of Year is Jessie Taylor, who hosts a popular comedy show Sundays at The Spot in Baden.
Famed, local radio tag team personalities Kaos and Silli Asz held down the Radio Personality of Year spot and April Simpson faired as TV Personality of the Year.
“We got kicked off the radio for nothing,” Silli Asz told the crowd, then joked, “Kaos couldn’t be here – he’s working at the Wal Mart now.”
Trying to talk over a screaming crowd – in an emotional moment – Lesia Nixon, daughter of the Lee “The Rose Man” Nixon, said she wished her father could be there. She accepted the posthumous Humanitarian Award for her late father The Rose Man.
“I want to thank everyone,” Nixon said standing at the podium with her uncle Jerrel Nixon. “I don’t want to categorize, but y’all know who you are who were there that night, went to the wake, the funeral and after the weekend offered condolences and called and let us know that St. Louis is there,” Nixon said.
Performers for the night were Young Ro with his hit, “Dunk Dat,” Huey popped a new hot joint, and so did Ebony Eyez. For a complete list of winners (and sights), including the St. Louis American as Best Publication, check out www.stlamerican.com.
