The Online Hip-Hop Awards, which were set to take place May 3rd at the Manhattan Center Ballroom in New York, are being indefinitely postponed. According to the show's executive producer Felicia Palmer, the reason for the delay is to attend to additional production details.

"We received a great response from the online community, from the artists, labels and the press," said Palmer. "We've all seen what happens when show production is not on the proper level. We decided it is imperative that we take a little more time to make the production the highest quality possible."

Angie Martinez and Redman were picked as the show's hosts, while Wyclef Jean, Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek were among the performers initially picked. Missy Elliott was scheduled to receive the SHiNE Anti-violence Award for her work to end domestic violence through youth awareness and education, and was also scheduled to perform.

As yet, a new date has not been determined for the show's taping as well as the Web cast on www.onlinehiphopawards and subsequent broadcast date on MuchMusic USA. Whether the new tape date will produce conflicts for the some of the scheduled performers has yet to be determined.

CHRISTINA SARACENO
(April 27th, 2001)