The Damn Newsletter -- The 2010 Damn Awards

No More Drama Award -- Who doesn’t have any drama in their lives? If you don’t raise your hand…okay that’s what I thought. For the rare few who did raise their hands
(And I mean RARE!!!) You have found some way to overcome it and you should be recognized (You are also my hero…lol.)

Nominees: Vinnie Chapple, Chere’se Wilson, Maryland French, April Banks

Winner: Chere'se Wilson



Impact Player Award -- This award is given to the person who has taken their dream and turned it into a goal that can be achieved. The character of the recipient can be described with the same adjective of an Alicia Keys' single...Unbreakable!!! This person may have not made it yet but because of all the hard work, the impact has been already felt.

Nominees: Zakkiyya Smith-Jackson, Contessa Porter, Volnerius Rackley, Aushiana Robinson

Winner: Contessa Porter A.K.A Lil D (I put your gov't because I'm a fan of Lil D but Contessa's my friend!)



Rookie of the Year -- For some of you, this year has turned out to be one of the best you've ever had. Why? Because you have met Jarratt "Damn" Butler this year. And if not knowing me is enough, you also have a chance to win this award.

Nominees: Felica West, Ylonda Burnhart, Rhonda Conley, Khalea Tryman

Winner: Ylonda Burnhart



Can't Nobody Hold Me Down Award -- Have you faced adversity? No, I am talking about REAL adversity this year? If you have walked through fire with only a couple of singes then maybe can't nobody hold you down.

Nominees: Aaja Butler, Hannah Brown, Charlie Cheatham, Katesha Glover

Winner: Aaja Butler



Disappointment of the Year -- This could be a person, thing, or event. This is the most disappointing thing in my opinion this year...period.

Easily the most disappointing thing of the year for me Brooklyn's move to Texas. I just miss her so damn much. She is the one thing that keeps me grounded. Everything I work for and strvive to be is because of her. But I know things happen for a reason. One of my greatest wishes is for her to know what she means to me. *Sigh* *Tear drop* Okay, back to the other awards!!!



The Professional Award -- This award, inspired by the DJ Clue mixtape series, is for the good grade getting, 9-5 working, respectable job having individual that does it better than anyone else…

Nominees: Tammi Green, Toria Hall Obey, Sharon Love, Jessica J-Dub Westbrook Allred

Winner: Tammi Green



Comeback of the Year -- This year was filled with comebacks. Now for me a comeback constitutes a you being off of the "Damn" radar for at least 6 months and have comeback harder than Chinese arithmetic. Now that's a comeback!!!

Nominees: Quinthelyn Jamerson, Natalie Cole, Elycia Smith, Kendall Joseph

Winner: Natalie Cole



C’mon Man Award -- We are all human. We all make mistakes. This award is given to…well the person who made the most monumental errors in judgment. Don’t sweat it..you’ll bounce back!!!

No words can even explain!!!




Brrrr...What Happen to that Boy Award -- Where have you been? This award is given to a person who is quite frankly the opposite of the Comeback Award. You have been gone a long time...come on back.

Nominees: Jocelyn Moore, The Rabbs (David, Alaina, Sharon, Michelle, Racquel, etc.), Kirk Lee, Karina Apraez

Winner: Jocelyn Moore



Newsletter of the Year -- Now this is the most interactive of the awards. I mean how can I pick this one...I wrote all of them. It is up to the people to decide what will be the newsletter that touched them the most or made them laugh the most or made them cry the most. You get the newsletter so you have the right to decide which one was the best.

Nominees: C'mon Homie...We Major...Again?!!; You Want the Truth...You Can't Handle the Truth!; My Own Worst Enemy; And It Kills Me...

Winner: My Own Worst Enemy!



Can't Knock the Hustle Award -- You all know my feelings for hustling. It is a part of life that separates the victims from the survivors. This includes everything from starting your own business to the sale of CDs just to pay rent. Hustling is an art and it is high time for an award to be presented because of it.

Nominees: Candi Love, Jordan Washington, Consuelo Winston, Aminah Dawkins

Winner: Candi Love



Do You Award -- The Do You Foundation is a nonprofit organization I have created to help people reach their dreams. I feel there is nothing worse than having a dream and doing little to nothing in order to accomplish it. This award will go to a person that has made a difference in a charity, cause, or in people, they feel equally as passionate about. However you make a difference this is award appreciates you "doing you".

Nominees: Dee Miles, Sharon Brown, Tasha Gore Taylor, Cassandra Cooper

Winner: Cassandra Cooper



The Lee Donnie Wright Legacy Award -- This is the Lifetime Achievement award of this show. This person has made such an influence on my life that they have become apart of me. Becoming permanent part of people's life is a definition of legacy. This recipient will be mine definition.



Backbone Award -- So you know how everyone has a backbone. It lends support to the entire body. This award is given to the person that has supported me the most over the past year. Support does not necessarily mean money or time but has been there ready to go to war for me.

Nominees: Fredrick Carroll, Joanna Acclis, Jason Moore, Lavon Dillon

Winner: Jason Moore



Shout Out of the Year -- This award is simply the most coveted award of the year. It's the shout out of the week multiplied by 52. It is quite frankly the person I have to get the highest form of props for entire year. The only qualification for this award is that you must have been a shout out of the week in the past year.

Nominees: Alisha Renee Elzy, Lara Temple, The ProStars, Kimberly Godard

Winner: Kimberly Godard


That's it! I thank you all for your support of the Damn Newsletter this year...It only gets better in 2011...