The Damn Newsletter -- The 2011 Damn Awards

Greetings and Salutations,

Welcome to the 2011 Damn Awards. The year end awards that only come from the mind of the Damn!

Let's get started.

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!!!



Shout out to Tamekia Davis for giving the me video!!!


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: Lavon Dillon, Candice Elliott, Aushiana Robinson, Lara Temple

Winner: Aushiana Robinson


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: April Banks, TaWanna Bennett, Tashonda Gay, Pamela Lewis Williams

Winner: Tashonda Gay


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 of hell and can laugh in Satan’s face then maybe can't nobody hold you down.

Nominees: Tamekia Davis, The Carroll Family, Shanina Jones, Jolana Felton

Winner: Tamekia Davis


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: Malinda Taylor, Natalie Cole, Tammy Taylor, Shonda Bowman Johnson

Winner: Malinda Taylor


And now for a little entertainment...2011 Rap Up by Skillz




Back to the awards...

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: Eleanor Ross, “Them ROC Girls”, Nadia Mohammed, Sabreena Pasquet

Winner: "Them ROC Girls" -- Theresa Cummings, Winnette Richards, Danielle Richardson, and Pam Smith


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: Leslie J. Citizen, Sadie Jordan, Amanda Warfield, Nichole Barksdale

Winner: Sadie Jordan


Comeback of the Year -- This year was filled with comebacks. Now for me a comeback constitutes 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: Rhonda Pennywell, Brandi Sanders, Felicite Franklin, Maria Davis

Winner: Brandi Sanders


Social Media Performance of the Year – This is for the videos on Youtube, Tumblr, Twitter, Google +, and Facebook that have made you laugh, made you cry, made you think, and any other or combination of emotion. Here is the best of the best.

Nominees: Alphacat: President Obama on Death of Osama bin Laden (SPOOF), Kain Carter: Naughty or Nice, Karmin: Look At Me Now - Chris Brown ft. Lil Wayne, Busta Rhymes (Cover by @KarminMusic), Sophia Grace Brownlee: Nicki Minaj - Super Bass By Sophia Grace Brownlee

Winner: Alphacat: President Obama on Death of Osama bin Laden (SPOOF)




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: Shanerika Bonner, Charmyca Lewis, Sherilla Hodge, Candice Smith

Winner: Shanerika Bonner


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: Kristi Woodard, Jachon Charles, Rhonda Thompson, Tiffany Walker

Winner: Kristi Woodard


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: Trudy Cannon, Ylonda Burnhart, Frashia Johnson, Katesha Glover

Winner: Trudy Cannon


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 a part of me. Becoming permanent part of people's life is a definition of legacy. This recipient will be mine definition.



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: Mercedes Ramcharan, Kimberly Godard, Alisha Renee Elzy Blount, The ProStars

Winner: Mercedes Ramcharan