J. Cole, Tiye Phoenix Win at Underground Music Awards

This past Sunday (August 22), New York City's B.B. King Blues Club & Grill played home to the 2010 Underground Music Awards, which highlights the best unsigned and independent artists within the urban music scene. The event honored rappers including J. Cole, Tiye Phoenix, Travis Porter, Fred the Godson and Statik Selektah, among others.

The big winner of the evening was North Carolina's J. Cole, who was awarded the UMA Male Artist of the Year thanks to his heralded 'The Warm Up' mixtape and a high profile deal with Jay-Z's label Roc Nation. Tiye Phoenix, a member of Polyrhythm Addicts, was voted as the UMA Female Artist of the Year based on her solo release 'Half Woman Half Amazin,' released in May 2010.

Producer Statik Selektah's '100 Proof: The Hangover' was chosen as Indie Album of the Year, while up-and-coming group Travis Porter nabbed Most Dynamic Rap Group or Duo. Beatsmith Illmind, who has produced tracks for KRS-One, Skyzoo, Redman and a slew of others, won Producer of the Year, while Fred the Godson was praised as having the Best Punchlines of the year.

Other awards were given to Will Adamz for Best Southern Rapper, D Dave for Most Promising Male Rapper, Ace Jonez for his club banger 'Drinks on Me' and Zar Da Merciless for Best Live Performance. Capping its ceremony, the event rounded out the accolades by awarding Quintescence for Song of the Year for the track 'Sell They Souls.'