As a comedian, Craig Robinson knows how to work a crowd. But he says he isn't sure why VH1 chose him to host this year's Hip Hop Honors.
"I kidnapped Tracy Morgan," the Office star joked to TVGuide.com. "I don't know how I got chosen [but] it was so much fun; one of the best experiences in my career."
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This year's ceremony, which was taped Thursday and will air Monday at 9/8c, pays tribute to the "Dirty South." This was the first year the show focused on a specific region. Featured guests included 2 Live Crew, Master P, and Timbaland.
Although he always liked "the dirty, dirty," Robinson says he now wants to learn more about the region's contribution to hip-hop. "I got to go back and do my research and get up on these cats, because it was just mad love and it was great," he said.
The show, which started in 2004, has been previously hosted by Morgan, Vivica A. Fox and MC Lyte, Rev. Run and Russell Simmons, and Ice T.
Robinson says viewers will definitely be entertained by this year's show. "From one act to the next, everybody came to put it down. The packages that they did gave extended time to each honoree talking about the music and influence — a lot of love and support went into it."
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Robinson's hosting gig will air opposite the premiere of his other new hosting gig on Last Comic Standing. Which one will he support on Monday night?
"I'm going to be at two different parties. Luckily they're across the street from each other, there's a VH1 and a Last Comic, and I'm going to pretend I'm at both at one time. It's going to be frustrating ... I want to see which one of me wins."
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