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T.I. tops hip-hop awards

ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) -- Grandmaster Flash breathed a sigh of relief after being recognized for his turntable expertise, and T.I. finally believes the South has gotten some respect.

The Atlanta-based rapper, who was up for eight nominations, was a winner in three of the categories at the first-ever BET Hip Hop Awards on Sunday. T.I. won best hip hop video, CD and MVP of the year honors.

"You can't hate on hard work and talent," he said. "This awards show will show people a lot about where I come from."

Grandmaster Flash was honored with the I Am Hip Hop Icon award. When Flash received the award, he gave recognition to all other disc jockeys who he has met, saying being a DJ was better than rapping.

"To get an award for my technological ability means a whole lot more than anything else I've accomplished in my life," he said.

When hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs took the stage, he offered brief words for R&B singer Gerald Levert and Ed Bradley, who both died last week. Bradley, the award winning "60 Minutes" correspondent, passed away at 65 on Thursday. Levert, who was known for his sensual, romantic songs, died at 40 on Friday.

"Let's celebrate their lives," Diddy said. "People will forever miss y'all."

Rappers Ludacris, Jermaine Dupri and Young Jeezy teamed with super-producer Lil' Jon to kick off the show with the 2001 hit, "Welcome To Atlanta." Dupri, who won best producer, said he felt humbled for having the event in Atlanta.

"For the awards to be in my city and I win something for producing, it's exciting," he said. "The outcome was something I could never imagine."

In his first act as the host, comedian Katt Williams stood in a blue suit and red tie behind a wooden podium with a sign posted on the front that said, "President Of The Hip Hop Nation." He said some jitters set in before the show.

"It's a good thing I was nervous," Williams said. "Being around hip hop helps me though, because there's a type comfort I have around these great artists."

The award show airs November 15.

Baby girl for Tobey Maguire

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- "Spider-Man" star Tobey Maguire and his fiancee, Jennifer Meyer, are parents of a baby girl, according to magazine reports.

Meyer, a 29-year-old jewelry designer, gave birth Thursday in Los Angeles, Us Weekly and People magazines reported on their Web sites.

Maguire, 31, and Meyer have been together since 2003. They announced their engagement this year.

Maguire, whose latest "Spider-Man" installment, "Spider-Man 3," is due next year, has also starred in such films as "Seabiscuit" and "Wonder Boys."

Maguire's publicist did not immediately respond to phone messages from The Associated Press.

Tom Cruise arrives in Italy

ROME, Italy (AP) Tom Cruise flew into a Rome airport on a private jet, airport officials said, setting off a frenzy among media and fans anticipating the star's high-profile wedding to Katie Holmes.

Cruise arrived at Rome's small Ciampino airport from Los Angeles on Monday with about 10 people, including his mother and his three children, airport officials said.

The 44-year-old actor and Holmes, 27, are set to marry at an undisclosed Italian location Saturday. Speculation on the location has focused on Odescalchi Castle on Lake Bracciano, near the capital. The romantic, 15th-century castle, with its halls and gardens, can host up to 1,400 guests.

Local officials and residents remain tight-lipped, and Bracciano's mayor has only acknowledged that authorities received a request to clear the square in front of the castle.

Some 100 fans mingled with photographers and camera crews in front of the Hassler, the luxury Rome hotel on top of the Spanish Steps where Cruise was said by airport officials to be staying. An employee at the hotel's front desk, who refused to give her name, denied that Cruise was staying there.

Traffic police managed the crowd at the Hassler and bodyguards stood at the ready next to limousines parked in front of the hotel.

Holmes and Cruise became engaged in June 2005. Their daughter, Suri, was born April 18.

Cruise, has two children, 13-year-old Isabella, and 11-year-old Connor, from his marriage to Nicole Kidman. Kidman and Tom Cruise divorced in 2001 after 10 years of marriage.

Holmes, who starred in TV's "Dawson's Creek," had been engaged to Chris Klein. Cruise was also previously married to Mimi Rogers, and had a high-profile romance with Penelope Cruz.