HOT SHOTS: Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball II - TERRENCE J, LALA VASQUEZ, ELLE VARNER, TYSON BECKFORD, ANGELA SIMMONS, ROSARIO DAWSON & MORE

A ton of celebs are showing support this past weekend as we celebrate the Inauguration of our former and current president, Barack Obama as he took oath to office earlier today. Among his supporters John Legend feels that hip-hop played its part in helping Barack Obama become president, and he's proud at how the genre has matured over the years.

"I think hip-hop had a role in making sure we elected a black president in America because we made it so that black people were in people's homes ... through our music and through our culture," the R&B crooner said Sunday night at the Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball.

Legend was awarded the humanitarian award at Sunday's event, and it was one of many honors handed out at the Harman Center for Arts.

Hip-hop pioneers MC Lyte and Doug E. Fresh were both given lifetime achievement awards. Fresh even hit the stage, beat boxing while comedian-actor-singer Wayne Brady cooed Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On?" At one point, Brady even busted out his own rhymes.

Rapper Yo Yo earned a roaring cheer when she hit the stage to honor MC Lyte; Lil Mama also paid tribute to the "Ruffneck" rapper.

2 Chainz, who had a breakthrough year with his Grammy-nominated solo debut and multiple rap hits, earned the street soldier award for encouraging young voters as a spokesperson for the Hip-Hop Caucus' "Respect My Vote!" campaign.

"Doing my thing on the charts is one thing, but to be getting honored on another avenue, it just feels like a blessing," he said in an interview. "I'm keeping my head leveled and staying humble."

Actress Rosario Dawson won the vanguard award for her work as chairman of the Voto Latino organization.

"It's time to step out of the shadows. It's time to not just be talked about by other people, it's time to take the leadership ourselves and that first step of leadership is voting," Dawson said of the importance of the Latino vote.

Rappers Swizz Beatz and Meek Mill also earned honors at the event, attended by a few hundred hip-hop fans, including model Tyson Beckford, former NBA star Dikembe Mutumbo and Victor Cruz of the New York Giants. La La Anthony and Terrence J hosted the ball.

British singer Marsha Ambrosius also delivered a rousing performance, and playful jokes about Obama.

"I got a call from the president and he asked me to perform his favorite song," she said before singing the R&B jam "Hope She Cheats on You (With a Basketball Player)."

Then she sang "Butterflies," a song she co-wrote for Michael Jackson's 2001 "Invincible" album.

"This might have been his favorite," she said.

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Check out more photos from the event below!!

Victor Cruz

Michael Eric Dyson

Angela Simmons

Kenny Lattimore

Model Shanina Shaik and Tyson Bedford attend The Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball II at Harman Center for the Arts on January 20, 2013 in Washington, DC.

Lil MaMa & MC Lyte backstage

Lance Gross

Actress Sonja Sohn attends The Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball II at Harman Center for the Arts on January 20, 2013 in Washington, DC.

John Legend's fiance, Model Chrissy Teigen

Actor Charles Dutton

Rapper Jadakiss

Actress Denyce Lawton

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OUT & ABOUT: Eve, Jurnee Smollett, & Sharon Stone attend An Evening To Benefit amfAR And GBCHealth: Together To End AIDS

amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research and GBCHealth honored Bill Gates last night at the benefit event in Washington, D.C., on the eve of the 19th International AIDS Conference there in July. 

The event, titled “Together to End AIDS,” took place last night Saturday, July 21, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It payed tribute to the spirit of global collaboration that has underpinned the world’s progress in the fight against AIDS.

Gates, the co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the former CEO and current chairman of Microsoft,  received amfAR’s Award of Courage for his visionary leadership on global health and HIV/AIDS. 

Previous recipients of the award include President Bill Clinton, Dame Elizabeth Taylor, and Sir Elton John. Sharon Stone, amfAR’s Global Fundraising Chairman, will presented Mr. Gates with his award.

Several other industry insiders attended the event as well! Take a look at more arrivals below!!

Honoree Bill Gates attends Together To End AIDS: An Evening To Benefit amfAR and GBCHealth at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on July 21, 2012 in Washington, DC.

Rapper, Actress, Designer, EVE

Actress Jurnee Smollett, and fiance Josiah Bell attend Together To End AIDS: An Evening To Benefit amfAR and GBCHealth at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on July 21, 2012 in Washington, DC.

Designer, Kenneth Cole & Sharon Stone

Journalist, Anderson Cooper

Male Supermodel, Tyson Beckford

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SPOTTED: Ciara, Tyson Beckford, Christina Milian & MORE

Ciara gets her nails done at Marie Nails in Los Angeles. The singer, who was all smiles as she left the salon and headed to her rather shiny car, recently released a song called 'Overdose' from her upcoming album 'One Woman Army'.

Tyson Beckford  made his way out of Kiehl's during an AMFAR benefit in Washington, DC on July 20, 2012.

Singer Christina Milian and her daughter, Violet Milian. were spotted playing on the beach in Miami, Florida on July 20, 2012.

Canadian model Coco Rocha attending the Diesel party held at the Gardens in Sao Paulo.

Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge, wears an Olympic Ring style necklace as she visits the National Portrait Gallery in London. Kate, who is acting as art patron and Olympic ambassador ahead of the 2012 Olympics, also wore a blue dress and black heels.

"The Longest Yard" actor Terry Crews arrives at LAX with his daughter Terra and son Isaiah in Los Angeles, California on July 19th, 2012.

Coco Austin leaves her hotel with husband Ice-T following the UK premiere of his film Something for Nothing: The Art of Rap' in London.

Jada Pinkett Smith and her daughter Willow Smith return to their hotel after going to dinner together.

Lolo Jones at the International track-and-field meeting of Sotteville-ls-Rouen, part of the Pro Athle Tour 2012, held at the Stade Jean Adret in Sotteville in Normandy.

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CANDIDS: Iman, Robin Roberts, Tyra Banks, Tyson Beckford & Robert Verdi, & Veronica Webb

Model Iman poses for a picture at Invisible Beauty Sponsored By LVMH Moet Hennesy Louis Vuitton, New York at LVMH Tower Magic Room on July 19, 2011 in New York City.

GMA Hostess, Robin Roberts heads into the studio.

Tyra Banks wears a winged eye piece to promote her debut novel 'Modelland' on Good Morning America.

Model Tyson Beckford (L) and television personality/stylist Robert Verdi pose for a picture at Invisible Beauty Sponsored By LVMH Moet Hennesy Louis Vuitton, New York at LVMH Tower Magic Room on July 19, 2011 in New York City.

Model Veronica Webb attends Invisible Beauty Sponsored By LVMH Moet Hennesy Louis Vuitton, New York at LVMH Tower Magic Room on July 19, 2011 in New York City.

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