The 2009 BET Hip Hop Awards went down in Atlanta, GA Saturday (Oct 10). We hear Jay-Z and Young Jeezy opened the show in a big way with a surprise performance! Other tidbits from the show include the late DJ AM being the recipient of the “DJ of the Year” award, Kid & Play popping up during New Boyz‘ performance and Gucci Mane performing like 3 or 4 times. The show also featured performances from Soulja Boy, Ludacris, Jim Jones, Snoop Dogg and more.

The show, hosted by comedian Mike Epps, airs on BET on Tuesday, October 27th at 8/7c and we hear it was actually the best out of the few that have gone on over the past few years.

In the meantime, check out all of the photos/happenings from the events surrounding the show by hitting up our BET Hip-Hop Awards ’09 section and continue reading below for more pics from inside the show!

It looks as though investigators aren’t ruling out suicide as a factor in DJ AM‘s sudden and unexpected death after all. According to a new report, the famous DJ swallowed a handful of a powerful painkiller known as OxyContin. An autopsy following his death discovered 8 undigested pills in his stomach. And a single pill was found in his mouth when his body was discovered Friday in his Soho, NYC apartment. He was found lying on top of a bag of crack cocaine.

“He wanted to die,” the source said. “He was going unconscious when he took the last one. He didn’t even swallow it.” A mirror was also propped outside the front door of the apartment and another was leaning against the door of the bedroom where DJ AM was found. T

he source said DJ AM, 36, whose real name was Adam Goldstein, “smoked a lot of crack, barricaded the doors and killed himself.” Goldstein’s BlackBerry was filled with messages from worried friends. One read, “Some [expletive] just said you’re dead. Better text me back.”

SOURCE: NY DAILY NEWS

Goldstein was laid to rest Wednesday (Sep 2) in a private traditional Jewish ceremony and was buried at Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary in West Los Angeles. A public memorial service is scheduled for Thursday (Sep 3) at the Hollywood Palladium in LA.

Our sources say DJ AM, a recovering addict, developed a dependency to Xanax and other benzodiazepines (a group of drugs used to treat anxiety) as a direct result of the plane crash a year ago. We’re told AM (aka Adam Goldstein) developed a tremendous anxiety over flying — something he had to do frequently for his job. We’re told doctors began prescribing Xanax and other anti-anxiety medications to relieve his fear, but the benzos triggered a relapse into addiction. We’re told benzos are particularly dicey for recovering addicts.

Could the anniversary of the plane crash coming up on September 20th have triggered his relapse?

American club disk jockey Adam Goldstein, best known as DJ AM, was found dead in his New York City apartment Friday evening (Aug 28), reports TMZ.

Sources tell us he was found in his apartment at around 5:20 PM. We’re told drug paraphernalia was found at the scene.

Our sources say DJ AM had not been seen or heard from for a few days — one of his friends went to check on him, but got no response after knocking on his apartment door.

We’re told the friend called the cops — but it was the fire department who finally entered his apartment and found the body.

Back in September of 2008, DJ AM and Travis Barker survived a plane crash in South Carolina. Four people died in the crash — which was caused when the airplane aborted takeoff and then ran off the runway. DJ AM and Barker were the only survivors.

We offer our sincerest condolences to his friends and family at this difficult time.

Rappers Jay-Z and Eminem performed live on stage together at the launch of Activision’s “DJ Hero” video game at the Wiltern Theater Monday (June 1) night in Los Angeles. DJ Hero, a spin-off of the popular Guitar Hero franchise, is set to be released in October 2009. Hit up the official website for more information on it and continue reading for lots of photos from Monday’s launch event, in which celebs like Kim Kardashian, Taraji P. Henson, Tyrese and others attended.

PHOTOS: GETTY IMAGES // WIRE IMAGE

Hip-hop genius (and we use that term loosely) Lil Wayne hit up Game One of the western Conference Quarterfinals Sunday night in Denver, CO as the Denver Nuggets took on the New Orleans Hornets.

Travis Barker, Warren G and DJ AM stopped to take a quick photo backstage during day 2 of the Coachella Music Festival Saturday afternoon in Indio, California.

Film and tv actor Dennis Haysbert aka The Allstate Guy was spotted by the paps as he left a lunch at Orso restaurant in Los Angeles.

Actress Angela Bassett posed for photos backstage during the 7th Annual TV Land Awards at Gibson Amphitheatre Sunday night in LA.

Black Eyed Peas front man Will.i.am was seen riding a motor trike while on location for BEP’s upcoming music video in Los Angeles.

BEP members Taboo and Apl.de.ap weren’t too far behind on the set.

The First Family welcomed their new Portuguese water dog Bo last Tuesday at the White House in Washington, D.C. Check out photos of the President, the First Lady and Malia & Sasha Obama playing with Bo on the White House front lawn above.

Pop singing sensation Lady Gaga showed off a little more of her weirdness yesterday as she hopped out of her vehicle with a tea cup in her hand. Granted, she was in the UK to make an appearance on BBC Radio’s Live Lounge but what’s with the tea cup and the get-up? We expect off-the-wall antics like this from her though. It’s who she is.

Christina Milian was spotted arriving at the Staples Center Friday night for Britney Spear’s show in LA. Not sure why she’s trying to be “different” with her recent choices of outfits and hair styles. We’ll let you know as soon as we figure it out though.

PHOTOS: NBA / GETTY IMAGES / WIRE IMAGE / WENN / BAUER GRIFFIN ONLINE