Illustration: The Khaliseum
ATLANTA – Nearly two decades after "Crank That" taught the whole country a dance, @souljaboy proved the hits still move a room. The rapper took over the Coca-Cola Roxy at the 2nd Annual NXT Awards on Sunday, October 25, with a high-energy run of his biggest records, and The Khaliseum Network was right there on stage with him.
Photo: Bandai Namco Entertainment America / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Founder Shorty Roc (@shortyrocnyc) and the @TheKhaliseum team watched the set from a few feet away, close enough to catch every face in the crowd as the Roxy turned into one big sing-along. For an independent Atlanta media network, that kind of access is a big deal, and we're proud to bring it home to our community.
A Set Built on Classics
Soulja Boy didn't need new material to win the night. He ran through "Crank That," "Kiss Me Thru the Phone," "Pretty Boy Swag" and more, and the audience danced and rapped along from the first beat to the last. From our spot next to him on stage, the reaction never let up. The verdict from the Khaliseum crew: Soulja still has it.
The records have history behind them. "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" logged its seventh week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 2007, according to Billboard. Hearing a full room shout it back in 2026 shows how deep that song runs in Atlanta's story.
The NXT Awards Return, Bigger and in a New Home
Presented by the Black-owned streaming network @nowthats_tv, @thenxtawards came back for a second year and moved to the @cocacolaroxy at The Battery Atlanta, the venue at 800 Battery Ave. near Truist Park, according to ATL Wave TV. The first edition was held in October 2025 at the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, according to the arena's event listing.
Now That's TV was founded by Teleau Belton in 2021 to amplify voices that mainstream media often overlooks, according to the organizers' October 21 announcement. In that release, Belton described what this year meant to him: "Growth means more than doing something bigger every year. It means being intentional about what we create, who we recognize and the opportunities we can help make possible."
Pre-show coverage set the stakes. Black America Web reported that fans voted in 15 categories, from Artist of the Year and Song of the Year to tongue-in-cheek honors like "Biggest Crashout." Black America Web also framed the night as filling a gap in Atlanta's October calendar after BET suspended its Hip Hop Awards. The announced lineup around Soulja Boy included BossMan Dlow, Saucy Santana, Pretty Ricky, Boston Richey, Pluto and Taffy. The organizers also announced a $49,000 scholarship initiative with Workforce Career Centers for seven community members and an Icon in Music Award for Tameka "Tiny" Harris, to be presented by the OMG Girlz.
Tia Kemp Runs the Show
Host Tia Kemp (@yuntietiaback), who also hosted the 2025 edition, according to Mixxyville, owned the stage again this year. She kept the pace up through a night of live singing, rapping, dancing and constant celebration, with talent, creators and industry figures all under one roof. The evening was officially sponsored by @cutwaterspirits.
Watch it from Shorty Roc's Instagram:
Ralo Honors Atlanta's Fallen Voices
Photo: HOTSPOTATL / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
One of the most emotional moments came when @Ralofamgoon came out to pay homage. Ralo spoke from the heart and handed awards to the families of Young Scooter, Trouble, Shawty Lo and Rich Homie Quan, four Atlanta artists whose music still plays all over the city. As he spoke, the crowd swayed to their records, spun by DJ @swampizzo.
Ahead of the show, organizers had announced a memorial tribute titled "Legends Live Forever" for Shawty Lo, Trouble, Lil Keed, Young Scooter and Rich Homie Quan, describing them as artists "whose legacies continue to shape hip-hop," according to the release. Social Register Magazine called them "five Atlanta artists whose records shaped the city's sound and whose lives ended early." The Khaliseum thanks @topdraftpick for the invitation to be part of the moment.
Red Carpet Energy
Shorty Roc worked the night from the red carpet to the stage. He arrived at the Roxy, in his words, "looking like I hit the jackpot and took home all the trophies," with his double dates, @thedoubledosetwinss. From arrivals to performances, the Khaliseum cameras were rolling on every highlight.
Why It Matters for The Khaliseum
Nights like this are why The Khaliseum exists: to put our community in the room, close to the culture as it happens, and to tell those stories our way. Being on stage beside Soulja Boy, documenting Ralo's tribute and capturing Atlanta celebrating its own is the kind of access we work hard for. We're proud to share it with you.
From Our Cameras
Screenshots: Shorty Roc / The Khaliseum
See the moment on Shorty Roc's Instagram: watch the post here.
Want more? Download The Khaliseum App for exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and full coverage of the NXT Awards. For press, partnerships or event coverage, contact [email protected].
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