MORGANTOWN — Lamar Riddick was not expecting to win. Being a nominee from West Virginia, he was mindful of the odds, but he realized that there is “so much God is doing that we don’t see.”
When Riddick won Hip Hop Artist of the Year at the EDDY Awards in Jacksonville, Fla., he was “surprised,” but it was a good reminder to “continue to be faithful to the Lord.” The EDDY Awards, an awards show for independent artists, aired on the IMPACT Network in February.
He had not prepared a speech, but said he was prepared to follow the Lord with any situation.
“I went in with the mindset whether we win or lose we’re going to continue to keep working and continue to put the Lord first and accept his will for that night,” Riddick said. “That night, winning was a part of his will.”
Riddick made sure he showed his appreciation to God and a significant person in his life.
“The most important thing I was thinking about was to make sure I gave [God] glory when I got to the stage and I make sure I show thanks to my wife,” Riddick said.
Riddick said the night of the award show, the hosts had called some of the nominees that night to perform. Riddick was one of them. He said being able to perform “warmed up the crowd.” His performance also gave him a chance as a nominee to get the crowd to recognize him prior to receiving the award.
Riddick met artist Sha Sha two days prior to the award show. He said he learned a lot from her as an artist. The day before the show, he found out that Sha Sha was going to be announcing Hip Hop Artist of the Year.
“Everything worked out full circle,” Riddick said. “She was definitely awesome and very insightful about the music business.”
Riddick had the opportunity to perform some shows on his travels and he said it was a learning experience. Some of the shows he performed, Riddick said, were just like “being back home again.” Riddick also visited his hometown church, First Baptist Daytona Beach.
Riddick said this experience will help him enhance his events in the Morgantown area, such as Hip Hop on High Street, a local show that Riddick has hosted on the Foundry Church staircase.
“Every time I go into these events, I always take time to learn. I’m passed that amazement phase in my life … I’m learning,” Riddick said.
Riddick said just from reconnecting with friends and also seeing the structure of the EDDY Awards as an artist, his journey has been an encouragement to continue putting in work and staying faithful to the Lord.
“It just really encouraged me to just continue to keep your head down and pushing and when God taps you on the shoulder to look up, it’s going to be worth all the effort you put in,” Riddick said. “No need to have any doubts … your hard work is not in vain.”
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