Support local musicians at Certified Hip Hop Independent Artist Awards

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- 8News got a visit from two special guests on Friday to talk about the upcoming 3rd annual Certified Hip Hop Independent Artist Awards.

8News anchors Autumn Childress and Delaney Hall were joined by producer Wendell Moss and show host J.D. Haze to talk about what people can expect at the event.

"It highlights and magnifies the independent artists in Central Virginia, and statewide, and gives them an opportunity, a platform, to perform and actually put their music on display," Moss said.

The awards ceremony is for independent artists and local musicians to receive accolades that the public voted on.

People can head to the Appomattox Event Center at 9 West Old Street on Saturday, Aug. 2 -- with doors opening for the event at 6 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase by clicking here.

"It's a plethora of positive energy," Haze said. "Everyone has that big dream or aspirations of trying to make it, and it's unfortunate everyone can't make it, [but] having an independent scene, we have our own industry so to speak, so this is a way to recognize our independent artists... we have our own support system, and one we learn how to support each other on a stronger basis, hey, everybody's going to get the spotlight."