The mixtape — launchpad of the careers of most of your favorite MCs, home of the freestyles, and of course, the best place to cop the newest rap songs — will soon have its yearly celebration.

Legendary spin doctor DJ Red Alert will host Justo Entertainment's Sixth Annual Mixtape Awards on December 11 at New York's Apollo Theatre. According to a spokesperson for the event, mixtape kings such as DJ Clue, Funkmaster Flex and last year's winner for Best Mixtape DJ, DJ Kay Slay, are scheduled to attend. Justo Entertainment is still trying to solidify performers and should be announcing acts sometime next week.

The event's organizer, Justo Faison, said Nas, Mobb Deep, Wu-Tang Clan, Fat Joe and Busta Rhymes will be among the presenters at the show.

Although the actual nominees, who were picked by the public via www.mixtapesaward.com and by publications such as Vibe, XXL, and The Source, are not announced until the actual program, the categories have been disclosed.

Besides vying for such nods as Best Personality on a Mixtape, certain turntablists will be up for the Pinkhouse Award, which is dedicated to the DJ who has had the most impact on their region.

"Mixtapes have been around since 1977, basically when hip-hop started," Faison said. "Throughout the years, mixtape guys have been breaking artists, and they wasn't getting recognized for it. The awards show is responsible for a lot of these guys getting record deals.

"In 1995, when the show started, Kid Capri was the only one with a record deal," he said. "Now you have Tony Touch on Tommy Boy, Kay Slay on Violator, Flex on Loud and Clue on the Roc."

Sixth Annual Mixtape Awards categories: