Wyclef Jean and Public Enemy singer Chuck D have been honoured at the first Justice, Arts and Music (J.A.M.) Awards, designed to draw attention to the positive impact of hip-hop music.

Jean, who played this year in troubled parts of Haiti and has raised thousands of dollars for charitable causes in the Caribbean nation, was given the Music Award at a ceremony in New York on Thursday.

Haitian-born hip-hop musician Wyclef Jean gives a gift to a little girl during Christmas gift distribution in Haiti sponsored by his foundation, Yele Haiti, last November.
(Ariana Cubillos/Associated Press)

Chuck D has embraced social justice causes such as the movement against conflict diamonds, has attempted to address negative views about rap music and has campaigned in favour of peer-to-peer file sharing. He won the Justice Award.

Graffiti artist Lee Quinones, who emerged from the New York City Subway Aerosol Art movement with works that address political causes such as poverty and the arms race, won the Art Award.

The J.A.M. awards paid tribute to late rapper Jam Master Jay, the Run-DMC DJ who was shot in his studio in 2002. His widow and surviving members of Run-DMC organized the J.A.M. Awards, which they are planning as an annual event.