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Mariah Tops Melee-Free Vibe Awards
11/14/2005 1:55 PM, E! Online
Josh Grossberg
Mariah Carey was the feel-good story at this weekend's Vibe Music
Awards. That the show went off without any stabbings, hospitalizations
or arrests made all involved feel pretty good, too.
The
octave-stretching diva proved her comeback was complete, scoring four
top awards--Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for The
Emancipation of Mimi, Best R&B Song for "We Belong Together" and R&B
Voice of the Year--at Saturday's ceremony, which was devoid of the
violence that marred last year's event.
"Whatever you're going
through in your life, don't ever give up," cooed Carey, who showed up
late and missed the presentation of her first trophy, R&B Voice of the
Year, but managed to collect the remainder.
Just three years
ago, Carey was dumped by Virgin Records after suffering a nervous
breakdown and having her Glitter movie and album tank. But
Mimi restored her hit-making ways, debuting last June at number
one on the Billboard charts, spawning the hits, "We Belong
Together" and Shake It Off" (keeping up her record of number one singles
by a female artist) and garnering her a field-best four nominations for
the American Music Awards scheduled for later this month.
The
good vibes at the Vibe Awards were a welcome change from the 2004
disaster, which was interrupted when a man approached Dr. Dre as he was
about to accept a lifetime achievement award and sucker-punched the rap
star, sparking a chair-throwing brawl that left the assailant, a parolee
named Jimmy James Johnson, hospitalized with a knife wound in the chest
and G-Unit rapper Young Buck charged with assault with a deadly
weapon.
Johnson was eventually sentenced to a year in jail
after pleading guilty to attacking Dre; Buck has pleaded not guilty to
the stabbing and is currently out on bail awaiting trial. Neither Dre
nor Young Buck were in attendance Saturday.
Nonetheless,
security was extremely tight and attendees were forced to walk through
metal detectors. But everything this time around came off without a
hitch, and presenters like Tony Rock (Chris' brother) even made a
running joke of the nervous energy at the Sony Studios in Culver City,
California.
Aside from Carey, other winners included Kanye
West (Best Rapper), R. Kelly (Reelest Video for his R&B opera, "Trapped
in the Closet"), the Diplomats (Best Group) and the Game (Hottest Hook
for "Hate It Or Love It," featuring mentor-turned-sparring partner 50
Cent).
While Game refrained from opening a new barrage in the
duo's war of words, he didn't let the evening go by without at least one
dig at his former collaborator. Shaved into the side of his head was the
word "G-Not," a slam at Fiddy's G-Unit crew of which the Game was once a
member. Fiddy, who won big in 2003, was not in attendance.
Performers included Ciara, Pharrell, Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley, Ludacris
and Sharifa, along with a tribute to the victims of Hurricane Katrina
led by New Orleans' Lil Wayne, Houston's Mike Jones and Paul Wall, and
Mississippi's David Banner.
But the highlight of the night
belonged to Mary J. Blige.
Following a video montage of her
15-year career, Quincy Jones presented Blige with the VLegend, honoring
her contributions to hip-hop and R&B.
"I endured a lot of
trials and tribulations that I'm so thankful for," a beaming Blige told
the crowd. "You're supposed to get a legend award when you're 60, but
I'm getting one today because I started so early."
The 2005
Vibe Music Awards was taped for broadcast on UPN Tuesday night.
Here's a complete rundown of the winners:
- Artist of the Year: Mariah Carey
- Album of the
Year: The Emancipation of Mimi, Mariah Carey
- Best Group: The Diplomats
- Video Goddess:
Esther Baxter ("Number One Spot")
- Reelest Video:
"Traooed in the Closet," R. Kelly
- Hottest Hook: "Hate
It Or Love It," The Game featuring 50 Cent
- Street
Anthem: "U Don't Know Me," T.I.
- Power Broker of the
Year: Kevin Liles
- Coolest Collabo: "Oh," Ciara
featuring Ludacris
- Next Award: Anthony Hamilton
- R&B Voice of the Year: Mariah Carey
- Best R&B Song: "We Belong Together," Mariah Carey
- Club Banger of the Year: "1 Thing," Amerie
- Boomshot Award: "Welcome to Jamrock" Damian "Jr. Gong"
Marley
- V Style: Baby Phat
- Vibe Vixen:
Kimora Lee Simmons
- Best Rapper: Kanye West
- Next Award: Young Jeezy and Keyshia Cole (tie)
- VLegend: Mary J. Blige
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