Triumph for hip-hop at MTV Video Awards

LOS ANGELES – Hip-hop duo OutKast have won four prizes at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, held in Miami on Sunday night.

The pair won Best Video of The year and Best Hip-Hop Video for Hey Ya!, which also picked up prizes for special effects and editing. Other big winners included rapper Jay-Z, who also won four awards, while Usher and No Doubt picked up two each.The night’s only British victory went to Franz Ferdinand, who won the Breakthrough Award for Take Me Out.British hopefuls The Darkness failed to win any awards, despite being nominated for best new artist and best rock video for I Believe In A Thing Called Love.Jay-Z had been nominated in six categories for his video 99 Problems, a gritty black and white clip which depicts the rapper being killed.”I felt like I was trying to push the envelope,” he said on accepting the award for best rap video.Other winners included Australian rockers Jet, rap group Black Eyed Peas and R&B singer Alicia Keys, who performed a duet with Stevie Wonder and Lenny Kravitz.Keys also presented a tribute to Ray Charles, who died in June.Christina Aguilera, Usher, rap newcomer Kanye West and rockers The Polyphonic Spree were among others who performed live at the ceremony, held at the American Airlines Arena in Miami.Last year’s MTV Awards attracted controversy after Madonna and Britney Spears shared a kiss onstage – however this year’s show was broadcast with a time delay of several seconds to avoid further controversy.- BBCOther big winners included rapper Jay-Z, who also won four awards, while Usher and No Doubt picked up two each.The night’s only British victory went to Franz Ferdinand, who won the Breakthrough Award for Take Me Out.British hopefuls The Darkness failed to win any awards, despite being nominated for best new artist and best rock video for I Believe In A Thing Called Love.Jay-Z had been nominated in six categories for his video 99 Problems, a gritty black and white clip which depicts the rapper being killed.”I felt like I was trying to push the envelope,” he said on accepting the award for best rap video.Other winners included Australian rockers Jet, rap group Black Eyed Peas and R&B singer Alicia Keys, who performed a duet with Stevie Wonder and Lenny Kravitz.Keys also presented a tribute to Ray Charles, who died in June.Christina Aguilera, Usher, rap newcomer Kanye West and rockers The Polyphonic Spree were among others who performed live at the ceremony, held at the American Airlines Arena in Miami.Last year’s MTV Awards attracted controversy after Madonna and Britney Spears shared a kiss onstage – however this year’s show was broadcast with a time delay of several seconds to avoid further controversy.- BBC