Why shouldn’t you watch? The awards will have performances from Usher, Jessica Simpson, Kanye West and some of the most popular new rockers around, Jet, Hoobastank and Yellowcard. Then there are the nominees who will most certainly show up to strut on the stage, give their speeches and get their Moonman trophies themselves. This year the list includes Usher, Britney Spears, Beyonce, No Doubt, Outkast, D12, Christina Aguilera, Hilary Duff, The Darkness, Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5, Alicia Keys, etc., etc.
Leading the race is rapper Jay-Z, who got six nominations for the video of his 99 Problems, from The Black Album. These MTV nods seems like somebody is out to tell those newer stars of rap and hip hop that Jay-Z is still around. Not only that he is batting very well in terms of salability and best of all, substance. Considered one of the greatest rappers of all time and whose name is mentioned in the same breath as B.I.G. and Tupac, Jay-Z is known for his remarkable ability to keep his audience dancing to his grooves while putting his angst into impressive street poetry. The Black Album is one of his best works. The MTV Video Awards is really all about the videos, not the songs or the albums but it is still nice to find Jay-Z in focus again.
Here is the list of nominees.
Best Video: Hey Ya by Outkast; Yeah by Usher featuring Lil’ Jon & Ludacris; Toxic by Britney Spears: My Band by D12; 99 Problems by Jay-Z.
Male Video: Yeah; 99 Problems; Señorita by Justin Timberlake; All Falls Down by Kanye West featuring Syleena Johnson; Musicology by Prince.
Female Video: Toxic by Britney Spears; Naughty Girl by Beyonce; If I Ain’t Got You by Alicia Keys; With You by Jessica Simpson; The Voice Within by Christina Aguilera.
Group Video: It’s My Life by No Doubt; My Band by D12; The Reason by Hoobastank; This Love by Maroon 5; Hold On by Good Charlotte.
Rap Video: 99 Problems; My Band; Get Rich or Die Tryin’ Remix by 50 Cent; Stand Up by Ludacris; Get Low by Lil’ Jon & the East Side Boyz featuring Ying Yang Twins.
R&B Video: Burn by Usher; If I Ain’t Got You; Talk About Our Love by Brandy featuring Kanye West; Me, Myself & I by Beyonce; Step in the Name of Love by R. Kelly.
Hip Hop Video: Hey Ya; Hey Mama by Black Eyed Peas; All Falls Down; Shake Ya Tailfeather by Nelly featuring P. Diddy; Holidae In by Chingy featuring Ludacris and Snoop Dogg.
Dance Video: Yeah; Hey Mama by Black Eyed Peas; Naughty Girl; Toxic; I’m Really Hot by Missy Elliott.
Rock Video: Are You Gonna Be My Girl by Jet; I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Darkness; The Reason by Hoobastank; My Immortal by Evanescence; Breakin’ the Habit by Linkin’ Park.
Pop Video: Toxic; With You; Come Clean by Hillary Duff; It’s My Life; Don’t Tell Me by Avril Lavigne.
New Artist in a Video: Jet Are You Gonna Be My Girl; Maroon 5 This Love; Jojo Leave (Get Out); Kanye West featuring Syleena Johnson All Falls Down; Yellowcard Ocean Avenue; The Darkness I Believe in a Thing Called Love.
MTV2 Award: Maps by Yeah Yeah Yeah; Pon de River by Elephant Man; Ocean Avenue by Yellowcard; Slow Jamz by Twista featuring Kanye West and Jamie Foxx; Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand; Float On by Modest Mouse.
Breakthrough Video: Take Me Out; Float On; All Falls Down; All Downhill from Here by New Found Glory; The Hardest Button to Button by White Stripes; Walkie Talkie Man by Steriogram.
Direction: 99 Problems; It’s My Life; Hey Ya; The Hardest Button to Button; Walkie Talkie Man.
Choreography: Yeah; Hey Mama; I’m Really Hot; Naughty Girl; Like Glue by Sean Paul.
Special Effects: Magalomaniac by Incubus; Hey Ya; The Hardest Button to Button; Float On; Walkie Talkie Man.
Art Direction: Walkie Talkie Man; It’s My Life; Hey Ya; You Don’t Know My Name by Alicia Keys; Maps.
Editing: 99 Problems; The Hardest Button to Button; Are You Gonna Be My Girl; Perfect by Simple Plan; Maps.
Cinematography: 99 Problems; It’s My Life; Naughty Girl; Maps; The Voice Within.