New hip-hop sensation Akon has scored a chart double by topping both the UK album and singles chart.

Usher dominated the Billboard Awards from the moment he opened the Las Vegas show by dropping from the ceiling until the evening’s final tally, when he counted up 11 awards to lead all contenders.

Artists who are chosen to announce the Grammy nominations typically collect a few bids themselves, so rapper Kanye West, country singer Gretchen Wilson, rock balladeers Hoobastank and The Black Eyed Peas can count themselves among the likely contenders this year.

Usher and Ludacris are set to team up in 2005 to work on a joint album project.

Rapper-producers Kanye West and Lil Jon each took home three prizes at the Source Hip-Hop Music Awards.

The honours keep coming for Usher. The R&B singer has been nominated for a leading five Vibe awards, with Alicia Keys right behind with four.

Held for the first time in Miami, the city of skin, the MTV Video Music Awards was sizzling, energetic and colourful – yet tame, by MTV standards.

R&B diva Beyonce and her rap star boyfriend Jay-Z won separate awards and were honoured for their hit song collaboration at the 2004 BET Awards.

R&B and hip-hop dominated the 2003 Billboard Music Awards with sultry singer Beyonce and R. Kelly each earning four awards.

Soul singer Luther Vandross, who is recovering from a debilitating stroke that threatened to end not only his career but his life, has won a leading two American Music Awards.