US artists stage coup at MTV’s colossal event

HIP-HOP duo OutKast and R&B sensation Usher shared top honours at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Rome, scooping a combined five prizes at the ceremony, which was broadcast to millions of viewers worldwide.

OutKast stars Andre 3000 and Big Boi, whose Speakerboxxx/The Love Below won the 2004 Grammy for album of the year, walked away with best group, best song and best video awards.

The smooth-singing Usher grabbed best male artist and best album for Confessions, less than a week after dominating the American Music Awards.

“I humble myself to all of my fans, without them it wouldn’t be possible,” said Usher, who turned out in a pin-stripe suit with a red carnation in his buttonhole.

“I hope you don’t get tired of us. We only do what we do,” said OutKast’s Andre.

Music fans across Europe chose the winners by voting online and with mobile phones, although ironically American musicians swept the awards, claiming the main prizes.

Britney Spears won best female artist, The Black Eyed Peas won best pop and Linkin Park won best rock, while Alicia Keys took home best R&B and D12 secured best hip hop.

Rap star Eminem kicked off the ceremony with the rat-a-tat of machineguns and whirring of helicopters as he performed his politicised single Toy Soldiers in front of a tank on stage.

Children in fatigues marched by while the 32-year-old rapper belted out the song.

He also rapped out a more outspoken attack on Bush with his new hit Mosh, which contains the lyrics “this monster, this coward, that we have empowered.”

Eminem’s much-hyped spoof of Michael Jackson never materialised, amid rumours he scrapped plans to re-enact his video, Just Lose It, which makes light of child molestation charges against the pop legend.

Gwen Stefani, frontwoman of top-selling US band No Doubt, also made waves with her performance of What You Waiting For? as a kind of Alice in Wonderland in silver platform shoes.

Hip-hop icon Nelly appeared flanked by four dancing girls clad in bejewelled bikinis and feathered headdresses, while veteran New York rappers The Beastie Boys rode on stage on bicycles and a skateboard.

Presenter Xzibit said the event was broadcast to a potential worldwide audience of one billion people in 156 countries.

The mega-event was put on for 6,000 music fans at the racetrack on the outskirts of Rome.

MTV hosted a simultaneous concert at the Colosseum amid protests by politicians who said the noise could harm the 2,000-year-old monument.