It’s a rap as music’s bad boy scoops top album honours

RAP’S baddest boy has won yet another award after scooping album of the year at the Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas.

Detroit-born Eminem who is riding the crest of a wave after rave reviews for his role in the film biography Eight Mile won the award for The Eminem Show.

It’s the rapper’s third album he beat off stiff competition from rapper Nelly’s Nellyville, Creed’s Weathered and Pink’s M!ssundaztood.

R&B newcomer Ashanti made an impressive debut at the awards, carrying off eight gongs.

While Nelly won honours in six categories, Ashanti, 22, was named the year’s top female artist, R&B/hip-hop artist and female R&B/hip-hop artist. She also picked up awards for her single Foolish.

“It’s definitely an honour,” she said. “It took me such a long time to get to where I am. I’m just really blessed and thankful.”

Nelly was named 2002’s top artist, top male artist and R&B/hip-hop artist. He also won honours for song Hot in Herre, which he performed after emerging onstage from a massive replica of a stainless steel oven with flames shooting out of its burners.

Puddle of Mud became the first group to sweep all four rock awards since U2 did it in 1992 by winning artist of the year, top rock track for Blurry, modern rock artist and modern rock track. Nickelback picked up four awards, including the hot 100 single of the year for How You Remind Me.

The Billboard Awards honour the year’s chart-topping artists. The show at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Monday night began with a performance by 17-year-old Canadian singer Avril Lavigne, who had one of the year’s biggest hits, Complicated.

Other performers included Faith Hill, Justin Timberlake and Creed, who sang from on top of the Stratosphere hotel-casino.

Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler presented Cher with an achievement award, and comedian Chris Tucker gave a special Thriller award for Michael Jackson, who accepted the honour by satellite.

“I thank all the people who appreciate my work,” Jackson said.

Tyler joined rap stars, including Nelly, Busta Rhymes and Ja Rule, in a tribute to Run-DMC. The pioneering hip-hop group disbanded last month after DJ Jam Master Jay was shot dead in his recording studio in Queens, New York.

“I think Run-DMC’s greatest achievement was its longevity,” said a tearful Darryl ‘DMC’ McDaniels.

The Billboard Awards are determined by the magazine’s year-end chart listings, which are based on record sales and airplay. Winners in several categories will not be announced until later this month.