THE SECOND ANNUAL �VIBE AWARDS ON UPN,� HONORING HIP HOP, R&B, AND SOUL�S BIGGEST, BRIGHTEST STARS, RETURNS ON TUESDAY, NOV. 16 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) ON UPN

Usher Tops List With 5 Nominations, Alicia Keys Follows With Four

The Special Event Returns With Performances by Chart-Topping Music Stars And Appearances by Celebrities from the Music, Fashion, TV, Sports and Film Worlds

Vibe magazine and UPN will present the second annual VIBE AWARDS ON UPN, a two-hour special event dedicated to celebrating innovation, cutting-edge presentation, and genre-expanding work in urban music, to be broadcast Tuesday, Nov. 16 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on UPN. Queen Latifah will again executive produce and make an appearance on the show.

The show will feature chart-topping, contemporary musical performances and special celebrity appearances from the worlds of music, fashion, television, sports and film. The awards show will also highlight a special runway presentation of the latest creations from the most influential designers in the fashion world. The show's host, presenters and performers will be announced shortly.

This year, the award categories include: Best R&B Song, R&B Voice of the Year, Next Award, Street Anthem, Club Banger of the Year and the Boomshot Award (honoring excellence in Caribbean music). Nominations for the 2004 VIBE AWARDS ON UPN were determined by the Vibe editorial staff, headed by Editor-in-Chief Mimi Vald�s. Winners in each category will be decided by votes from music journalists and regional tastemakers. To be eligible for nomination, recorded material must have been released between October 2003 and September 2004.

The nominees are:

Artist of the Year
Alicia Keys
Jay-Z
Kanye West
Twista
Usher

Best Group
D12
G Unit
Mobb Deep
8Ball and MJG
Terror Squad

Sexiest Video Vixen
Esther Baxter (�Freek-A-Leek,� Petey Pablo)
Ki Toy (�The Way You Move,� OutKast)
Melyssa Ford (�Yeah!� Usher, featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris)
Miya Granatella (�Overnight Celebrity,� Twista)
Vida Guerra (�Get No Better,� Cassidy, featuring Mashonda)

Reelest Video
�99 Problems,� Jay-Z
�All Falls Down,� Kanye West, featuring Syleena Johnson
�If I Ain�t Got You,� Alicia Keys
�Me, Myself and I,� Beyonc�
�Roses,� OutKast

Best Comeback
Juvenile
Mase
New Edition
Shyne
Twista

Hottest Hook
�Drop It Like It�s Hot,� Snoop Dogg
�Jesus Walks,� Kanye West
�Lean Back,� Terror Squad
�Locked Up,� Akon, featuring Styles P.
�Slow Motion,� Juvenile, featuring Soulja Slim

Street Anthem
�Certified Gangstas,� Jim Jones, featuring Cam�Ron
�Rubberband Man,� T.I.
�Let Me In,� Young Buck
�Nolia Clap,� Juvenile, Wacko & Skip
�Got It Twisted,� Mobb Deep

Power Broker of the Year
Dave Chappelle
Steve Stoute
P. Diddy
Shyne
Nelly

Coolest Collabo
�Hotel,� Cassidy, featuring R. Kelly
�My Place,� Nelly, featuring Jaheim
�Slow Jamz,� Twista, featuring Kanye West & Jamie Foxx
�Why (Remix),� Jadakiss, featuring Anthony Hamilton, Styles P., Common & Nas
�Yeah!� Usher, featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris

Next Award
Anthony Hamilton
Ciara
Christina Milian
Nina Sky
Young Buck

R&B Voice of the Year
Alicia Keys
Brandy
Jill Scott
R. Kelly
Usher

Best R&B Song
�Charlene,� Anthony Hamilton
�Confessions Pt. II,� Usher
�I Don�t Wanna Know,� Mario Winans
�If I Ain�t Got You,� Alicia Keys
�Me, Myself and I,� Beyonc�

Club Banger of the Year
�Headsprung,� LL Cool J
�Milkshake,� Kelis
�Lean Back,� Terror Squad
�Yeah!� Usher, featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris
�Tipsy,� J-Kwon

Boomshot Award
�Dude,� Beenie Man
�Gal You a Lead,� T.O.K.
�Jook Gal,� Elephant Man
�Tekk,� Vybz Kartel
�Turn Me On (Remix),� Kevin Lyttle, featuring Spragga Benz

*Fans can log on to www.vibe.com to vote for the Livest City Award.

Last year�s VIBE AWARDS ON UPN, which featured electrifying performances from hit recording artists OutKast, R. Kelly, and Mary J. Blige, set new Friday-night ratings records for UPN in key demos and earned UPN a first or second place finish on the night with persons 12-34, females 12-34, young men and teens. After appearing on the VIBE AWARDS ON UPN, many of the artists saw significant boosts in the sales of their CDs the following week. Mary J. Blige�s Love & Life had a 60 percent increase from the week before, and R. Kelly�s CD Chocolate Factory had a 49 percent gain, while his other CD, R in R&B Collection I, saw a 33 percent rise in sales.

The show will be taped on Monday, Nov. 15 at the Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport.

The 2004 VIBE AWARDS ON UPN is a production of Vibe magazine, Flavor Unit Television Entertainment and White Cherry Entertainment. For Vibe, Kenard Gibbs is the executive producer and Mimi Vald�s is creative executive producer. Shakim Compere, Dedra Tate, and Queen Latifah are executive producers for Flavor Unit. And Ricky Kirschner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry are executive producers. The special will be directed by recent Emmy Award winner Glenn Weiss.

RATING: TBA