THE THIRD ANNUAL "VIBE AWARDS ON UPN," HONORING THE BEST IN HIP HOP AND R&B, RETURNS ON TUESDAY, NOV. 15 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) ON UPN

The Special Event Will Feature Performances and Appearances by the Biggest Names in Music, Fashion, TV, Sports and Film

VIBE magazine and UPN will present the third 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 on Tuesday, Nov. 15 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on UPN.

The show will feature chart-topping, musical performances and special celebrity appearances from the worlds of music, fashion, television, sports and film. The show's host, presenters and performers will be announced shortly.

This year, the award categories include: R&B Voice of the Year, Next Award, Coolest Collabo, Street Anthem, Powerbroker of the Year, Club Banger, Reelest Video, Hottest Hook, Video Goddess, the Boomshot Award (honoring excellence in Caribbean music), Best R&B Song, Best Group, Album of the Year and Artist of the Year. Three new categories will be introduced this year, including Best Rapper, honoring the MC with the most dynamic lyrics and style; VIBE VIXEN, recognizing a woman whose personae and spirit influences urban culture; and VStyle, awarded to the fashion collection most desired by urban trendsetters.

Nominations for the third annual 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 2004 and September 2005.

The nominees are:

R&B VOICE OF THE YEAR
Destiny's Child
Fantasia
John Legend
Keyshia Cole
Mariah Carey

BEST RAPPER
50 Cent
Kanye West
Ludacris
T.I.
The Game

NEXT AWARD
Daddy Yankee
Keyshia Cole
Mike Jones
Paul Wall
Young Jeezy

COOLEST COLLABO
"Gold Digger," by Kanye West, featuring Jamie Foxx
"Like You," by Bow Wow, featuring Ciara
"Oh," by Ciara, featuring Ludacris
"Soldier," by Destiny's Child, featuring T.I. & Lil Wayne
"Still Tippin'," by Mike Jones, featuring Slim Thug and Paul Wall

STREET ANTHEM
"Dem Boyz," by Boyz N Da Hood
"I'm a Hustla," by Cassidy
"S.A.N.T.A.N.A.," by Juelz Santana
"Still Tippin'," by Mike Jones, featuring Slim Thug and Paul Wall
"U Don't Know Me," by T.I.

POWER BROKER OF THE YEAR
Jermaine Dupri
John Singleton
Kevin Liles
Shawn Carter
Tyler Perry

CLUB BANGER
"1 Thing," by Amerie
"Bring Em Out," by T.I.
"Can I Have It Like That," by Pharrell, featuring Gwen Stefani
"So Seductive," by Tony Yayo, featuring 50 Cent
"Wait (The Whisper Song)," by Ying Yang Twins

REELEST VIDEO
"Lose Control," by Missy Elliott, featuring Ciara & Fat Man Scoop
"Pimpin' All Over the World," by Ludacris, featuring Bobby Valentino
"The Corner," by Common
"Trapped in the Closet" (Chaps. 1-5), by R. Kelly
"Welcome to Jamrock," by Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley

HOTTEST HOOK
"Hate It or Love It," by The Game, featuring 50 Cent
"Hollaback Girl," by Gwen Stefani
"I Ain't Heard of That," by Slim Thug
"Some Cut," by Trillville, featuring Cutty
"Soul Survivor," by Young Jeezy, featuring Akon

VIDEO GODDESS
Buffie the Body in "So Seductive," by Tony Yayo, featuring 50 Cent
Chessika in "Play," by David Banner
Esther Baxter in "Number One Spot," by Ludacris
Lyric in "Candy Shop," by 50 Cent, featuring Olivia
Summer Walker in "Badd," by Ying Yang Twins, featuring Mike Jones

BOOMSHOT AWARD
"Can't Satisfy Her," by I Wayne
"Footprints," by T.O.K.
"I've Got Your Man," by Lady Saw
"Tempted to Touch," by Rupee
"Welcome to Jamrock," by Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley

BEST R&B SONG
"All Because of You," by Marques Houston
"Let Me Love You," by Mario
"Make Her Feel Good," by Teairra Mar�
"Ordinary People," by John Legend
"We Belong Together," by Mariah Carey

BEST GROUP
112
Destiny's Child
The Black Eyed Peas
The Diplomats
Ying Yang Twins

VSTYLE
AIX Armani Exchange
Baby Phat
Just Cavalli
Rocawear
Sean John

VIBE VIXEN
Ciara
Joy Bryant
Keyshia Cole
Kimora Lee Simmons
Tyra Banks

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Get Lifted, by John Legend
Late Registration, by Kanye West
The Documentary, by The Game
The Emancipation of Mimi, by Mariah Carey
The Naked Truth, by Lil' Kim

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
50 Cent
Ciara
John Legend
Kanye West
Mariah Carey

The third annual VIBE AWARDS ON UPN is a production of VIBE magazine, Flavor Unit Television Entertainment and White Cherry Entertainment. For VIBE, Kenard Gibbs and Mimi Vald�s are executive producers. Shakim Compere and Queen Latifah are executive producers for Flavor Unit and Dedra Tate is supervising producer. Ricky Kirschner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry are executive producers. Audrey LaCatis serves as the show's talent executive. The special will be directed by recent Emmy Award winner Glenn Weiss.

RATING: To Be Announced