August 23, 2000 (Reuters) – Police pulled the plug on a televised hip-hop awards show last night (Tuesday, August 22) after fights broke out backstage and in the auditorium, and audience members rushed the stage and hurled objects, officials and witnesses said.

The chaos took place at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, in Pasadena, California, where the annual Source magazine Hip-Hop Awards were being taped for broadcast on the UPN network August 29.

According to a recorded message at the Pasadena Police Department, "a large fight'' broke out in the auditorium, at 8 p.m. PDT, about 2-1/2 hours into the taping.

A witness said an unidentified man was badly beaten during that fight. Scores of people fled the scene, according to the police message, some toward the exits while up to 75 people ran up onto the stage.

The fight backstage took place just after a fight in the auditorium in which a group of men appeared to badly beat a man before police broke it up.

While police were attempting to restore calm, separate scuffles arose throughout the venue, including behind the stage scenery, which began to sway, a witness said. People also began throwing bottles and CDs from their gift bags.

"'For the safety of the audience and with no apparent hope of continuing the show peacefully, the Pasadena Police Department announced the show would not continue and asked the audience to leave quietly,'' the recorded message said.

Most complied with the request, and the area around the auditorium was cleared after about two hours. Police said they did not know the cause of the initial fight, and there were no arrests. Apart from the man who was beaten in the auditorium, no injuries were reported.

Witnesses said the event was beset by scuffles before it began. Punches were thrown as rapper DJ Quik and his entourage arrived, an audience member told Reuters. Inside the auditorium, there was some minor shoving.

L'il Kim had just finished performing before the pandemonium erupted.

After the show prematurely ended, Source magazine issued a pre-written press release announcing the winners. A summary follows:

Dr. Dre was the big winner, taking home five awards for Solo Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, Producer of the Year (with Mel-Man), Lifetime Achievement Award, and being featured in the award-winning Music Video of the Year by Eminem, who himself also took an award for Lyricist of the Year.

The star-studded awards show was hosted by Busta Rhymes and Da Brat along with "The Parkers" star Mo'Nique, aided by DJ/announcer Kid Capri. Presenters included Arsenio Hall, Pamela Anderson, Milla Jovovich, Lisa Nicole Carson, Baywatch's Traci Bingham, MTV's Ananda Lewis, Debi Mazar, LL Cool J, Funkmaster Flex, newlyweds Mack 10 and T-Boz, chart-topping newcomer Nelly, Roy Jones Jr., Lil' Bow Wow, Harold Perrineau from HBO's Oz, Best New Artist nominee Eve, Don King and Chicago Bulls forward Elton Brand.

Performers included Wyclef Jean and WWF's The Rock; Cash Money Millionaires; Jay-Z with Memphis, Bleek and Amil; Lil' Kim and Mobb Deep; Method Man and Redman; Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Kurupt and Nate Dogg; Dead Prez; Tha Eastsidaz; Lil' Bow Wow and Jermaine Dupri; Made Men; Mos Def; and D.J. Clue.

The awards show will air on UPN for the second consecutive year, scheduled for August 29, from 8-10 p.m. ET/PT. Last year the special delivered UPN its highest total viewers ever on a Friday night. It also ranked #1 in New York and Miami and was #1 among total teens and #2 among adults 18-34 and women 18-34 in its time period.

A rundown of this year's winners:

Artist of the Year, Solo
Dr. Dre

Artist of the Year, Group
Hot Boys

Album of the Year
Dr. Dre: "Dr. Dre 2001"

Single of the Year
"Whoa!" Black Rob

New Artist of the Year, Solo
Eve

New Artist of the Year, Group
Tha Eastsidaz

Lyricist of the Year
Eminem

Live Performer of the Year
Method Man & Redman

Producer of the Year
Dr. Dre & Mel-Man

Music Video of the Year
"Guilty Conscience," Eminem f/Dr. Dre (Directed by Phillip Atwell)

R&B Artist of the Year
Sisqo

Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr. Dre, Ice Cube

Pioneer Award
Grand Wizzard Theodore

The Source Sports Athlete of the Year
Alan Iverson (Philadelphia 76ers)

Movie of the Year
Next Friday (Steve Carr, director)