Korn Reaps MTV Noms

Hard-rockin' band's "Freak on a Leash" scores nine nods

By Marcus Errico Jul 28, 1999 7:30 PMTags
When it comes to this year's crop of music videos, Korn is poppin' fresh.

The rockers' "Freak on a Leash" clip dominated the nominations for MTV's 16th annual Video Music Awards today with a field-best nine nods.

The collaboration between the head-banging Korn kids, Todd McFarlane (the guy who spawned Spawn) and VMA vets Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (codirectors of Smashing Pumpkins' "Tonight, Tonight") is up for hardware in all major categories, including Video of the Year.

Battling it out with Korn for the Video of the Year crown: Latin popster Ricky Martin ("Livin' La Vida Loca), rapping Will Smith ("Wild Wild West), Grammy darling Lauryn Hill ("Doo Wop--That Thing") and prefab hit factory the Backstreet Boys ("I Want It That Way").

All told, Martin and Smith garnered six nods, Hill and Busta Rhymes scored five each, and the Backstreet Boys, Eminem, Fatboy Slim, Jennifer Lopez and last year's big winner, Madonna, had four apiece.

And, nearly three years after his death, the ever-prolific Tupac Shakur continues to wow 'em over at MTV. The late hip-hop star snagged two nods for his "Changes" clip, including Best Rap Video.

The music network's trademark moon-man statuettes will be dished out September 9 in the most incogruous of places--New York' Metropolitan Opera House--with Chris Rock again presiding over the festivities.

MTV faithful will be able to phone in votes for the Viewers Choice trophy during the telecast, choosing between Korn, Martin, the Backstreet Boys, Jay-Z ("Can I Get A..."), 'N Sync ("Tearin' Up My Heart") and TLC ("No Scrubs").

Here's the complete rundown of nominees for the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards.

Video of the Year: Backstreet Boys, "I Want It That Way" Lauryn Hill, "Doo Wop (That Thing)" Korn, "Freak On A Leash" Ricky Martin, "Livin' La Vida Loca" Will Smith (featuring Dru Hill & Kool Moe Dee), "Wild Wild West"

Best R&B Video: Aaliyah, "Are You That Somebody" Brandy, "Have You Ever?" Lauryn Hill, "Doo Wop (That Thing)" Whitney Houston (featuring Faith Evans & Kelly Price), "Heartbreak Hotel"

Best Rock Video: Limp Bizkit, "Nookie" Korn, "Freak on a Leash" Kid Rock, "Bawitdaba" Lenny Kravitz, "Fly Away" The Offspring, "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)"

Best Hip-Hop Video: Beastie Boys, "Intergalactic" Busta Rhymes (featuring Janet Jackson), "What's It Gonna Be" Lauryn Hill, "Doo Wop (That Thing)" TLC, "No Scrubs"

Viewers Choice: Backstreet Boys, "I Want It That Way" Jay-Z (featuring Ja Rule & Amil-Lion), "Can I Get A..." Korn, "Freak On A Leash" Ricky Martin, "Livin' La Vida Loca" 'N Sync, "Tearin' Up My Heart" TLC, "No Scrubs"

Rap Video: 2Pac, "Changes" DMX, "Ruff Ryders Anthem (Stop Drop)" Jay-Z (featuring Ja Rule & Amil-Lion), "Can I Get A..." Nas (featuring Puff Daddy), "Hate Me Know"

Pop Video: Backstreet Boys, "I Want It That Way" Jennifer Lopez, "If You Had My Love" Ricky Martin, "Livin' La Vida Loca" 'N Sync, "Tearin' Up My Heart" Britney Spears, "Baby One More Time"

Direction: Busta Rhymes, "What's Gonna Be" Eminem, "My Name Is" Fatboy Slim, "Praise You" Korn, "Freak On A Leash" TLC, "No Scrubs"

Female Video: Lauryn Hill, "Doo Wop (That Thing)" Jennifer Lopez, "If You Had My Love" Madonna, "Beautiful Stranger" Britney Spears, "Baby One More Time"

Video from a Film: Aaliyah, "Are You That Somebody" Jay-Z (featuring Ja Rule & Amil-Lion), "Can I Get A..." Madonna, "Beautiful Stranger" Will Smith, "Wild Wild West"

New Artist: Eminem, "My Name Is" Kid Rock, "Bawitdba" Jennifer Lopez, "If You Had My Love" 'N Sync, "Tearin' Up My Heart" Britney Spears, "Baby One More Time"

Group Video: Backstreet Boys, "I Want It That Way" Limp Bizkit, "Nookie" 'N Sync, "Tearin' Up My Heart" Sugar Ray, "Every Morning" TLC, "No Scrubs"

Male Video: Eminem, "My Name Is" Lenny Kravitz, "Fly Away" Ricky Martin, "Livin' La Vida Loca" Will Smith, "Miami"

Dance Video: Cher, "Believe" Fatboy Slim, "Praise You" Jordan Knight, "Give It To You" Jennifer Lopez, "If You Had My Love" Ricky Martin, "Livin' La Vida Loca"

Breakthrough Video: Busta Rhymes, "Gimme Some More" Eels, "Last Stop: This Town" Eminem, "Guilty Conscience" Fatboy Slim, "Praise You" Korn, "Freak On A Leash" U.N.K.L.E., "Rabbit In Your Headlight"

Art Direction: Barenaked Ladies, "One Week" Busta Rhymes (featuring Janet Jackson), "What's It Gonna Be" Garbage, "Special" Lauryn Hill, "Doo Wop (That Thing)" Korn, "Freak on a Leash" TLC, "No Scrubs"

Special Effects: Black Eyed Peas, "Joints & Jams" Busta Rhymes (featuring Janet Jackson), "What's It Gonna Be" Garbage, "Special" Korn, "Freak on a Leash" Will Smith, "Miami" Madonna, "Nothing Really Matters"

Editing: 2Pac, "Changes" Cher, "Believe" Korn, "Freak on a Leash" TLC, "No Scrubs"

Choreography: Ricky Martin, "Livin' La Vida Loca" Fatboy Slim, "Praise You" Will Smith, "Wild Wild West" Britney Spears, "Baby One More Time"

Cinematography: Hole, "Malibu" Korn, "Freak on a Leash" Madonna, "Beautiful Stranger" Marilyn Manson, "The Dope Show" Will Smith, "Miami"