With just one new video to his credit, the trash-talking rapper is once again leading the pack of nominees for the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards, as his superhero-style video "Without Me" joined rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott and rap-rockers P.O.D. with six nominations apiece Monday.
Two years after his last MTV-sponsored trophy haul, Slim Shady is back, scoring nods for Best Video of the Year and Best Rap Video for his clip, in which he and Dr. Dre star as caped crusaders saving children from their own music. Joining Em in the race for the Video of the Year Moon Man: P.O.D.'s "Alive," 'N Sync's "Gone," Linkin Park's "In the End," the White Stripes' "Fell in Love with a Girl" and Nas' "One Mic."
Elliot scored a Best Hip-Hop Video nomination for "One Minute Man," her rage-against-the-quickie video featuring Ludacris and Trina.
For others, meanwhile, the most exciting news of the day might be that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are confirmed to perform at the 19th annual ceremony, airing August 29 from New York's Radio City Music Hall.
It'll mark Bruuuce's first appearance on the cable spectacle since 1997, when he showed up to join the Wallflowers on their hit song "One Headlight." (We're guessing this one's gonna be more memorable.)
Other performers slated for the show include Eminem and Pink.
Both Em and P.O.D. also will square off in the Viewer's Choice category, where they're nominated alongside Enrique Iglesias' "Hero," Michelle Branch's "Everywhere," Brandy's "What About Us" and B2K's "Uh Huh." The boys of B2K will also have the shrieking teeny-boppers on their side when they compete for Best New Artist alongside R&B newcomer Ashanti, singer-songwriter John Mayer, rebel-popster Avril Lavigne and mopey rockers Puddle of Mudd.
Other multiple nominees Monday included Detroit garage rockers the White Stripes, whose innovative use of Lego blocks for "Fell in Love With a Girl" nabbed them four nominations. Hip-shaking Latin popster Shakira also snagged four nods for "Whenever, Wherever," which is up for Best Female Video and Best Dance Video, among others.
'N Sync, Linkin Park, Elton John, Michelle Branch, Pink, No Doubt and Ashanti are also among the multiple nominees for this year's show.
Handling hosting duties this year is Saturday Night Live bedhead Jimmy Fallon, who previously hosted the MTV Movie Awards alongside Kirsten Dunst. He's taking the job from Jamie Foxx, who managed to offend everyone and their mothers at last year's show. (Or, in other words: He did his job.)
Here's a complete rundown of the nominees: BEST VIDEO OF THE YEAR: 'N Sync, "Gone" Eminem, "Without Me" Linkin Park, "In the End" P.O.D., "Alive" Nas, "One Mic" The White Stripes, "Fell in Love With a Girl"
MALE VIDEO: Eminem, "Without Me" Enrique Iglesias, "Hero" Craig David, "Walking Away" Usher, "U Got It Bad" Elton John, "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" Nelly, "#1"
FEMALE VIDEO: Britney Spears, "I'm a Slave 4 U" Pink, "Get The Party Started" Shakira, "Whenever, Wherever" Ashanti, "Foolish" Michelle Branch, "All You Wanted"
GROUP VIDEO: 'N Sync w/Nelly, "Girlfriend (Remix)" No Doubt, "Hey Baby" Blink-182, "First Date" Linkin Park, "In the End" Dave Matthews Band, "Everyday" P.O.D., "Alive"
RAP VIDEO: Eminem, "Without Me" Nas, "One Mic" DMX, "Who We Be" Ludacris, "Saturday (Oooh! Oooh!)" P. Diddy w/the Bad Boy Family, "Bad Boy for Life"
R&B VIDEO: Usher, "U Got It Bad" Ashanti, "Foolish" Aaliyah, "Rock the Boat" Alicia Keys, "A Woman's Worth" Mary J. Blige, "No More Drama"
HIP-HOP VIDEO: Missy "Midemeanor" Elliott w/Ludacris and Trina, "One Minute Man" Busta Rhymes w/P. Diddy and Pharrell, "Pass the Courvoisier (Part II)" Jennifer Lopez w/Ja Rule, "I'm Real (Remix)" OutKast w/Killer Mike, "The Whole World" Ja Rule w/Ashanti, "Always on Time" Fat Joe w/Ashanti, "What's Luv"
DANCE VIDEO: Kylie Minogue, "Can't Get You Out of My Head" Britney Spears, "I'm a Slave 4 U" Dirty Vegas, "Days Go By" Pink, "Get The Party Started" Shakira, "Whenever, Wherever"
ROCK VIDEO: Linkin Park, "In the End" Creed, "My Sacrifice" System of a Down, "Chop Suey!" Korn, "Here to Stay" P.O.D., "Youth of the Nation" Jimmy Eat World, "The Middle"
POP VIDEO: 'N Sync w/Nelly, "Girlfriend (Remix)" Pink, "Get The Party Started" Shakira, "Whenever, Wherever" Michelle Branch, "All You Wanted" No Doubt, "Hey Baby"
NEW ARTIST: Ashanti, "Foolish" John Mayer, "No Such Thing" Avril Lavigne, "Complicated" B2K, "Uh Huh" Puddle of Mudd, "Blurry"
VIDEO FROM A FILM: Chad Kroeger w/Josey Scott, "Hero," Spider-Man Will Smith, "Black Suits Comin' (Nod Ya Head)," Men in Black II Ludacris w/Nate Dogg, "Area Codes," Rush Hour II Nelly, "#1," Training Day
VIEWER'S CHOICE: Brandy, "What About Us" Enrique Iglesias, "Hero" Michelle Branch, "Everywhere" B2K, "Uh Huh" Eminem, "Without Me" P.O.D., "Alive"
BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO DMX, "Who We Be" The Crystal Method, "Name of the Game" Coldplay, "Trouble" The White Stripes, "Fell in Love With a Girl" Maxwell, "This Woman's Work" Cake, "Short Skirt/Long Jacket"
MTV2 AWARD Dashboard Confessional, "Screaming Infidelities" The Hives, "Hate to Say I Told You So" Norah Jones, "Don't Know Why" Musiq, "Half Crazy" Nappy Roots w/Jazze Pha, "Awnaw" The Strokes, "Last Nite"
DIRECTION: David LaChapelle, "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore," Elton John Francis Lawrence, "Alive," P.O.D. Joseph Kahn, "Without Me," Eminem Dave Meyers, "One Minute Man," Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, "By the Way," Red Hot Chili Peppers
CHOREOGRAPHY: Wade Robson, "I'm a Slave 4 U," Britney Spears Fatima Robinson, "Family Affair," Mary J. Blige Michael Rooney, "Can't Get You Out of My Head," Kylie Minogue Rosero, "U Don't Have to Call," Usher
SPECIAL EFFECTS: Nathan McGuinness and Marc Varisco, "One Minute Man," Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott Pixel Envy, "Alive," P.O.D. Pixel Envy, "Black Suits Comin' (Nod Ya Head)," Will Smith Twisted Labs and Sebastian Fau, "Fell In Love With a Girl," the White Stripes
ART DIRECTION: Tim Hope, "Trouble," Coldplay Mike Martella, "One Minute Man," Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott Kirsten Vallow, "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore," Elton John Bruton Jones, "Stick 'Em Up," Quarashi
EDITING: Jay Robinson, "One Minute Man," Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott Joseph Kahn, "Without Me," Eminem Nicholas Erasmus, "Chop Suey!," System of a Down Mikros and Duran, "Fell In Love With a Girl," the White Stripes
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Karsten Gopinath, "One Minute Man," Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott John Perez, "A Woman's Worth," Alicia Keys Brad Rushing, "We Are All Made of Stars," Moby Pascal Leeque, "Whenever, Wherever," Shakira