By Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter
Sean Paul
DOUBLE PLATINUM and counting deejay Sean Paul is scheming to 'rock' the annual MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) in a 'dutty' way.
The red-hot deejay has been nominated in the categories of 'Best New Artiste in a Video' and 'Best Dance Video'. The Billboard Hot 100 chart topping Get Busy from his sophomore album, Dutty Rock, is responsible for thrusting the deejay into these fiercely-contested categories.
In the category of 'Best New Artiste in a Video', Sean will be locking horns with the likes of 50 Cent for In Da Club, The All American Rejects with Swing, Swing, Kelly Clarkson with Miss Independent, Evanescence featuring Paul McCoy with Bring Me To Life and Simple Plan with their offering, Addicted.
In the swinging division of 'Best Dance Video', Sean will contest the category with the controversial Dirrty by Christina Aguilera featuring Redman, I'm Glad by Jennifer Lopez, My Love is Like Wo by Mya and Rock Your Body by Justin Timberlake.
When The Gleaner spoke with Sean Paul's manager, Jeremy Harding, he was cognisant of the nominations but he was uncertain of the persons with whom he would face-off in the different categories.
"I'll have to see who he is up against, I know 50 Cent, who beat him at the BET Music Awards, is in it, but I am not sure what the people at MTV thinks."
Harding believes that the deejay stands a better chance of copping the 'Best Dance Video' seeing that big money rapper 50 Cent is not among the nominees. Nonetheless, he says they are keeping their fingers crossed.
Harding believes that even if Sean does not win in any of the categories, the privilege of competing against the movers and shakers of the major genres is priceless.
"Just to get a nomination alone is an achievement, so the nomination for two awards is fantastic," he said. Co-President of Atlantic Records, Craig Kallman, could not be reached for comment.
The MTV awards will be held at the Radio City Music Hall, New York. The event will be shown live at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, which translates to 7 p.m. local time. Host of the 1997 and 1999 VMAs, Chris Rock will return to do the honours this year.
According to Harding, they are still not aware what role Sean will play at the event. "Right now, we are still in the process of trying to figure out whether he will perform, be a presenter or just be there," explained Harding.
Checks with the official website for the channel, mtv.com, did not remove this mist of uncertainty that surrounds what role Sean will be playing at the VMAs. The site stated that the presenter's list is 'still under negotiations' and the performer's list is 'still top secret'. Needless to say, being a presenter or better yet, a performer on the night, would add additional gas to Sean's already blazing career.
