Mariah Carey won four awards at the ceremony

Carey took artist of the year, R&B song for We Belong Together, R&B voice of the year, and R&B album of the year.

"Whatever you're going through in life, don't ever give up," Carey said.

Rapper Young Buck is awaiting trial after being charged with stabbing an audience member who punched Dr Dre at 2004's show. He denies the charge.

The audience member, Jimmy James Johnson, was sentenced to a year in jail for punching the rap mogul, while Young Buck - whose real name is David Darnell Brown - remains free on bail.

Heightened security meant Saturday night's show, at Sony Studios, Culver City, near Los Angeles, passed without incident.

But there was tension surrounding the night's first award, for "hottest hook", which was won by Hate It Or Love It, billed as being performed by The Game and former collaborator 50 Cent.

The Game collected the award, but avoided mentioning 50 Cent - who did not attend - onstage.

Carey revival

Carey's success marks the latest stage in the revival of her career after the costly failure of her 2001 film and album project Glitter, which saw her dropped by record company EMI.

But her latest album, The Emancipation of Mimi, has been a worldwide hit and earlier this year she held the top two places in the US singles chart, with We Belong Together and Shake It Off.

The Diplomats won best group, while Kanye West won best rapper.

Damian "Junior Gong" Marley - son of reggae legend Bob Marley - received applause for performing Welcome to Jamrock, which won the Boomshot Award for Caribbean music.

Singer Mary J Blige was presented with a VLegend award, honouring her 15 years in the music industry, by producer Quincy Jones.

"Like a phoenix, I stayed strong and didn't kill myself," Blige said later, referring to her past problems with drug abuse and depression.

Full list of winners: