The much heralded showdown between outspoken rapper Eminem and popsters 'NSYNC (who he's been known to speak out about quite frequently) came down to a draw Thursday night, as both acts turned their six nominations into three awards at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.

The controversial rapper earned a share of the top VMA spot with nods for Best Male Video, Best Rap Video, and Video Of The Year. Em's "The Real Slim Shady" was named Best Male Video, which also took the night's top honors for Video Of The Year, while his work with Dr. Dre on "Forgot About Dre" earned the Best Rap Video Moonman.

While the VMA field provided some stiff competition, Shawn and Marlon Wayans may have faced the evening's most daunting task. The tag-team hosts' act tried to follow in the footsteps of Chris Rock, who slammed it out of the park last year. The

duo scored with a couple of pre-taped pieces spoofing Rock, Napster, and Macy Gray, but seemed to fall flat with their opening routine -- at least until Marlon dropped his pants.

The evening was not without zingers, however, as the always entertaining mix of musicians and open mics provided at least a few memorably catty moments.

"This is the one night where you can fit all the people that I don't like into one room," Em told MTV News on his way into Radio City.

Kid Rock even managed to upstage his co-presenter, the famously chatty WWF star The Rock, during his time at the podium, quipping, "No offense to the Backstreet Boys, but the commercial that 'NSYNC did for McDonald's was way cooler than the one that the Backstreet Boys did for Burger King."

Catch all the sizzlin', star-packed VMA action direct from Miami on August 28. MTV News' preshow kicks things off at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT, followed by big show at 8 p.m.

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