Violence At Vibe Awards - Dr. Dre Attacked

Violence broke out at the VIBE MUSIC AWARDS in Santa Monica, California, last night (15NOV04) after an audience member attacked rapper DR DRE.

The rap pioneer was being honoured on the Barker Hanger stage by QUINCY JONES and SNOOP DOGG when a mystery man blocked the former NWA star's path and punched him in the face.

Audience members then started throwing chairs as Jones and Snoop Dogg cleared the stage and Dre was taken backstage by security staff.

Reports claim members of 50 CENT's hip-hop group G UNIT stepped in to defend Dre.

In the chaos that broke out, one man was stabbed and taken to hospital.

One onlooker says, "It was chaos. Dre was being honoured onstage and someone obviously wasn't very happy. It turned really nasty very quickly."

Vibe publicist ANDREA FERGUSON played down the fracas, describing it as a "disruption", and claimed the show continued five minutes later.

Police are investigating the fracas and trying to find the man who stabbed an audience member.