Rapper sought for Vibe stabbing

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- The rapper Young Buck was being sought by police Tuesday for allegedly stabbing a man who punched hip-hop legend Dr. Dre at the Vibe awards.

Buck fled the Santa Monica airport hangar where the awards were taped Monday night, police Lt. Frank Fabrega said.

The incident was sparked as Snoop Dogg and Vibe founder Quincy Jones were preparing to honor Dre with a lifetime achievement award. A man later identified as Jimmy James Johnson approached Dre, who was seated at a table in front of the stage, and appeared to ask for an autograph before punching the veteran hitmaker.

People began shoving, chairs were thrown, punches flew, people got chased. Some in the audience of about 1,000 scurried for the exits -- including Alicia Keys, who was waiting to be honored as Vibe's artist of the year.

Johnson was dragged away by security staff, but then suffered a serious stab wound when he was attacked by a number of people, including Buck, whose real name is David Darnell Brown, according to police.

"Brown is clearly depicted (on videotape) as holding a knife after the assault and is one of a number of fight participants that was pepper-sprayed by officers in their attempt to stop this fight," Police Chief James Butts told a news conference. "We're asking Mr. David Darnell Brown to surrender himself to police."

Johnson, 26, was in stable condition at a hospital.

"It is unfortunate that an event so many people worked very hard to create has been tainted by the actions of a few individuals," Kenard Gibbs, president of Vibe, said in a statement.

Buck, a native of Nashville, Tenn., is a member of superstar 50 Cent's G-Unit group. Buck released his debut solo album, "Straight Outta Ca$hville," in August.

For those who listen to Buck and G-Unit's hardcore rhymes, it's no surprise that Buck would spring to the defense of his godfather Dre, one of the architects of gangsta rap. And performers aren't typically searched when they enter an awards show.

After the fracas was squelched, the taping continued. The show, broadcast Tuesday night on UPN, was seamlessly edited to remove any trace of the attack.

"They can't stop me. I don't care," Dre said on television as he accepted his award, showing no signs of injury.

Preparing to give Dre his award, Vibe founder Quincy Jones thanked the people who made the 10-year-old magazine a success.

"Each and every one of you in this audience," he said, "I thank you from the bottom of my heart."

It was unclear whether his remarks came before or after the stabbing.