Awards
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Rap icon LL Cool J took the stage at the MTV Video Music Awards for the first time in nearly 30 years on Wednesday night (Sept. 11) to lead a tribute to the legendary Def Jam record label, which (like the VMAs themselves) celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
LL was introduced by fellow hip-hop great Busta Rhymes, who called him a “true trailblazer… also my hero. He’s not only a hip-hop innovator, he’s not only a godfather, big homie and a mentor — he was the first artist to release an album on Def Jam, and a force to be reckoned with.” (Busta also gave a shoutout to LL’s new album The Force, and shouted out, “I’m proud to say I’m on that album too, baby!!“)
Joined by DJ Z-Trip, LL begun his performance with the first verse and chorus to his 2004 hit “Headsprung,” as throngs of fans sporting his iconic red Kangol hat — some of whom held up pictures of a goat, in reference to LL’s having popularized the “G.O.A.T.” phrase (in reference to the “greatest of all time”) with his 2000 album of that name — flanked the stage.
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Then, Chuck D and Flavor Flav of Public Enemy briefly took over with a performance of their group’s 1988 classic “Bring the Noise,” before Z-Trip ran through a series of prime LL classics: “Mama Said Knock You Out,” “Rock the Bells,” “Around the Way Girl” and “Goin’ Back to Cali.”
From there, the rapper segued into “Passion,” from his new The Force album — pausing to shoutout someone in the crowd, “That’s a nice green shirt” — and the advance single “Proclivities,” which also features Saweetie, and interpolates LL’s 1990 hit “Jingling Baby.” Finally, LL transitioned from “Proclivities” to his R-rated Mr. Smith smash “Doin’ It,” which he performed during his last appearance on the VMAs stage back in 1996.
LL Cool J is a two-time winner at the MTV Video Music Awards: “Mama Said Knock You Out” took best rap video in 1991, and in 1997, he became the first rapper to take home the Video Vanguard award.
Chappell Roan is taking her first-ever MTV Video Music Award hot to go. Following a stand-out performance of “Good Luck, Babe!” at the 2024 awards ceremony, the 26-year-old pop star won best new artist Wednesday night (Sept. 11), a moment she dedicated to all of the people in the LGBTQ+ community who continuously propel her to new heights.
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“Can you believe it? We’re at the VMAs!” Roan cheered after accepting her Moon Person from Tinashe, covering her face with disbelief as fans at New York’s UBS Arena applauded.
“I dedicate this to all the drag artists who inspire me, and I dedicate this to queer and trans people who fuel pop,” she continued, reading from a small journal she took with her on stage. “To the gays, who dedicate my songs to someone they love or hate … for all the queer kids in the midwest watching right now, I see you. I understand you, because I am one of you.”
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After thanking her label, Island Records, Roan — wearing a medieval knight-inspired chainmail hood to match her Joan of Arc theme of the night — left the crowd with one last message. “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t be exactly who you want to be, b—h,” she said with a smirk.
The 2024 VMAs were held at UBS Arena and hosted by Megan Thee Stallion. Eminem opened the show, Vanguard honoree Katy Perry performed a career-spanning medley of her hits, and everyone from Lenny Kravitz to Halsey, Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes and Rauw Alejandro delivered performances.
In addition to best new artist — for which Roan beat out Tyla and Gracie Abrams — the Missouri native was also up for MTV push performance of the year for The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess‘ fan-favorite track “Red Wine Supernova.” Taylor Swift led the nominations with a total of 12, while her “Fortnight” collaborator Post Malone followed with 11.
Prior to accepting her Moon Person, Roan brought the heat on stage with a fiery performance of her breakout single “Good Luck, Babe!” Dressed in a suit of armor, the vocalist lit a castle on fire with a flaming crossbow without missing a single note of the track, which reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August.
Rauw Alejandro made a memorable debut at the 40th MTV VMAs on Wednesday (Sept. 11), dazzling with a performance rich in cultural homage and electric energy, channeling the vintage Broadway glitz and grit of West Side Story. Dressed in an outfit reminiscent of late ’60s New York with a hint of pachuco style, the Puerto […]
Benson Boone has lit up the charts — and the fashion blogs — all year with his breakthrough hit, “Beautiful Things,” and his unique sartorial taste. Which is why it was no surprise that the mustachioed crooner from Washington whose penchant for sleeveless denim vests and gauzy shirts have inspired robust “What to Wear to […]
Rock and roll icon Lenny Kravitz performed a ripping three-song medley at the MTV Video Music Awards on Wednesday (Sept. 11). Introduced by British singer-songwriter Suki Waterhouse — who called him a “rock God with a sound completely his own” — Kravitz started his set with his signature 1993 classic “Are You Gonna Go My […]
And for her next trick, the Great Impersonator — aka Halsey — somehow made the MTV Video Music Awards stage into a cozy driveway as the pop star belted out new single “Ego” from the inside of a suburban garage. The star began their performance by riding across the UBS Arena stage on a bicycle, […]
Megan Thee Stallion is working overtime at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards. In addition to playing host for the night, the Houston Hottie also performed an energetic medley of fiery tracks from her Megan album on Wednesday (Sept. 11). Hot Girl Meg hit the stage in a pair of strappy boots that made it […]
Chappell Roan just transformed the MTV Video Music Awards into the pink pony club — but make it the 1430s. In her highly anticipated awards show performance debut, the best new artist nominee brought the fire — literally — while singing an impassioned rendition of her breakthrough hit “Good Luck, Babe!” in front of her new A-list peers in the music industry, giving the track a historical twist.
After being introduced by one her own heroes, drag queen Sasha Colby, the 26-year-old pop tastemaker appeared on New York’s UBS Arena stage in a suit of armor and aimed a crossbow at a magnificent castle erected behind her, setting it ablaze with a fiery arrow. Joined by a fleet of knights, Roan danced around the stage while serving up powerful vocals.
“When you wake up next to him in the middle of the night with your head in your hands, you’re nothing more than his wife,” she sang, moments before nailing the track’s sustained, belted high note. “You know I hate to say it, but, I told you so!”
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The entire night was a Joan of Arc theme for the “Hot to Go!” musician — or Roan of Arc, one could say. Before she stepped out in her knight’s uniform during her performance, she took to the red carpet in a sheer medieval gown, escorted by a man in a period costume and posing atop her own ancient-looking decorative rug.
In addition to the best new artist category — in which she’s competing against Sabrina Carpenter and Gracie Abrams — Roan is up for MTV push performance of the year thanks to her Billboard Hot 100 hit “Red Wine Supernova.” The honors come amid a whirlwind rise for the Missouri native, who in a matter of months has drawn in millions of new fans thanks to her viral performances at festivals such as Coachella and Gov Ball, and the success of her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, which reached a new peak at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in August.
The 2024 VMAs kicked off at 8 p.m. Wednesday at New York’s UBS Arena, with Megan Thee Stallion helming the program as host, show opener Eminem, Vanguard honoree Katy Perry and several more artists tapped to perform. Taylor Swift led the nominations with a total of 12 nods, while her “Fortnight” collaborator Post Malone followed right behind with 11.
Anitta brought a sizzling blend of glamour and rhythm to the 2024 MTV VMAs Wednesday (Sept. 11), transforming the stage into a party. The Brazilian superstar dazzled in a white and metallic bodysuit paired with baggy pants, opening her performance with the premiere of “Paradise.” The energy surged as Fat Joe, dressed in flannel and […]
Katy Perry accepted the Video Vanguard award with a house-ified career-spanning performance at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards on Wednesday (Sept. 11).
“We fell in love with her as Katy Perry,” began actor Orlando Bloom when introducing his partner. “I fell in love with her as Katheryn Hudson. You know her as a global superstar who brings love light and her unique sense of humor to every song she writes and every music video she creates. I know her as a mother, as a partner, who brings that same love and joy to our family.”
After a short video intro, Katy Perry began her career-spanning performance with a remixed version of her “Dark Horse” collab with Juicy J, as she hung suspended from the middle of a big webby circle on stage. She was then lifted around the stage for a rendition of her Kanye teamup “ET,” running across her backing dancers before finally being lowered onto the stage.
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From there, Perry debuted the new song “I’m His, He’s Mine,” featuring guest rapper Doechii and an interpolation of Crystal Waters’ early ’90s dance hit “Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless),” as Perry and Doechii writhed together on stage. She then launched into a version of her signature Teenage Dream smash “California Girls,” with an intro that lifted from Stardust’s 1998 French touch classic “Music Sounds Better With You,” before seguing into a clubbier version of the album’s beloved title track.
After a quick guiter interlude, Perry came back out with big silver balloon wings to perform her 2008 breakout single “I Kissed a Girl.” She then transitioned into Teenage Dream third single “Firework,” singing the first verse and chorus over a minimal piano backing, with friend-turned-rival-turned-friend-again Taylor Swift gleefully applauding the performance in the audience. She then closed out the performance with a rendition of her 143 single “Lifetime,” holding up a paper butterfly as the crowd applauded.
“I did that all on the first day of my period, too. Can you believe it?” Perry began her acceptance speech. “Thank you so much to MTV for believing in my weirdness from day one, and for helping artists extend their worlds beyond a song. There are so many things that have to align to have a long and successful career as an artist. There are no decade-long accidents.”
She went on to give thanks to a few people, including her team, her label Capitol Records and her parents (“We don’t always agree, but what a lesson that those disagreements can still be full of love”). She also gave her early fans a treat by thanking “MySpace, Warped Tour and all the bygone places wehre I found a voice, identity and a community so early on,” as well as friends “who were there when my Jetta was repossessed. My KatyKats who stood by me for a lifetime,” and the LGBTQ community, “who I recognize I would not be here without, and who show me that you can be both kind and c–t.”
After giving special shoutout to beau Bloom and daughter Daisy, she closed with some thoughts on the current music industry — “I’m excited when I look around music today and I see all the aamzing young artists who are operating with confidence, agency, vulnerability and authenticity” — and about important lessons she’s learned in her career:
“I’ve heard a lot of do this, don’t do that, wear less, wear more now, don’t cut your hair… one of the biggest reasons I’m standing here right now is I learned how to block out all the noise, that every single artist in this industry has to constantly fight against, especially women. I just want to say with my whole heart, do whatever it takes to stay true to yourself and true to your art, turn off social media, safeguard your mental health, pause, touch grass, and do what you were born to do, just like I was born to do this.”