MTV VMAs
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If you follow both pop music and politics, you may have to choose which you’re going to watch live on Tuesday, Sept. 10 – the first presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and VP Kamala Harris or the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.
Trump agreed to the debate on Thursday (Aug. 8), after initially saying he wouldn’t appear. In response, Harris said on X, formerly Twitter: “I hear that Donald Trump has finally committed to debating me on September 10. I look forward to it.”
The Sept. 10 debate will air on ABC. David Muir, anchor of World News Tonight, and Linsey Davis, anchor of the Sunday edition of that broadcast, will moderate the session. That’s the same date that Trump and President Joe Biden had agreed to their second and final debate, before Biden’s decision to withdraw from the race.
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The first debate of the 2024 general election between Trump and Biden was held on June 27. Biden’s performance was so shaky that even friends and allies urged him to bow out of the race. Less than one month later, on July 21, he announced that he wouldn’t run again and endorsed Harris for the nomination.
There may or may not be additional debates between Trump and Harris. Fox News has proposed a debate on Sept. 4, and NBC News is hoping to host one on Sept. 25. During an appearance in Michigan, Harris said she was “happy to have that conversation” about additional debate(s).
MTV announced Sept. 10 as the date of the 2024 VMAs way back on April 24 – but apparently “dibs” don’t count for much in the high-stakes world of presidential politics.
The VMAs will air from UBS Arena in New York at 8 p.m. ET/PT. (So, depending on what time zone you live in, you may be able to watch both live.) The VMAs will be held just four days shy of the 40th anniversary of the inaugural VMAs at Radio City Music Hall. (That show aired three full weeks before the first debate between President Reagan and former vp Walter Mondale, so there was no conflict.)
This is the second time this summer that a newsworthy event in presidential politics has collided with an awards show. An attempt on Trump’s life occurred on July 13, less than two hours before the Kids’ Choice Awards was scheduled to get underway in Santa Monica, Calif. The awards went on as scheduled, with no mention of the stunning event.
Taylor Swift leads the nominations for the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, with 10 nods. Her “Fortnight” collaborator Post Malone is second, with nine nods – eight in tandem with Swift plus one for his hit “I Had Some Help,” featuring Morgan Wallen. They are followed by Ariana Grande, Eminem and Sabrina Carpenter (six nods each); Megan Thee Stallion and SZA (five each), and LISA, Olivia Rodrigo and Teddy Swims (four each).
“Fortnite” is nominated for video of the year, where it faces Grande’s “we can’t be friends (wait for your love),” Billie Eilish’s “Lunch,” Doja Cat’s “Paint the Town Red,” Eminem’s “Houdini” and SZA’s “Snooze.” This is Eminem’s record-extending ninth nod in the category (counting one he received with D12). It’s Swift’s seventh nod in the category; the fourth for Grande and Doja Cat; the third for Eilish and SZA, and, surprisingly, the first for Post Malone.
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Swift has won a record four times for video of the year, for “Bad Blood” (2015), “You Need to Calm Down” (2019), “All Too Well: The Short Film” (2022) and “Anti-Hero” (2023). She is seeking to extend her record for most wins and to become the first person to win three years running.
Other artists with multiple nominations are Anitta, Benson Boone, Bleachers, GloRilla, Dua Lipa and Tyla, with three each; and Bad Bunny, Eilish, Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Coldplay, Drake, Jelly Roll, Jessie Murph, Jung Kook, Latto, Rauw Alejandro, Sexyy Red, Tate McRae, Usher and Victoria Monét, with two each.
Those nomination tallies are surprisingly low for Chappell Roan and Charli XCX. Both artists blew up near the end of the eligibility period (June 22, 2023 to June 20, 2024). That also explains why Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” is missing in the video of the year and best hip-hop categories. The video was released on July 4. Nominations in social-only categories, including song of the summer, will be revealed in the next couple of weeks, which could give late-breaking artists another chance at some VMAs love.
Boone, Chappell Roan, Gracie Abrams, Shaboozey, Teddy Swims and Tyla are nominated for best new artist. Four of these artists are likely to also be in the running for best new artist when the Grammy nominees are announced on Nov. 8. Abrams and Tyla cannot be. Abrams was nominated in that category at the Grammys on Feb. 4. Tyla won in another category (best African music performance). The VMAs did not nominate Carpenter or Sexyy Red in this category.
If Swift wins four VMAs, she’ll tie Beyoncé as the top winner in the show’s history (unless Bey adds to her Moonperson collection with a song of the year win for “Texas Hold ’Em.” If Eminem wins one award, he will break out of tie with Peter Gabriel as the man with the most VMAs in history (13).
Swift directed the “Fortnight” video, which is nominated for best direction. Swift has won in that category in three of the last four years (for videos she personally directed) – for “The Man,” “All Too Well: The Short Film” and “Anti-Hero.” Swift’s friend and producer Jack Antonoff will have divided loyalties in this category: His band Bleachers is nominated for “Tiny Moves” – which was co-directed by his wife, Margaret Qualley, and Alex Lockett. (Qualley was also nominated for best choreography for that video.)
Art director Nicholas des Jardins has two of the six nominees for best art direction – Rodrigo’s “bad idea right?” and Carpenter’s “Please Please Please.”
In a VMAs quirk, the best pop award is awarded to an artist for overall work during the year, not for a specific video. All of the other genre awards – best hip-hop, best R&B, best alternative, best rock, best Latin, best Afrobeats and best K-pop – are for a specific video. Go figure.
Beginning today, fans can vote for their favorites across 15 gender-neutral categories by visiting vote.mtv.com through Friday, Aug. 30. Voting for best new artist will remain active into the show on Tuesday, Sept. 10. Nominations in social categories will be announced at a later date.
The 2024 VMAs return to New York live on the East Coast from UBS Arena on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The show will be held just four days shy of the 40th anniversary of the inaugural VMAs at Radio City Music Hall, where Madonna stole the show.
Bruce Gillmer and Den of Thieves co-founder Jesse Ignjatovic are executive producers for the 2024 VMAs. Barb Bialkowski is co-executive producer. Alicia Portugal and Jackie Barba serve as executives in charge of production. Wendy Plaut is executive in charge of celebrity talent. Lisa Lauricella is music talent executive.
Here’s the complete list of 2024 VMAs nominees:
Video of the year
Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records
Billie Eilish – “Lunch” – Darkroom / Interscope Records
Doja Cat – “Paint the Town Red” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records
Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records
SZA – “Snooze” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records
Artist of the year
Ariana Grande – Republic Records
Bad Bunny – Rimas Entertainment
Eminem – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records
Sabrina Carpenter – Island
SZA – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records
Taylor Swift – Republic Records
Song of the year
Beyoncé – “Texas Hold ‘Em” – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records
Jack Harlow – “Lovin on Me” – Generation Now / Atlantic Records
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” – pgLang, under exclusive license to Interscope Records
Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso” – Island
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records
Teddy Swims – “Lose Control” – Warner Records
Best new artist
Benson Boone – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner Records
Chappell Roan – Island
Gracie Abrams – Interscope Records
Shaboozey – American Dogwood / EMPIRE
Teddy Swims – Warner Records
Tyla – Epic Records
Best collaboration
Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy “ – OVO / Republic Records
GloRilla, Megan Thee Stallion – “Wanna Be” – CMG / Interscope Records
Jessie Murph feat. Jelly Roll – “Wild Ones” – Columbia Records
Jung Kook feat. Latto – “Seven” – BIGHIT MUSIC / Geffen Records
Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen – “I Had Some Help” – Mercury / Republic / Big Loud
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records
Best pop
Camila Cabello – Geffen / Interscope Records
Dua Lipa – Warner Records
Olivia Rodrigo – Geffen Records
Sabrina Carpenter – Island
Tate McCrae – RCA Records
Taylor Swift – Republic Records
Best hip-hop
Drake feat. Sexyy Red & SZA – “Rich Baby Daddy “ – OVO / Republic Records
Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records
GloRilla – “Yeah Glo!” – CMG / Interscope Records
Gunna – “fukumean” – Young Stoner Life Records / 300 Entertainment
Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions
Travis Scott feat. Playboi Carti – “FE!N” – Cactus Jack / Epic Records
Best R&B
Alicia Keys – “Lifeline” – AK Records, under exclusive license to gamma.
Muni Long – “Made for Me” – Def Jam
SZA – “Snooze” – Top Dawg Entertainment / RCA Records
Tyla – “Water” – FAX Records / Epic Records
Usher, Summer Walker, 21 Savage – “Good Good” – mega / gamma.
Victoria Monét – “On My Mama” – Lovett Music / RCA Records
Best alternative
Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things” – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner Records
Bleachers – “Tiny Moves” – Dirty Hit
Hozier – “Too Sweet” – Columbia Records
Imagine Dragons – “Eyes Closed” – KIDinaKorner / Interscope Records
Linkin Park – “Friendly Fire” – This Compilation / Warner Records
Teddy Swims – “Lose Control (Live)” – Warner Records
Best rock
Bon Jovi – “Legendary” – Island
Coldplay – “feelslikeimfallinginlove” – Atlantic Records
Green Day – “Dilemma” – Reprise Records / Warner Records
Kings of Leon – “Mustang” – Capitol Records
Lenny Kravitz – “Human” – ℗© 2024 Roxie Records Inc. under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management GmbH
U2 – “Atomic City” – Interscope Records
Best Latin
Anitta – “Mil Veces” – Floresta Records / Republic Records / Universal Music Latin Entertainment
Bad Bunny – “Monaco” – Rimas Entertainment
Karol G – “Mi Ex Tenía Razón” – Bichota / Interscope Records
Myke Towers – “LaLa” – Warner Music Latina
Peso Pluma & Anitta – “Bellakeo” – Double P Records
Rauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Sony Music Latin / Duars Entertainment
Shakira & Cardi B – “Puntería” – Sony Music US Latin
Best Afrobeats
Ayra Starr ft. Giveon – “Last Heartbreak Song” – Mavin / Republic
Burna Boy – “City Boys” – Spaceship / Bad Habit / Atlantic Records
Chris Brown ft. Davido & Lojay – “Sensational” – Chris Brown Entertainment / RCA Records
Tems – “Love Me JeJe” – Since ’93 / RCA Records
Tyla – “Water” – FAX Records / Epic Records
Usher, Pheelz – “Ruin” – mega / gamma.
Best K-pop
Jung Kook ft. Latto – “Seven” – BIGHIT MUSIC / Geffen Records
LISA – “Rockstar” – Lloud Co. / RCA Records
NCT Dream – “Smoothie” – SM Entertainment / Virgin Music Group
NewJeans – “Super Shy” – ADOR / Geffen Records
Stray Kids – “LALALALA” – JYP Entertainment / Imperial / Republic Records
TOMORROW X TOGETHER – “Deja vu” – BIGHIT MUSIC / IMPERIAL / Republic Records
Video for good
Alexander Stewart – “if only you knew” – FAE grp
Billie Eilish – “What Was I Made For (From Barbie)” – Darkroom / Interscope Records
Coldplay – “feelslikeimfallinginlove” – Atlantic Records
Joyner Lucas & Jelly Roll – “Best for Me” – Twenty Nine Music Group
RAYE – “Genesis.” – Human Re Sources
Tyler Childers – “In Your Love” – Hickman Holler Records / RCA Records
MTV push performance of the year
August 2023: Kaliii – “Area Codes” – Atlantic Records
September 2023: GloRilla – “Lick or Sum” – CMG / Interscope Records
October 2023: Benson Boone – “In The Stars” – Night Street Records, Inc. / Warner Records
November 2023: Coco Jones – “ICU” – Def Jam
December 2023: Victoria Monét – “On My Mama” – Lovett Music / RCA Records
January 2024: Jessie Murph – “Wild Ones” – Columbia Records
February 2024: Teddy Swims – “Lose Control” – Warner Records
March 2024: Chappell Roan – “Red Wine Supernova” – Island
April 2024: Flyana Boss – “yeaaa” – vnclm_/ Atlantic Records
May 2024: Laufey – “Goddess” – Laufey / AWAL
June 2024: LE SSERAFIM – “EASY” – SOURCE MUSIC / Geffen Records
July 2024: The Warning – “Automatic Sun” – Lava / Republic Records
Best direction
Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records; directed by Christian Breslauer
Bleachers – “Tiny Moves” – Dirty Hit; directed by Alex Lockett & Margaret Qualley
Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records; directed by Rich Lee
Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions; directed by Daniel Iglesias Jr.
Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Island; directed by Barbia Zeinali
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; directed by Taylor Swift
Best cinematography
Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records; cinematography by Anatol Trofimov
Charli XCX – “Von dutch” – Atlantic Records; cinematography by Jeff Bierman
Dua Lipa – “Illusion” – Warner Records; cinematography by Nikita Nuzmenko
Olivia Rodrigo – “obsessed” – Geffen Records; cinematography by Marz Miller
Rauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Sony Music Latin / Duars Entertainment; cinematography by Camilo Monsalve
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto
Best editing
Anitta – “Mil Veces” – Floresta Records / Republic Records / Universal Music Latin Entertainment; editing by Nick Yumul
Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)” – Republic Records; editing by Luis Caraza Peimbert
Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records; editing by David Checel
LISA – “Rockstar” – Lloud Co. / RCA Records; editing by Nik Kohler
Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso” – Island; editing by Jai Shukla
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; editing by Chancler Haynes
Best choreography
Bleachers – Tiny Moves – Dirty Hit; choreography by Margaret Qualley
Dua Lipa – “Houdini” – Warner Records; choreography by Charm La’Donna
LISA – “Rockstar” – Lloud Co. / RCA Records; choreography by Sean Bankhead
Rauw Alejandro – “Touching the Sky” – Sony Music Latin / Duars Entertainment – Choreography by Felix ‘Fefe’ Burgos
Tate McCrae – “Greedy” – RCA Records; choreography by Sean Bankhead
Troye Sivan – “Rush” – Capitol Records; choreography by Sergio Reis, Mauro Van De Kerkof
Best visual effects
Ariana Grande – “the boy is mine” – Republic Records; visual effects by Digital Axis
Eminem – “Houdini” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records; visual effects by Synapse Virtual Production, Louise Lee, Rich Lee, Metaphysic, Flawless Post
Justin Timberlake – “Selfish” – RCA Records; visual effects by Candice Dragonas
Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions; visual effects by Mathematic
Olivia Rodrigo – “get him back!” – Geffen Records; visual effects by Cooper Vacheron, Preston Mohr, Karen Arakelian, Justin Johnson
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; visual effects by Parliament
Best art direction
Charli XCX – “360” – Atlantic Records; art direction by Grace Surnow
LISA – “Rockstar” – Lloyd Co. / RCA Records; art direction byPongsan Thawatwichian
Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA” – Hot Girl Productions; art direction by Brittany Porter
Olivia Rodrigo – “bad idea right?” – Geffen Records; art direction by Nichaolas des Jardins
Sabrina Carpenter – “Please Please Please” – Island; art direction by Nicholas des Jardins
Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight” – Republic Records; art direction by Ethan Tobman
The 2024 MTV Video Awards will return to New York on Tuesday, Sept. 10. That’s just four days shy of the 40th anniversary of the inaugural VMAs at Radio City Music Hall, where Madonna stole the show with a performance of “Like a Virgin” that people are still talking about. This year’s show will be […]
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There’s a grainy clip on Youtube that captures the exact moment Timbaland played JAY-Z the culture-shifting “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” beat. While offering Hova the beats for what became Ludacris’ “The Potion,” the super-producer accidentally played the zany instrumental that prompted Jay to respond the same way everyone does when “Dirt Off Your Shoulders” drops—to grimace and violently bop your head.
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One would think that would be Timbaland’s favorite beat he produced for Hov, but it’s not.
While on the pink carpet at the 2023 VMAs, Timbaland revealed the favorite beat he produced for Jay is actually, “It’s Hot (Some Like It Hot)” off Jay’s Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter.
When asked what his favorite beat he produced for JAY-Z, he cooly responded, “When It’s Hot It’s Hot.” He added, “That’s my favorite one.”
“It’s Hot (Some Like It Hot)” wasn’t released as a single, but became a classic Jigga track thanks to the popular line, “Go against Jigga yo a** is dense/ I’m about a dollar — what the f*ck is 50 cents?”
According to HipHopDX, Jay performed the Timbaland-produced track at Hot 97’s Summer Jam to clap back at 50 Cent who had dissed him, earlier in the year, on his ‘99 street anthem, “How To Rob.” 50 Cent revealed the mention helped validate and propel his career.
“I never went to radio until after he said that about me. I don’t know if my career would be where it’s at if he didn’t respond,” he told Rolling Stone in 2003.
Timbaland and Jay Z have collaborated on some of JAY-Z’s biggest hits. From “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” to “Big Pimpin’” to “Nigga What, Nigga Who,” (a personal favorite, “Is That Yo Chick”) and ‘Holy Grail,” Timbo and Jay are a match made in hip-hop heaven.
“It’s Hot” samples Elsie Mae’s “Whole Lot of Lovin’.”
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*NSYNC set Tuesday night’s 2023 MTV Video Music Awards on fire when they reunited during the broadcast and presented Taylor Swift with the best pop Moon Person for her Midnights hit “Anti-Hero.” The group — consisting of Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick and Lance Bass — spent their time onstage reminiscing about their MTV salad days, basking in the glow of the adoring audience, and getting some serious love from a gobsmacked Swift.
But after Swift admitted she was “not doing well” pivoting from hugging her childhood pop crushes to accepting the award, she also said the thing that was probably on everyone else’s mind: “Are you doing something? What’s going to happen now?”
And then… nothing else happened.
The timing of the reunion was fitting, since less than 48 hours later, *NSYNC announced their first new song since 2002, “Better Place,” their boppy contribution to the upcoming Trolls Band Together threequel starring Timberlake; the song is due Sept. 29. In the lead-up to the awards show, longtime fans were freaking out over posters around New York that appeared to tease the iconic *NSYNC logo that led to this site. That led to rampant speculation that, as Swift suggested, “something” would happen during the prime VMA spot at the top of the nearly four-hour program.
The band did not, however, mention the movie, nor the song, during their appearance, which came in the midst of the the ongoing Hollywood writers and actors strike that began in May when members of the Writers Guild of America walked out, followed by SAG-AFTRA members joining them in July, effectively shutting down Hollywood.
*NSYNC did end up promoting the song in an Instagram post first shared on JT’s feed Thursday (Sept. 14), in which the quintet shared their emotional studio reunion (though there were no tags relating to the film, soundtrack or studio on the post). “So many stars aligned, that’s why I hit y’all,” Timberlake tells his bandmates in the video. “If we do this song, it’s a love letter to our fans. I would be honored to have the group on this song. Who’s ready for a reunion?” The clip then shifts to Timberlake behind the boards giving the rest of the group direction on their vocal tracks while recording his own vocals.
The post begged the question: Did *NYSNC break the rules regarding the promotion of movies and/or soundtracks during the strike?
Earlier this summer, SAG-AFTRA chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland broke down the strike rules about promotion of new or previously completed projects, noting that artists are expected to avoid promoting music created for TV, film or streaming under the old contract during the strike.
“Musicians who are members of SAG-AFTRA are equally subject to the rules around the strike — we cover vocalists in the music industry, as well as vocalists in the film/TV/streaming side and some broadcast journalists — and when any member is working on a project as an actor, then the rules mean that they are not in a position to promote that project, even if they are more generally known as a singer or recording artist,” Duncan Crabtree-Ireland previously told Billboard.
At the time, however, Crabtree-Ireland also said that members cannot enter into any new music licensing agreements or approve any new tracks for film or TV projects and must cease promoting songs already licensed for the duration of the strike.
However, when reached following the VMAs — without specifically mentioning the band or the song — a spokesperson for SAG-AFTRA told Billboard in a statement that: “While some songs are made for a movie under our Theatrical CBA, others are made under our Sound Recording Contract and acquired via a license deal. Songs that are not made under our Theatrical CBA are not subject to the strike order and promotional rules.”
At press time, spokespeople for Timberlake and Trolls studio DreamWorks Animation could not be reached for comment on the promotion of the song, though a source confirmed to Billboard that the track was covered under the Sound Recording Contract.
The 2023 VMAs were noticeably light on the usual parade of A-list and up-and-coming Hollywood actors taking the stage to introduce acts or musicians plugging their latest acting gigs as promotion has ground to a dead halt while the dual strike by actors and writers enters the fall with no end in sight.
The *NSYNC exception is different from the one governing Swift’s recent announcement and promotion of her Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour concert film. After that project was announced, a source close to the film confirmed to Billboard that the Eras doc obtained clearance under an interim agreement struck by SAG-AFTRA covering individual non-AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) productions that meet the same standards the unions are seeking in their negotiations with the studios; the source added that the clearance was nailed down before the Eras doc was shot in Inglewood, California, during the first three nights of the singer’s six-night run at SoFi Stadium.
Billboard also confirmed that the Swift film is included under an assumed name on the list of approved interim agreement projects.
For now, it’s unclear how much, if any, further promotion *NSYNC will do for the song that appears in Trolls Band Together, in which Timberlake’s Branch reunites with his brothers to get their childhood boy band, BroZone, back together. Though *NSYNC got back together to record the song — and fans are predictably freaking out — in the film, Timberlake’s bandmate brothers are voiced by Troye Sivan, Eric André, Daveed Diggs and Kid Cudi.
We are taking a look back at Madonna‘s iconic MTV VMA’s performance of “Like a Virgin.” Evan Burke:You can’t get more iconic than Madonna. You can’t get more pop culture than the VMAs. Put them together, and you have one of the most prolific pairings in music television. We take you back to one of […]
After a clip seemingly showing Megan Thee Stallion and Justin Timberlake arguing at the VMAs goes viral, the two cleared the air in a new TikTok. Ice Spice has collaborated with Dunkin’ on a new drink featuring munchkins. We also break down the biggest winners, the show-stopping performances and all the highlights from the 2023 […]
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The 2023 MTV VMAs took place last night at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. on Wednesday (September 12) and the live show was the grand spectacle most hoped for. While not everything went smoothly as expected during a live event, Hip-Hop Wired takes a look at the biggest and Blackest moments of the 2023 MTV VMAs.
The VMAs, short for MTV Video Music Awards, is now in its 39th year. Given that this year the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop is being widely celebrated, many fixtures of the culture had their big moment during the awards ceremony.
Opening the show was Lil Wayne, who came out to a portion of Juvenile’s “Back That Azz Up” before launching into a two-song medley of “Uproar” with live drums behind him, and a new track “Kat Food,” both appearing to be crowdpleasers. On social media and via the MTV cameras, celebrities and attendees alike were off their feet.
While Weezy F. Baby had the crowd in the palm of his hand, the screams from the crowd for Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion were so loud that they bled into the performance of Bardi’s new single, “Bongos,” and there were indeed bongo players to complete the stage look.
Doja Cat ran through a medley of “Attention,” “Paint The Town Red,” and her latest single, “Demons” and if the reaction from social media is any indication, it may have been the performance of the night.
Diddy, who won the Global Icon VMA last night, also performed a medley of familiar Bad Boy hits with assistance from Yung Miami, Keyshia Cole, and Diddy’s son, King Combs. Diddy’s energy was infectious and had the entire venue rocking.
Metro Boomin looked through his stacked Rolodex for his medley performance of “Superhero” and “Calling” with Future, Swae Lee, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, and NAV on the assist for a vibed-out affair.
Nicki Minaj, who stepped away from emceeing the event to deliver a quick two-song performance got the crowd going with a rendition of “Last Time I Saw You” and an unnamed track from her upcoming Pink Friday 2 project.
Last but certainly not least, Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary couldn’t be ignored and an epic 10-minute performance still barely scratched the surface but Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five, Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Nicki Minaj, Lil Watyyne LL COOL J, and Daryl “D.M.C.” Daniels all turned in a performance that was arguably the best of the night.
The 2023 MTV VMAs was a spectacular night for the culture and impressive as it was all live so mistakes couldn’t be avoided but the professionalism and passion were still a sight to see. Keep scrolling to see the aforementioned moments we wrote about above.
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Photo: MTV/Getty
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Source: Taylor Hill / Getty / Megan Thee Stallion
With the VMAs, there always seems to be some drama. Many viewers thought Megan Thee Stallion had some drama with Justin Timberlake backstage, but the leader of the Hot Girls shut that all down.
On a night when Megan Thee Stallion made her big return to the music world, hitting the VMAs’ red carpet looking as fine as she wanted to be in a sheer number, as fans waited to see her join Cardi B on the VMAs’ stage to perform their new released single “Bongos.”
Before the two rappers and good friends hit the stage, an incident caught on MTV VMAs’ backstage camera had users on X (formerly known as Twitter) reacting.
A video of Megan Thee Stallion while getting ready for her “Bongos” performance, seemingly involved in a heated back and forth with Justin Timberlake, who was in attendance as part of the N’Sync reunion, began making its rounds.
What Really Happened Between Megan Thee Stallion & Justin Timberlake
Following their performance of “Bongos,” reports quickly surfaced that the exchange between Thee Stallion and Justin Timberlake was much ado about nothing.
Per Vulture:
While fans were ready to ride for their stallion, Variety confirmed with a source that there was no fight at all, saying the interaction was actually “very cute.” Timberlake allegedly told Megan that it was nice to meet her, but Megan wanted more than a quick hello. “She said, ‘No, no, this don’t count, this don’t count. We gotta meet proper,’” the source explained. Maybe a Megan Thee Stallion and’ N Sync collab was the surprise Taylor Swift was hoping for.
To further debunk there is no bad blood between them, the Houston rapper shared a video on her Instagram account to prove everything is all good, writing in the caption, “I just talk with my hands.”
People love manufacturing drama. Hit the gallery below for Megan Thee Stallion-related VMAs action.
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Photo: Taylor Hill / Getty
4. They did
If there’s one thing you can count on both Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift to deliver during an awards ceremony, it’s incredible reaction shots. But the pair was spotted in a candid moment together at the 2023 MTV VMAs that has even Gomez laughing. In a post to her Instagram Stories late Tuesday night (Sept. […]