MTV continued the music world’s yearlong tribute to hip-hop on the Video Music Awards on Tuesday night time.
Nicki Minaj, who additionally served because the night time’s emcee, joined Lil Wayne, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Doug E. Recent, Grandmaster Flash and the Livid 5 and LL Cool J for a efficiency celebrating hip-hop’s fiftieth anniversary that closed out the awards present simply earlier than Taylor Swift received video of the 12 months. They carried out a medley of hits on the VMAs, which aired reside from New Jersey’s Prudential Heart.
Early on within the efficiency, Grandmaster Flash and the Livid 5 delivered “The Message,” which is acknowledged as one of many first hip-hop songs to focus on social commentary, particularly poverty within the interior metropolis.
Recent, generally known as the “Human Beatbox,” is credited for his beatboxing strategies, which he took to the stage to carry out.
Minaj then hit the stage in a pink physique go well with, black boots and sun shades to carry out her personal “Itty Bitty Piggy” and “Crimson Ruby Da Sleeze.” She was joined by backup dancers in white tops and silver pants.
Lil Wayne later appeared in a black-hooded jacket for “A Milli,” adopted by LL Cool J in a glittery go well with with “Mama Mentioned Knock You Out.”
The latter then launched DMC as somebody who “knocked down the partitions for all of us.” The 2 carried out RUN-DMC and Aerosmith’s groundbreaking hit, “Stroll This Means.” The remainder of the performers then joined them onstage to shut out the track and the efficiency.
For DMC, this marked his return to the VMAs stage for the primary time in additional than 35 years after Run-DMC’s efficiency of “Stroll This Means” alongside Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and Steven Tyler in 1987.
Within the viewers, Swift was seen participating within the name and response of “Hey….ho….” and dancing and waving her arms alongside to “Stroll This Means.”
The VMAs joins different awards reveals, together with the Grammys and the BET Awards, which have paid tribute to hip-hop this 12 months.
Minaj, who was up for six VMAs this 12 months and received finest R&B for “Tremendous Freaky Woman,” additionally carried out the world premiere of her latest single, “Final Time I Noticed You,” on Tuesday.
Lil Wayne, a five-time Grammy winner, additionally hit the VMA stage to carry out his new single, “Kat Meals,” reside for the primary time.
Grandmaster Flash and the Livid 5 made their VMA debut Tuesday night time.
LL Cool J, MTV’s Video Vanguard Award recipient in 1997, returned to the stage to carry out for the primary time in additional than 25 years after serving as one of many present’s emcees final 12 months alongside Minaj.
