Nicki Minaj joins Lauryn Hill in Billboard history ahead of MTV VMAs
Ahead of co-hosting the MTV VMAs, Nicki Minaj’s “Super Freaky Girl” is the first solo female rap track to debut atop the Billboard Hot 100 since 1998.
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From Madonna voguing in Versailles to Beyoncé’s baby bump reveal, the MTV Video Music Awards have never skimped on high drama.
The fireworks are expected to continue at Sunday’s show in Newark, New Jersey. Despite a less star-studded lineup than past years, the telecast still promises memorable performances from A-list musicians including Lizzo, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Bad Bunny. Meanwhile, five-time VMA winner Nicki Minaj will celebrate her Video Vanguard Award with a career-spanning medley of her greatest hits.
As artists take the Prudential Center stage throughout the night, here are our live reviews of the best and worst performances:
The most outrageous MTV VMA moments ever: From Britney Spears’ snake to Lady Gaga’s meat dress
The Colombian superstars took over the telecast early in the night for a raunchy rendition of their collaboration “Nivel de Perreo,” backed by a line of faceless, latex-clad backup dancers straight out of “American Horror Story.” But the real scene-stealer was a projection of a giant, silvery woman in a bikini, bringing some “Jack and the Beanstalk” realness to the VMAs as she twerked and towered over the crowd for the song’s entire three minutes.
After singing a few bars of her infectious No. 1 hit “About Damn Time,” Lizzo channeled Tom Hanks circa 1988’s “Big”: playing a light-up floor piano with her feet as she launched into her high-energy new single “2 Be Loved (Am I Ready).” It was hard not to get swept up in the genre-smashing artist’s genuine enthusiasm, particularly as she danced in a bubblegum pink ensemble against a backdrop of dozens of miniature Lizzos. We only wish she had taken better advantage of the setup, as she hung toward the back of the stage for most of the performance and often got engulfed by the massive wall of projections behind her.
Fresh off his breakout success last summer with Lil Nas X’s “Industry Baby,” Jack Harlow delivered an instant classic VMAs performance. Dressed as a flight attendant, the suave rapper walked down the aisle of an airplane as he performed his chart-topper “First Class,” playfully interacting with “passengers” including Avril Lavigne along the way. He then made his way to the Prudential Center stage, revealing surprise guest Fergie, whose 2007 hit “Glamorous” is heavily sampled in the track. The screaming crowd – which included multiple cutaways to Taylor Swift – was gleefully riding the nostalgia high, with Fergie and Harlow their effortlessly charismatic captains.
