Rihanna, this year’s VMA lifetime achievement award victor, kicked off the show and was expected to perform some of her biggest hits in two more appearances during the 2 1/2-hour ceremony from New York’s Madison Garden. “Shut it down. How do you tweet that?” and “I’d give you a eulogy but I’m also dead”. It’s hard to believe that 11 years later we’d come together to create the visual for a song called ‘Work.’ Today the world knows X as Director X… Then, in 2003, she kissed Madonna while performing “Like a Virgin”. I put Ray J in it bro.
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The Video Music Awards, broadcast to more than 120 countries, have always been known more for their on-stage antics than the winners, and this year MTV chose to let the artists loose.
“I am Kanye West, and that feels really great to say, especially this year”, the 39-year-old musician opened the speech.
West could have another memorable moment Sunday if he wins video of the year later in the show.
Her fiance, Cleveland Cavaliers player Iman Shumpert, delivered the couple’s baby girl in their house in December 2015 after she went into labor early.
Other performers include Britney Spears, Ariana Grande with Nicki Minaj, Future, Nick Jonas and The Chainsmokers. The music video for the song “All In My Head” featuring rapper Fetty Wap took home the award. “The rapper-singer-producer performed his hit “(Expletive) Up Some Commas”.
– Hip hop video: Drake, “Hotline Bling”.
– Song of summer: Fifth Harmony feat. Alicia Keys performed an impromptu poem and did an acapella performance before presenting the award for Best Male Video to Calvin Harris feat.
David Bowie – who died from cancer earlier this year – received four nominations for “Lazarus” and won best art direction.
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“The five women nominated for best female video worked hard to be on top of their games”, Raisman said from the VMA stage.
