New York (AP) — The MTV Video Music Awards on August 28 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey will have three masters of ceremony; Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer LL Cool J, Vanguard awardee Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow.
They’ll introduce and present the famous Moonmen trophies alongside performers including Lizzo, Anitta, BLACKPINK, J Balvin, Måneskin, Kane Brown, Marshmello with Khalid, and Panic!
The first tag team host for the VMAs happened in 1984 when Bette Midler and Dan Aykroyd hosted the show and and Marlon and Shawn Wayans hosted in 2000. Other previous hosts include Katy Perry, Arsenio Hall, Jack Black, Russell Brand, Chris Rock and last year, Doja Cat.
LL Cool J is a three-time nominee who won in 1991 for best rap video for “Mama Said Knock You Out,” and was a recipient of the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award in 1997.
The rapper, singer and songwriter Nicki Minaj will receive MTV’s Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award.
“Nicki has broken barriers for women in hip-hop with her versatility and creative artistry,” said Bruce Gillmer, president of music, music talent, programming and events, Paramount+. “She has shifted the music industry and cemented her status as a global superstar with her crossover appeal, genre-defying style and continuing to be unapologetically ‘Nicki’.”
Minaj, a 17-time VMAs nominee and five-time VMAs winner, took home her first Moon Person for best hip-hop video in 2011. This year she is nominated in the best hip-hop category.
Last year NickiNicki Minaj pulled out of her MTV VMAs Performance saying ‘Next Year We There Baby’ Nicki on Twitter. I was the second year in a row that the VMAs did not honor anyone with the Video Vanguard Award. No one received the award from 2004 to 2005 and again between 2007 and 2010. The Vanguard Award was arguably the show’s highest honor between the years of 2013 and 2019 — the recipients in those years were Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé, Kanye West, Rihanna, P!nk, Jennifer Lopez and Missy Elliott.
Harlow, nominated in 2020 for song of the summer for “Whats Poppin,” is tied for the most nominations this year with seven, including artist of the year and video of the year. He will also make his VMA solo debut performance. At last year’s VMAs, Harlow and Lil Nas X gave the debut performance of “Industry Baby.”
Lil Nas X and Kendrick Lamar also have seven nominations.
Harlow, Lil Nas X, Drake, Bad Bunny, Ed Sheeran, Harry Styles and Lizzo will compete for artist of the year.
