MTV has deliberate a generation-spanning tribute efficiency in celebration of hip-hop’s fiftieth anniversary for the 2023 Video Music Awards. On Tuesday night time, the awards ceremony will conclude with a grand finale efficiency from Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, LL Cool J, Doug E. Recent, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, and Grandmaster Flash and the Livid 5.
The VMAs return to Prudential Heart in Newark, New Jersey this yr, not removed from the place hip-hop was first born in New York. It’s a becoming setting for an evening that can see LL Cool J take the stage on the present as a performer for the primary time in additional than twenty years.
The style’s greats are taking on a good quantity of actual property on the lineup. Lil Wayne will carry out his latest single “Kat Meals” earlier within the night time earlier than returning for the tribute, marking his first VMAs efficiency in additional than a decade.
Nicki Minaj will likely be inescapable all through the present as she serves as each MC and a performer, and she or he’s set to ship a stay rendition of her newest single “Final Time I Noticed You.” Final yr, she MC’d the present alongside LL Cool J and Jack Harlow along with performing a career-spanning Video Vanguard Award medley.
A couple of years in the past, on the 2019 Video Music Awards, MTV rounded up a crew of hip-hop heavyweights to shut out the present in the same approach. The yr’s lineup included Queen Latifah, Naughty by Nature, Redman, Fetty Wap, and Wyclef Jean.
Although they gained’t be featured within the hip-hop 50 tribute, a variety of different rappers will take the stage and symbolize the style on Tuesday night time. Between the pre-show and most important occasion, the VMAs will see performances from Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Future, Metro Boomin, NLE Choppa, Kaliii, and extra. Moreover, hip-hop mogul Diddy will likely be introduced with the third-ever International Icon Award and ship his first VMAs efficiency since 2015.
