Hip Hop Dominates Video Music Awards
Urban Music Takes Over Awards on Network that Used to Shun Art Form
Sep 9, 2008
T-Pain’s arrival a top an elephant, Rihanna’s Grace Jones/Tim Burtonesque performance, Lil Wayne’s set, and Kanye West’s closing made this year’s 25th annual VMAs an event to be remembered.
Rihanna’s “Disturbia” Performance
Lamb voiced “R&B singer” Rihanna opened this year’s ceremony with a dark zombie like performance of her hit song “Disturbia.” Clad in a tight fitting ensemble, Rihanna rolled into the venue on a giant wedding cake looking platform surrounded by equally eerie dancers.
She belted out her tune with passion, raising the overall feel in the room. She then linked up with T. I. for the rapper’s performance of “Live Your Life,” a song from his unreleased album “Paper Trail.”
Lil Wayne & T-Pain’s Performance
Lil Wayne began his set with Leonia Lewis’ soulful voice singing the hook to “Don’t Get It.” He followed up with a bit from his hit song “A Milli.” Wayne closed out his stage time with his top hat loving friend T-Pain as the “odd” duo stomped and danced their way through “Got Money.”
When accepting the award for Best Hip Hop Video for “Lollipop,” a humbled Wayne said he only wanted to thank three people: “God, my family, and ya’ll.”
Kanye West Closes VMAs
After stomping and crying about how he would never perform at the VMAs again, Kanye West went back on his word and gave one of the best performances of the night.
Debuting his song, “Love Lockdown,” Ye showed fans that it is possible for the best to get better. Dressed in a grey suit with a bright red heart, Ye sang the lyrics from his soul. “Keep your love loved down/ So keep your love locked down,” Ye sang to the inspired crowd.
Of course there were some "non-hip-hop" moments. Pink literally smashed her way through the Paramount back lot during her performance of her new song “So What.” Although she lip synched the entire first verse of her song, Christina Aguilera’s “future shock” version of her hit “Genie In A Bottle” coupled with her new song “Keep Getting Better,” was a commendable attempt at a “come back.”
The Jonas Brothers were also on hand for the teeny bopper crowd in their first VMA performance with their new ballad “Lovebug.” Surrounded by hoards of screaming girls, the “promise ring” wearing brothers ended their set with a “power pop rocker.”
Other honorees included the Pussycat Dolls for “When I Grow Up,” Chris Brown for “With You,” and Germany’s Tokio Hotel for Best New Artist.
The question now becomes: Hip Hop has literally taken over the world. So what is next?
