MTV’s Video Music Awards took place last night at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and here’s where you can see all the performances. Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion came together to give “Bongos” its live debut, and Lil Wayne performed his new song “Kat Food” for the first time, too. Elsewhere, Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat, Demi Lovato, and Karol G took the stage, as did the K-pop groups Stray Kids and Tomorrow X Together. Anitta and Måneskin both returned to the VMAs for the second year in a row, before a grand finale celebrating hip-hop’s 50th anniversary united Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, LL Cool J, Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels, Doug E. Fresh, and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.
Taylor Swift and “Anti-Hero” led the field this year, winning seven of the eight main awards for which she was nominated. (She lost out to Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire” in Best Editing.) The Midnights single won Video of the Year over SZA’s “Kill Bill,” one of the R&B singer’s six nominations behind SOS.
Follow along with all of Pitchfork’s coverage of the 2023 VMAs.
Anitta
After bringing “Envolver” to the VMAs last year, Brazilian pop star Anitta returned to perform a medley of hits from Funk Generation: A Favela Love Story.
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion brought their new single, “Bongos,” to the stage for the first time. It’s the first collaboration from the hip-hop superstars since their 2021 blockbuster, “WAP.”
Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels, Doug E. Fresh, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, LL Cool J, Lil Wayne, and Nicki Minaj
The VMAs honored the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with a decade-sprawling mega-medley. Groundbreakers Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels, Doug E. Fresh, and Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five performed, along with LL Cool J, Lil Wayne, and Nicki Minaj.
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato played her single “Swine,” written in response to the Supreme Court’s 2022 strikedown of Roe v. Wade.
Diddy
As part of the proceedings for his Global Icon Award, VMAs mainstay Diddy, who first played the ceremony in 1997, performed for the first time since hosting in 2005.
Doja Cat
Doja Cat’s appearance at the VMAs was her first televised outing since she started releasing material from her forthcoming follow-up to 2021’s Planet Her.
Fall Out Boy
Four-time VMA winners and 16-time nominees Fall Out Boy played their Billy Joel redux “We Didn’t Start the Fire.”
Kaliii
Best New Artist nominee Kaliii followed her summer song with Fifty Fifty, “Barbie Dreams,” with a performance on the Extended Play Stage.
Karol G
Colombian pop phenom Karol G took a break from her stadium tour to bring her Bichota Season mixtape to the VMAs for her debut at the show.
Kelsea Ballerini
Country star Kelsea Ballerini, who turns 30 today, celebrated with her VMAs debut, delivering a world premiere performance of “Penthouse” from her new EP, Rolling Up the Welcome Mat (For Good).
Lil Wayne
Along with partaking in the VMAs’ centerpiece tribute to hip-hop, Lil Wayne debuted his new single, “Kat Food,” in a medley with “Back That Azz Up” and “Uproar.”
Måneskin
The high-drama Italian rock band Måneskin returned to the VMAs for the second straight year to play “Honey (Are U Coming?).”
Metro Boomin ft. Future, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Swae Lee and Nav
Metro Boomin made his VMAs debut with the first broadcast performance of his singles “Superhero (Heroes & Villains),” with Future, and “Calling,” with A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, Swae Lee, and Nav.
Nicki Minaj
Along with emceeing the full show and joining the star-studded hip-hop anniversary celebration, the Queen of the Barbz made a solo showing to play “Last Time I Saw You” ahead of Pink Friday 2.
NLE Choppa ft. Nelly
Memphis rapper NLE Choppa played the pre-show in support of recent album Cottonwood 2 and new single “It’s Getting Hot.” He was joined by Nelly.
Olivia Rodrigo
Olivia Rodrigo performed two new songs from her album Guts: “Vampire” and “Get Him Back.”
Peso Pluma
Peso Pluma supported his landmark album Genesis by delivering his inaugural VMAs performance, as well as competing for Best New Artist, Best Latin, and Song of the Summer.
Reneé Rapp
The Best New Artist nominee just released the Billboard hit LP Snow Angel, and she celebrated with a performance on the Extended Play Stage.
Sabrina Carpenter
Beloved pop singer Sabrina Carpenter played during the 90-minute pre-show special, following her shows opening for Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour.
Shakira
Honored with this year’s Video Vanguard Award, Shakira performed a medley of her hits.
Stray Kids
Stray Kids debuted at the VMAs with the U.S. broadcast premiere of “S-Class,” from the K-Pop outfit’s recent album 5-Star. They also competed in the Best K-Pop category for the second time and won their first Moon Person.
Tomorrow X Together ft. Anitta
The K-pop stars premiered a new single with Brazilian sensation Anitta ahead of their third studio album, The Name Chapter: Freefall.
The Warning
Fresh from opening for the likes of Guns N’ Roses, Foo Fighters, and Muse, sister act the Warning made their U.S. television debut on the Extended Play Stage.
Source: pitchfork.com
