It’s that time of the summer, where MTV rounds up some of today’s most popular artists, crams them into one room, hands out moon man-shaped trophies of questionable legitimacy, and calls it the Video Music Awards.
Over two decades deep, the VMAs goes down tonight (August 28th), with the usual suspects (Drake, Kanye, Beyoncé) garnering nominations. Alongside Rihanna receiving the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, MTV is also giving Kanye West “four minutes to do whatever he wants,” so who knows what is going to happen.
Keep it locked at the DopeHouse for live updates (via Twitter), and check here for performances as well as winners.
Before Rihanna officially opened up the VMAs (see below), DopeHouse favorite Jidenna set things off with a pre-show performance of “Little Bit More.”
.@Jidenna lit up the NYC skyline with his #VMA pre-show performance of “Little Bit More” https://t.co/dxAfE8GQqK
— MTV (@MTV) August 29, 2016
Rihanna’s first performance, “Where Have You Been” and “We Found Love”
.@rihanna just lit the place on ??? https://t.co/08FE5bBAAe
— MTV (@MTV) August 29, 2016
Rihanna followed up later with “Rude Boy,” “What’s My Name?” & “Work”
badgalriri comes out to play in @rihanna’s second #VMA performance of the night https://t.co/IJfEPBi7we
— MTV (@MTV) August 29, 2016
Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj – “Side To Side“
.@ArianaGrande & @NICKIMINAJ ? slaying “Side to Side” at the #VMAs https://t.co/JNj274hXNS
— MTV (@MTV) August 29, 2016
Future – “F*ck Up Some Commas”
.@1future‘s #VMAs performance was ??? https://t.co/vGwvUFBgxo
— MTV (@MTV) August 29, 2016
Watch Kanye West’s speech and “Fade” video.
Beyoncé also performed, bringing multiple LEMONADE songs to the MSG stage.
Rihanna’s third performance, “Needed Me,” “Pour It Up” and “Bitch Better Have My Money”
Drake presents the Video Vanguard Award and Rihanna’s speech
“She’s someone I’ve been in love with since I was 22 years old.” #VMAs https://t.co/tw6eGKEPsx
— MTV (@MTV) August 29, 2016
RISE, AUBRIH #VMAs https://t.co/bWO3ItezRG
— MTV (@MTV) August 29, 2016
“My success is not my own. It’s my family’s. It’s my fans’. It’s my country’s.” – @rihanna#VMAs https://t.co/g4glV2OEJL
— MTV (@MTV) August 29, 2016
Video of the Year
Adele — “Hello”
Beyoncé — “Formation”
Justin Bieber — “Sorry”
Drake — “Hotline Bling”
Kanye West — “Famous”
Best Male Video
Drake — “Hotline Bling”
Calvin Harris — “This Is What You Came For” f. Rihanna
Bryson Tiller — “Don’t”
The Weeknd — “Can’t Feel My Face”
Kanye West — “Famous”
Best Female Video
Adele — “Hello”
Beyoncé — “Hold Up”
Ariana Grande — “Into You”
Rihanna — “Work” f. Drake
Sia — “Cheap Thrills”
Best New Artist
Desiigner
DNCE
Zara Larsson
Lukas Graham
Bryson Tiller
Best Hip-Hop Video
2 Chainz — “Watch Out”
Chance the Rapper — “Angels” f. Saba
Desiigner — “Panda”
Drake — “Hotline Bling”
Bryson Tiller — “Don’t”
Best Collaboration Video
Beyoncé — “Freedom” f. Kendrick Lamar
Fifth Harmony — “Work from Home” f. Ty Dolla $ign
Ariana Grande — “Let Me Love You” f. Lil Wayne
Calvin Harris — “This Is What You Came For” f. Rihanna
Rihanna — “Work” f. Drake
Best Long Form Video
Beyoncé — “Lemonade”
Justin Bieber — “Purpose: The Movement”
Chris Brown — “Royalty”
Florence + The Machine — “The Odyssey”
Troye Sivan — “Blue Neighbourhood Trilogy”
Song of Summer
The Chainsmokers — “Closer” f. Halsey
Drake — “One Dance” f. Kyla and Wizkid
Fifth Harmony — “All in My Head (Flex)” f. Fetty Wap
Selena Gomez — “Kill Em with Kindness”
Calvin Harris — “This Is What You Came For” f. Rihanna
Nick Jonas — “Bacon” f. Ty Dolla $ign
Kent Jones — “Don’t Mind”
Major Lazer — “Cold Water” f. Kustin Bieber and MØ
Sia — “Cheap Thrills”
Justin Timberlake — “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”