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A giant win for the Barbs! Nicki Minaj was honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award on the 2022 MTV VMAs — and her show-stopping efficiency proved precisely why she deserves it.
The 39-year-old rapper took a break from her cohosting duties on Sunday, August 28, to take the stage with a medley of her greatest hits, from “Monster” to “Second 4 Life.” A number of dancers joined her for the Barbie-inspired efficiency, busting strikes on the pyramid-shaped stage. Together with a vivid pink wig and dazzling prime, Minaj wore coloured contacts and a brief pink skirt. The medley wrapped up with “Tremendous Freaky Lady,” the BET Award winner’s newest single which samples the 1981 hit “Tremendous Freak.”
Following the efficiency, video messages from followers sharing their love for Minaj floated on display screen. A handful of Barbs later took the stage to introduce their favourite artist.
Whereas accepting her trophy on the Prudential Middle in Newark, New Jersey, Minaj gave a shout-out to all of her greatest supporters. “To everybody in right here, God bless you and thanks,” she started. “I wish to take a second to only say thanks to among the key those that impressed me and I feel impressed my movement. … [And] individuals who gave me big alternatives that I’ll always remember: Kanye West, Beyoncé, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Eminem, Britney Spears, Rihanna.”
Minaj went on to ship like to Drake “for at all times saying the issues I want to listen to to get me again within the recreation, including, “My entire Younger Cash household, my Republic household, my infants Wendy, Joe, Josh, the entire constructing. I wrote this down, I don’t know why, however this was in my spirit to say. I want that Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson had been right here.”
She concluded by screaming the identify of her fandom. “Barbs!” she gushed. “You guys are my infants, however I’ve a brand new child. His name is Papa Bear and I love him so much. Mommy loves you so, so, so, so, a lot.”
Forward of the awards present, the “Starships” artist celebrated her major career accomplishment by way of social media and teased her can’t-miss efficiency. “I’m receiving the Video Vanguard Award on the 2022 #VMAs!” she captioned an Instagram submit on the time. “You DO NOT !!!! I REPEAT!!!! You do NOTTTTTT wish to miss my efficiency.”
Paramount+ exec Bruce Gillmer went on to present followers extra perception into why Minaj was the proper match for the celebrated honor. “Nicki has damaged limitations for girls in hip-hop together with her versatility and inventive artistry,” he famous in an announcement in August. “She has shifted the music trade and cemented her standing as a worldwide celebrity together with her crossover attraction, genre-defying type and persevering with to be unapologetically ‘Nicki.’”
The “Anaconda” artist is the primary musician to obtain the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award since 2019 when Missy Elliot was given the honour. She made historical past on the time for being the first female rapper to just accept the trophy. Earlier winners embody Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Janet Jackson and extra.
Minaj is not any stranger to the MTV VMAs stage, earning her first nomination in 2010 for Greatest New Artist. She received her first award the next 12 months, taking dwelling Greatest Hip-Hop Video for her music “Tremendous Bass.” 4 extra wins adopted through the years from a complete of 16 nominations, together with Greatest Feminine Video for “Starships” in 2012.
The “Queen Radio” host’s historical past on the awards present has additionally been stuffed with loads of drama. In 2015, Miley Cyrus dissed Minaj throughout an interview with The New York Instances earlier than internet hosting the VMAs — and the Different Lady star added fuel to the feud on the ceremony.
“And now, again to this bitch that had rather a lot to say about me the opposite day within the press,” Minaj mentioned on stage through the stay broadcast. “Miley, what’s good?”
Months later, the “Bang Bang” artist hadn’t let go of the rift. “Perdue chickens can by no means discuss s–t about queens,” Minaj mentioned of the Hannah Montana alum throughout a June 2019 episode of her radio present. “She disrespected me in {a magazine} article for no cause. … Now you popping out with pink wigs, all you bitches wanna be Nicki.”