2022 VMAs

8.29.22

Nicki Minaj VMAs 2022

The 2022 VMAs have wrapped and of course, it was another night to remember, and to celebrate our favorite thing: MUSIC! The evening was hosted by Jack Harlow, LL Cool J and Video Vanguard winner, Nicki Minaj. Kendrick Lamar, Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow tied for the most nominations with seven nominations, each.

As always, the performances and the Red Capet looks keep things excited at the VMAs. Lil Nas X headed to the stage to accept his first award, and was rather sluggish to do so, telling the crowd he felt half naked in front of the world. His outfit was a knit dress with large wholes pretty much everywhere. A contrasting exposed stitch held the garment together, though left little to the imagination.

Nicki Minaj performed an eight track set list to leave the Barbz melting. Most of her choreography was held til the last track, but she kept the energy high as she took us through a solid set list of her catalog over the years. While accepting her Video Vanguard Award, Nicki thanked her son, Young Money, and many of those that inspired her over the years (besides Gucci Mane). She also say Rest In Peace to many of those in the industry that we have lost.

Eminem and Snoop Dogg put on a collaborative performance from the metaverse for this single, From the D 2 the LBC. Each artist performed as a digital version of themselves that turned over to their Bored Ape repeatedly, until they unveiled themselves towards the end of the performance, and was surrounded by virtual creations around them. Both artists have claimed their space in the metaverse world, and it was truly amazing to see some of the creative possibilities they were able to pull off during this performance.

Of course, there were plenty of awards given out, as well. Below are a list of nominations and winners throughout the night.

Video of the Year

Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow - Industry Baby
Doja Cat - Woman
Drake Featuring Future & Young Thug - Way 2 Sexy
Ed Sheeran - Shivers
Harry Styles - As It Was
Olivia Rodrigo - Brutal
WINNER: Taylor Swift - All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version)

Best New Artist

Baby Keem
WINNER: Dove Cameron
Gayle
Latto
Måneskin
Seventeen

Best Rock

Foo Fighters - Love Dies Young
Jack White - Taking Me Back
Muse - Won’t Stand Down
WINNER: Red Hot Chili Peppers - Black Summer
Shinedown - Planet Zero
Three Days Grace - So Called Life

Artist of the Year

WINNER: Bad Bunny
Drake
Ed Sheeran
Harry Styles
Jack Harlow
Lil Nas X
Lizzo

Song of Summer

Bad Bunny and Chencho Corleone - Me Porto Bonito
Beyonce - Break My Soul
Kane Brown - Grand
Doja Cat - Vegas
Future featuring Drake and Tems - Wait for U
WINNER: Jack Harlow - First Class
Steve Lacy - Bad Habit
Latto and Mariah Carey featuring DJ Khaled - Big Energy (Remix)
Lizzo - About Damn Time
Post Malone featuring Doja Cat - I Like You (A Happier Song)
Marshmello and Khalid - Numb
Nicki Minaj - Super Freaky Girl
Charlie Puth featuring Jungkook of BTS  Left and Right
Rosalía - Bizcochito
Harry Styles - Late Night Talking
Nicky Youre and dazy - Sunroof

Best Hip-Hop

Eminem & Snoop Dogg - From the D 2 the LBC
Future Featuring Drake & Tems - Wait for U
Kendrick Lamar - N95
Latto - Big Energy
WINNER: Nicki Minaj Featuring Lil Baby - Do We Have a Problem?
Pusha T - Diet Coke

Best Latin

WINNER: Anitta - Envolver
Bad Bunny - Tití Me Preguntó
Becky G & Karol G - Mamiii
Daddy Yankee - REMIX
Farruko - Pepas
J Balvin & Skrillex - In da Getto

Video for Good

Kendrick Lamar - The Heart Part 5
Latto - P*ssy
WINNER: Lizzo - About Damn Time
Rina Sawayama - This Hell
Stromae - Fils de joie

Best K-Pop

BTS - Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)
Itzy - Loco
WINNER: Lisa - Lalisa
Seventeen - Hot
Stray Kids - Maniac
Twice - The Feels

Album of the Year

Bad Bunny - Un Verano Sin Ti
Billie Eilish - Happier than Ever
Drake - Certified Lover Boy
Adele - 30
WINNER: Harry Styles - Harry's House

Best Longform Video

Billie Eilish - Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles
Foo Fighters - Studio 666
Kacey Musgraves - Star-Crossed
Madonna - Madame X
Olivia Rodrigo - Driving Home 2 U
WINNER: Taylor Swift - All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version)

Best Collaboration

Drake Featuring Future & Young Thug - Way 2 Sexy
Elton John & Dua Lipa - Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)
WINNER: Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow - Industry Baby
Megan Thee Stallion & Dua Lipa - Sweetest Pie
Post Malone & The Weeknd - One Right Now
Rosalía Featuring The Weeknd - La Fama
The Kid Laroi & Justin Bieber - Stay

Push Performance of the Year

September 2021: Griff - One Night
October 2021: Remi Wolf - Sexy Villain
November 2021: Nessa Barrett - I Hope Ur Miserable Until Ur Dead
WINNER: December 2021: Seventeen - Rock With You
January 2021: Mae Muller - Better Days
February 2022: Gayle - ABCDEFU
March 2022: Shenseea - R U That
April 2022: Omar Apollo - Tamagotchi
May 2022: Wet Leg - Chaise Longue
June 2022: Muni Long - Baby Boo
July 2022: Doechii - Persuasive

Best Metaverse Performance

WINNER: Blackpink the Virtual - PUBG
BTS - Minecraft
Charli XCX - Roblox
Justin Bieber – An Interactive Virtual Experience - Wave
Rift Tour Featuring Ariana Grande - Fortnite
Twenty One Pilots Concert Experience - Roblox

Best Alternative

Avril Lavigne Featuring Blackbear - Love It When You Hate Me
Imagine Dragons & J.I.D - Enemy
Machine Gun Kelly Featuring Willow - Emo Girl
WINNER: Måneskin - I Wanna Be Your Slave
Panic! at the Disco - Viva las Vengeance
Twenty One Pilots - Saturday
Willow & Avril Lavigne Featuring Travis Barker - Grow

Song of the Year

Adele - Easy on Me
WINNER: Billie Eilish - Happier Than Ever
Doja Cat - Woman
Elton John & Dua Lipa - Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)
Lizzo - About Damn Time
The Kid Laroi & Justin Bieber - Stay

Best Pop

Billie Eilish - Happier Than Ever
Doja Cat - Woman
Ed Sheeran - Shivers
WINNER: Harry Styles - As It Was
Lizzo - About Damn Time
Olivia Rodrigo - Traitor

Best R&B

Alicia Keys - City of Gods (Part II)
Chlöe - Have Mercy
H.E.R. - For Anyone
Normani Featuring Cardi B - Wild Side
Summer Walker, SZA & Cardi B - No Love (Extended Version)
WINNER: The Weeknd - Out Of Time

Best Group

Blackpink
WINNER: BTS
City Girls
Foo Fighters
Imagine Dragons
Måneskin
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Silk Sonic

Cinematography

Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar – “family ties”
Camila Cabello ft. Ed Sheeran – “Bam Bam” 
WINNER: Harry Styles – “As It Was” 
Kendrick Lamar – “N95” 
Normani ft. Cardi B – “Wild Side”
Taylor Swift – “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version)

Best Direction

Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar - Family Ties
Billie Eilish - Happier Than Ever
Ed Sheeran - Shivers
Harry Styles - As It Was
Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow - Industry Baby
WINNER: Taylor Swift - All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version)

Best Art Direction

Adele - Oh My God
Doja Cat - Get Into It (Yuh)
Drake Featuring Future & Young Thug - Way 2 Sexy
Kacey Musgraves - Simple Times
WINNER: Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow  - Industry Baby
Megan Thee Stallion & Dua Lipa - Sweetest Pie

Best Visual Effects

Billie Eilish - Happier Than Ever
Coldplay & BTS - My Universe
Kendrick Lamar - The Heart Part 5
WINNER: Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow - Industry Baby
Megan Thee Stallion & Dua Lipa - Sweetest Pie
The Kid Laroi & Justin Bieber - Stay

Best Choreography

BTS - Permission to Dance
WINNER: Doja Cat - Woman
FKA twigs Featuring The Weeknd - Tears in the Club
Harry Styles - As It Was
Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow - Industry Baby
Normani Featuring Cardi B - Wild Side

Best Editing

Baby Keem & Kendrick Lamar - Family Ties
Doja Cat - Get Into It (Yuh)
Olivia Rodrigo - Brutal
WINNER: Rosalía - Saoko
Taylor Swift - All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version)
The Weeknd - Take My Breath