Nicki Minaj receiving VMA’s Video Vanguard Award

Global superstar will also perform at ceremony

Rapper Nicki Minaj will receive MTV’s Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award and perform for the first time since 2018 at the 2022 VMAs, airing live from Prudential Center on Sunday, August 28th at 8 pm ET/PT. The 17x nominated and 5x VMAs winner, who took home her first Moon Person for Best Hip Hop Video in 2011, is nominated this year for “Best Hip Hop.”

“Nicki has broken barriers for women in hip-hop with her versatility and creative artistry,” states Bruce Gillmer, President of Music, Music Talent, Programming & Events, Paramount and Chief Content Officer, Music, Paramount+. “She has shifted the music industry and cemented her status as a global superstar with her crossover appeal, genre-defying style and continuing to be unapologetically ‘Nicki’.”

Minaj’s next single, “Super Freaky Girl” will be released on August 12th.

Previous Vanguard Award recipients include Madonna, Janet Jackson, LL Cool J, Jennifer Lopez and Missy Elliott. David Bowie, The Beatles and director Richard Lester shared the honor at the first-ever VMAs in 1984.

Minaj made her VMAs main stage debut in 2012, rapping a surprise verse on Alicia Keys’ “Girl on Fire” and returned with a trifecta of performances in 2014, first taking fans to the Amazonian jungle with “Anaconda,” then teaming up with Ariana Grande and Jessie J for a show-stopping performance of “Bang Bang,” and finally, “She Came To Give It To U” with Usher.

In 2015, Minaj again performed a trio of songs, first “Trini Dem Girls,” before bringing Taylor Swift on stage for “The Night Is Still Young” and “Bad Blood.” She reunited with Ariana Grande in 2016 for “Side To Side,” and in 2017, joined host Katy Perry for a performance of “Swish Swish” and opened the show with a nine minute performance.

Minaj’s most recent VMAs appearance included an unforgettable rap medley from her album Queen, featuring songs “Majesty,” “Ganga Burn,” “FEFE” and “Barbie Dreams” at the 2018 show.

Beyond her can’t-miss performances, Minaj always dazzles the VMAs red carpet with trendsetting fashion and hairstyles, creating immediate viral frenzies across social media and media worldwide.

Anitta, J Balvin, Marshmello x Khalid and Panic! At The Disco are also set to take the 2022 VMAs stage with additional performers to be announced soon.

Jack Harlow, Kendrick Lamar and Lil Nas X lead the nominations with seven each. Doja Cat and Harry Styles follow with six each with Billie Eilish, Drake, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift and The Weeknd closely behind with five apiece. Noms for social categories “Group of the Year” and “Song of Summer” to be announced soon.

Fans can vote for their favorites across 22 gender-neutral categories by visiting vote.mtv.com through Friday, August 19th, thanks to Burger King. Voting for “Best New Artist,” presented by EXTRA Gum, remains active into show.

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com