The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) are an annual award event that recognizes the best in music video production. Nicki Minaj hosted the VMAs 2023 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The best music videos of the year were recognized with honors, and a star-studded lineup of celebrities hit the stage for performances and more.
Taylor Swift won the MTV VMAs 2023 once again, winning in every televised category in which she was nominated, on a night that otherwise honored Latin music, particularly Shakira's dominance, and 50 years of hip-hop.
Nicki Minaj alone hosted the 40th annual VMAs, and she won best hip-hop for her song “Super Freaky Girl”.
From a night-opening performance by Lil Wayne to Metro Boomin's VMA debut to a finale medley featuring Doug E Fresh, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, LL Cool J, Darryl McDaniels of Run DMC, Lil Wayne, and Minaj herself, the performance-heavy, relatively devoted a significant portion of its nearly four-hour ceremony to celebrating 50 years of hip-hop.
The VMAs also recognized Latin music's global domination, with awards including Brazilian Anitta, who won best Latin for "Funk Rave", Mexican breakout star Peso Pluma, and Colombian singer Karol G, who became the first female artist to have a No. 1 Spanish-language album with Maana Será Bonito.
Karol G took home the award for best collaboration with fellow Colombian Shakira, the night's honoree, for their song “TGQ”. Whereas Shakira was awarded the video vanguard award by Wyclef Jean for her contributions to global music.
It was a night full of awards for female performers, who dominated the set list for the most part. Olivia Rodrigo opened the night with a snappy, pyrotechnic collage of pieces from her sophomore album “Guts”, and Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion debuted their new single “Bongos”. Doja Cat shook the room with Attention, Paint the Town Red, and Demons, flanked by a swarm of female dancers stained in blood-red paint, as Anitta sang and twerked her way through “Used To Be”. The night, however, belonged to Swift, who closed out the evening with yet another video of the year award, a year after announcing her 10th studio album, Midnights, on stage.
The 2023 VMAs honor the constantly developing art of music videos. Music videos have always been a method for musicians to express themselves creatively and interact with their fans, from the early days of straightforward commercial pieces to the cutting-edge work of today.