Hip Hop Highlights for VMA's 2013

This years VMA’s was a spectacle you did not want to miss.  There were many highlights to this years VMA’s that was in Brooklyn at the newly opened Barclays Center, and seems to be the most bogus VMA’s yet.  The show started off with Lady Gaga performing her song “Applause” as she changed throughout the whole performance throwing on and off different wigs and costumes to end up in a skimpy bikini and blonde wig.  Vanessa Bayer from SNL then was seen impersonating Miley Cyrus as she imitated her accent and her recently proclaimed tongue out style introducing the real Miley Cyrus.  At this point there were teddy bears everywhere and Miley Cyrus came out to end up stripping down and getting wild with a foam finger as Robin Thicke came out and performed “Blurred Lines”.  The whole time Miley was touching Robin with the foam finger and then grinding on him.  2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar made guest appearances, however they decided to keep things a little more classy.  Kendrick wore a LA hat and must of felt tension in New York after proclaiming himself the king of New York in his recent “Control” verse.

Other hip hop highlights of the show included Kanye West doing a spooky performance to “Blood On The Leaves” that was done in darkness with Steve McQueen’s infamous photograph “Lynching Tree” dimly lit behind him.  Kanye tweeted before his performance telling fans that is was a lynching tree. Both performances were respectable and a new era for Kanye at the VMA’s after previous shocking performances.  This was Kanye’s seventh VMA’s performance, tying with Modanna for the most performances for an artist.

Ryan Lewis and Macklemore won a lot of awards last night as well as Justin Timberlake.  Jason Collins introduced the duo who performed “Same Love” the song with singer Mary Lambert and surprise guest Jennifer Hudson that got an award for “Best Video with a Social Message” .

Kendrick Lamar surprisingly didn’t receive any awards from his 14 nominations.  Drake had a good explosive performance as he promised, however didn’t receive any awards either.

Best Hip-Hop Video: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton, “Can’t Hold Us”

Best Female Video: Taylor Swift, “I Knew You Were Trouble”

Video of the Year: Justin Timberlake, “Mirrors”

Artist to Watch Presented by Taco Bell: Austin Mahone, “What About Love”

Best Collaboration: P!nk feat. Nate Ruess, “Just Give Me a Reason”

Best Video with a Social Message: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Mary Lewis, “Same Love”

Best Male Video: Bruno Mars, “Locked Out of Heaven”

Best Rock Video: Thirty Seconds to Mars, “Up in the Air”

Best Pop Video: Selena Gomez, “Come & Get It”

Best Choreography: Bruno Mars, “Treasure”

Best Cinematography: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis feat. Ray Dalton, “Can’t Hold Us”

Best Direction: Justin Timberlake feat. Jay-Z, “Suit & Tie”

Best Art Direction: Janelle Monae feat. Erykah Badu, “Q.U.E.E.N”

Best Editing: Justin Timberlake, “Mirrors”

Best Visual Effects: Capital Cities, “Safe and Sound”

Song of the Summer: One Direction, “Best Song Ever”