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LL Cool J, Nicki Minaj, And Jack Harlow On Deck to MC 2022 VMAs.

The 2022 VMAs will be a night of exciting moments and major performances — and with such a night comes a need for someone to help usher in all those big events. Luckily this year, the show boasts three such talents. LL Cool J, Nicki Minaj, and Jack Harlow will all be on hand to emcee the VMAs and announce the biggest moments of the night.

This year’s ceremony will take a new and unique approach in contrast from the traditional “host” gig seen in previous years, like in 2021, which saw Doja Cat hosting and taking us to space with a sizzling live performance of “Been Like This” and “You Right” in a medley at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

This year, the hip-hop trio on deck have plenty of history on the stage they’ll be emceeing from. After his iconic duet performance of “Industry Baby” with Lil Nas X last year, Harlow is slated to debut his first solo VMA performance on the main stage this year. The rapper leads in nominations with seven nods this year (tied with LNX and Kendrick Lamar), including two of the night’s most coveted awards, Video of the Year and Artist of the Year. He was first nominated at the VMAs in 2020 for PUSH New Artist and Song of the Summer, where he also performed “Whats Poppin” during the pre-show.

Minaj, meanwhile, is listed as a nominee in Best Hip Hop for her major single “Do We Have a Problem?,” which also features fellow rapper Lil Baby. She will also both receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award and perform live at the 2022 show for the first time since 2018, joining Harlow and other previously announced performers Blackpink, Lizzo, Måneskin, Anitta, J Balvin, Marshmello x Khalid, Panic! at the Disco, and Kane Brown.

The Vanguard Award is presented to artists for their outstanding contributions and profound impact on music video and popular culture. Minaj’s co-emcee, LL Cool J, is a previous recipient of the award, taking it home in 1997 as the first rapper to ever receive the honor. He first performed at the ceremony in 1991, then again in 1996 and appeared as a presenter in 2000.

This year’s show will return to New Jersey’s Prudential Center in Newark on Sunday, August 28. The ceremony previously hit the Garden State in 2019, hosted by Sebastian Maniscalco; last year’s show aired from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center. S: MTV

Here’s the full list of Nominees.

Video of the Year, Presented by Burger King®

Doja Cat: “Woman” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

Drake ft. Future, Young Thug: “Way 2 Sexy” – OVO / Republic

Ed Sheeran: “Shivers” – Atlantic Records

Harry Styles: “As It Was“ – Columbia Records

Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow: “Industry Baby” – Columbia Records

Olivia Rodrigo: “Brutal” – Geffen Records

Taylor Swift: “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) – Republic Records

Artist of the Year

Bad Bunny – Rimas Entertainment

Drake – OVO / Republic

Ed Sheeran – Atlantic Records

Harry Styles – Columbia Records

Jack Harlow – Generation Now / Atlantic Records

Lil Nas X – Columbia Records

Lizzo – Atlantic Records

Song of the Year

Adele: “Easy on Me” – Columbia Records

Billie Eilish: “Happier Than Ever” – Darkroom / Interscope Records

Doja Cat: “Woman” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

Elton John, Dua Lipa: “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)” – EMI / Interscope Records

Lizzo: “About Damn Time” – Atlantic Records

The Kid Laroi, Justin Bieber: “Stay” – Columbia Records

Best New Artist, Presented by EXTRA® Gum

Baby Keem – Columbia Records

Dove Cameron – Disruptor Records / Columbia Records

Gayle – Atlantic Records / Arthouse Records

Latto – Streamcut / RCA Records

Måneskin – Arista Records

Seventeen – Pledis Entertainment / Geffen Records

Push Performance of the Year

Griff: “One Night” – Warner Records

Remi Wolf: “Sexy Villain” – Island Records

Nessa Barrett: “I Hope Ur Miserable Until Ur Dead” – Warner Records

Seventeen: “Rock With You” – Pledis Entertainment / Geffen Records

Mae Muller: “Better Days” – Capitol Records U.K.

Gayle: “abcdefu” Atlantic Records / Arthouse Records

Shenseea: “R U That” – Rich Immigrants / Interscope Records

Omar Apollo: “Tamagotchi” – Warner Records

Wet Leg: “Chaise Longue” – Domino Recording Company

Muni Long: “Baby Boo” – Supergiant Records LLC / Def Jam Recording

Doechii: “Persuasive” – Top Dog Entertainment / Capitol Records

Best Collaboration

Drake ft. Future, Young Thug: “Way 2 Sexy” – OVO / Republic

Elton John, Dua Lipa: “Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)” – EMI / Interscope Records

Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow: “Industry Baby” – Columbia Records

Megan Thee Stallion, Dua Lipa: “Sweetest Pie” – 300 Entertainment

Post Malone, The Weeknd: “One Right Now” – Mercury Records / Republic Records

Rosalía ft. The Weeknd: “La Fama” – Columbia Records

The Kid Laroi, Justin Bieber: “Stay” – Columbia Records

Best Pop

Billie Eilish: “Happier Than Ever” – Darkroom / Interscope Records

Doja Cat: “Woman” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

Ed Sheeran: “Shivers” – Atlantic Records

Harry Styles: “As It Was” – Columbia Records

Lizzo: “About Damn Time” – Atlantic Records

Olivia Rodrigo: “Traitor” – Geffen Records

Best Hip-Hop

Eminem, Snoop Dogg: “From the D 2 the LBC” – Shady / Aftermath / Interscope Records

Future ft. Drake, Tems: “Wait for U” – Freebandz / Epic Records

Kendrick Lamar:  “N95” – pgLang / Top Dawg Entertainment / Aftermath / Interscope Records

Latto: “Big Energy” – Streamcut / RCA Records

Nicki Minaj ft. Lil Baby: “Do We Have a Problem?” – Young Money / Cash Money / Republic Records

Pusha T: “Diet Coke” – G.O.O.D. Music / Def Jam

Best Rock

Foo Fighters: “Love Dies Young” – RCA Records

Jack White: “Taking Me Back” – Third Man Records

Muse: “Won’t Stand Down” – Warner Records

Red Hot Chili Peppers: “Black Summer” – Warner Records

Shinedown: “Planet Zero” – Elektra Music Group

Three Days Grace: “So Called Life” – RCA Records

Best Alternative

Avril Lavigne ft. Blackbear: “Love It When You Hate Me” – Elektra Music Group / DTA Records

Imagine Dragons, JID: “Enemy” – KIDinaKORNER / Interscope Records

Machine Gun Kelly ft. Willow: “Emo Girl” – Bad Boy / Interscope Records

Måneskin: “I Wanna Be Your Slave” – Arista Records

Panic! at the Disco: “Viva Las Vengeance” – Fueled by Ramen / Elektra Music Group

Twenty One Pilots: “Saturday” – Fueled by Ramen / Elektra Music Group

Willow, Avril Lavigne ft. Travis Barker: “G R O W” – MSFTSMusic / Roc Nation Records

Best Latin

Anitta: “Envolver” – Warner Records

Bad Bunny: “Tití Me Preguntó” – Rimas Entertainment

Becky G, Karol G: “Mamiii” – Kemosabe Records / Sony Music Latin / RCA Records

Daddy Yankee: “Remix” – Republic Records

Farruko: “Pepas” – Sony Music U.S. Latin

J Balvin, Skrillex: “In Da Getto” – Sueños Globales, LLC /Universal Music Latino / Asylum Records U.K.

Best R&B

Alicia Keys: “City of Gods (Part II)” – AKW

Chlöe: “Have Mercy” – Parkwood Entertainment / Columbia Records

H.E.R.: “For Anyone” – RCA Records

Normani ft. Cardi B: “Wild Side” – Keep Cool / RCA Records

Summer Walker, SZA, Cardi B: “No Love” (Extended Version) – LVRN / Interscope Records

The Weeknd: “Out Of Time” – XO / Republic Records

Best K-pop

BTS: “Yet to Come (The Most Beautiful Moment)” – Bighit Music / Geffen Records

Itzy: “Loco” – JYP Entertainment

Lisa:  “Lalisa” – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records

Seventeen: “Hot” – Pledis Entertainment / Geffen Records

Stray Kids: “Maniac” – JYP Entertainment

Twice: “The Feels” – JYP Entertainment

Video for Good

Kendrick Lamar: “The Heart Part 5” – pgLang / Top Dawg Entertainment / Aftermath / Interscope Records

Latto: “P*ssy” – Streamcut / RCA Records

Lizzo: “About Damn Time” – Atlantic Records

Rina Sawayama: “This Hell” – Dirty Hit

Stromae: ”Fils de Joie” – Mosaert Label / The Darkroom / Interscope Records

Best Metaverse Performance

Blackpink the Virtual | PUBG – YG Entertainment / Interscope Records

BTS | Minecraft – BIGHIT Music / Geffen Records

Charli XCX | Roblox – Atlantic Records

Justin Bieber – An Interactive Virtual Experience | Wave – Def Jam

Rift Tour ft. Ariana Grande | Fortnite – Republic Records

Twenty One Pilots Concert Experience | Roblox – Fueled by Ramen / Elektra Music Group

Best Longform Video

Billie Eilish: Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles – Darkroom / Interscope Records

Foo Fighters: Studio 666 – RCA Records

Kacey Musgraves: Star-Crossed – Interscope Records / MCA Nashville

Madonna: Madame X – Interscope Records

Olivia Rodrigo: Driving Home 2 U – Geffen Records

Taylor Swift: “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) – Republic Records

Best Cinematography

Baby Keem, Kendrick Lamar: “Family Ties” – Columbia Records

Camila Cabello ft. Ed Sheeran: “Bam Bam” – Epic Records

Harry Styles: “As It Was” – Columbia Records

Kendrick Lamar: “N95” – pgLang / Top Dawg Entertainment / Aftermath / Interscope Records

Normani ft. Cardi B: “Wild Side” – Keep Cool / RCA Records

Taylor Swift: “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) – Republic Records

Best Direction

Baby Keem, Kendrick Lamar: “Family Ties” – Columbia Records

Billie Eilish: “Happier Than Ever” – Darkroom / Interscope Records

Ed Sheeran: “Shivers” – Atlantic Records

Harry Styles: “As It Was” – Columbia Records

Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow: “Industry Baby” – Columbia Records

Taylor Swift: “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) – Republic Records

Best Art Direction

Adele: “Oh My God” – Columbia Records

Doja Cat: “Get Into It (Yuh)” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

Drake ft. Future, Young Thug: “Way 2 Sexy” – OVO / Republic Records

Kacey Musgraves: “Simple Times” – Interscope Records / MCA Nashville

Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow: “Industry Baby” – Columbia Records

Megan Thee Stallion ft. Dua Lipa: “Sweetest Pie” – 300 Entertainment

Best Visual Effects

Billie Eilish: “Happier Than Ever” – Darkroom / Interscope Records

Coldplay, BTS: “My Universe” – Atlantic Records

Kendrick Lamar: “The Heart Part 5” – pgLang / Top Dawg Entertainment / Aftermath / Interscope Records

Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow: “Industry Baby” – Columbia Records

Megan Thee Stallion, Dua Lipa: “Sweetest Pie” – 300 Entertainment

The Kid Laroi, Justin Bieber: “Stay” – Columbia Records

Best Choreography

BTS: “Permission to Dance” – Bighit Music / Geffen Records

Doja Cat: “Woman” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

FKA twigs ft. The Weeknd: “Tears In The Club” – Atlantic Records

Harry Styles: “As It Was” – Columbia Records

Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow: “Industry Baby” – Columbia Records

Normani ft. Cardi B: “Wild Side” – Keep Cool / RCA Records

Best Editing

Baby Keem, Kendrick Lamar: “Family Ties” – Columbia Records

Doja Cat: “Get Into It (Yuh)” – Kemosabe Records / RCA Records

Olivia Rodrigo: “Brutal” – Geffen Records

Rosalía: “Saoko” – Columbia Records

Taylor Swift: “All Too Well” (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) – Republic Records

The Weeknd: “Take My Breath” – XO / Republic Records

 

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