In addition to serving as the emcee for the 2023 VMAs, Nicki Minaj performed during the awards show, even treating fans to a preview of a new song at the end of her solo performance of “Last Time I Saw You.”
Minaj initially took the stage at the top of Tuesday night’s 2023 MTV Video Music Awards wearing a light pink bridal ensemble, veil and all, where she urged the audience to applaud and cheer for the performers who kicked off the show, Lil Wayne and Olivia Rodrigo.
She then admitted that she realized she didn’t buckle her shoes: “1, 2, buckle my mother f—ing shoes,” she said.
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After that bleeped curse she recalled how there had been some concern about her hosting the show, with executives worrying about her saying something inappropriate, but she reassured viewers she could control herself.
And control herself she did during her solo performance later that night of “Last Time I Saw You.”
Her live rendition featured Minaj standing behind a microphone, framed in pink light, in a black puffy ensemble, with her hair slicked back, that she pulled off to reveal a black bikini over a sheer dress.
After “Last Time,” Minaj segued into a tease of a more uptempo new song, with lights flashing around her.
Minaj was introduced by Billy Porter, who called the veteran performer a “hip-hop icon” and referred to her “Barbz” fans, using that to reference the Barbie movie, for which Minaj joined forces with Ice Spice and Aqua for “Barbie World,” which plays over the closing credits.
Minaj, who went into Tuesday night’s show nominated for six VMAs, winning the award for best hip-hop for “Super Freaky Girl,” also joined Lil Wayne, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Doug E. Fresh, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five and LL Cool J for a tribute performance to hip-hop’s 50th anniversary at the end of the show.
Minaj performed “Itty Bitty Piggy” and “Red Ruby Da Sleeze” solo and returned to the stage for the “Walk This Way” finale, with DMC putting his arm around her.
She also presented the award for best direction to Taylor Swift.
At the end of the show, Minaj urged the audience to applaud for themselves and said she “had a blast.”
“I’ll see you guys soon,” she said.
Minaj is set to release her Pink Friday 2 album in November.
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