New Jersey’s Prudential Center became the center of the music universe on Tuesday, September 12, as recording artists converged and cheered each other on at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, with the one and only Nicki Minaj as emcee.
Lil Wayne and Olivia Rodrigo opened the festivities — one with an explosive medley and another with a show-stopper — and that was just the warm-up. Check out those acts and more performances below.
Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne performing at the #VMAs pic.twitter.com/J4MxAVcXGK
— XXL Magazine (@XXL) September 13, 2023
Weezy opened the show in fiery fashion, performing his tracks “Uproar” and “Kat Food.” (And yes, that is a Missy Elliott Sample you hear.)
Olivia Rodrigo
Rodrigo brought the house down — literally — as the set collapsed around her during her rendition of “Vampire.” It was all an act, though, and she came back on stage to sing “Get Him Back!”
Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion
Cardi B and Megan thee Stallion perform “Bongos” for the first time at the 2023 MTV #VMAs
pic.twitter.com/qjI6NwOqsT— Rap Alert (@rapalert6) September 13, 2023
In case the percussion wasn’t a dead giveaway, these two rap stars brought the “Bongos” — and no microphones were harmed in the making of this performance.
Demi Lovato
demi lovato performing ‘heart attack’, ‘sorry not sorry’ and ‘cool for the summer’🔥 #vmas
pic.twitter.com/3U5aR2Ry7Q— 2000s (@PopCulture2000s) September 13, 2023
True to the hard-rock angle of her upcoming remix album Revamped, Lovato gave sharper edges to her pop hits “Heart Attack” “Sorry Not Sorry” and “Cool for the Summer” on the VMAS stage.
Kaliii
Kaliii performs “Area Codes” at the 2023 MTV #VMAs
pic.twitter.com/HP7zqgT51D— Power 105.1 (@Power1051) September 13, 2023
No, Kaliii wasn’t performing “Area Codes” from another area code—she lit up VMAs’ Doritos Extended Play Stage. It was a short performance, but she got more airplay later in the broadcast with a performance of “K Toven.”
Anitta
Anitta’s #VMAs performance. pic.twitter.com/KHksMNpygI
— Anitta Press | Fan Account (@AnittaPress) September 13, 2023
The Brazilian singer told us who she “Used to Be,” she brought the “Funk Rave” to the stage … and then she got a “Grip”!
Doja Cat
Doja Cat performs “Attention,” “Paint the Town Red,” & “Demons,” at the 2023 MTV #VMAs
pic.twitter.com/rigvSkzesb— Rap Alert (@rapalert6) September 13, 2023
This rapper certainly got our “Attention” — and that of audience member Tiffany Haddish — with her first VMAS song. Then she had a chance to “Paint the Town Red” and to exorcise some “Demons.”
Shakira
Video Vanguard recipient Shakira performs her top hits at the 2023 #VMAs pic.twitter.com/7snWebNZEe
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 13, 2023
This year’s Video Vanguard Award blessed the audience with a medley of her greatest hits, including “She Wolf,” “Te Felicito,” and “Whenever, Wherever.” And no, her hips still aren’t lying.
Stay tuned for more performances as the 2023 MTV VMAs continue!