Nicki Minaj Will Take Over the MTV Video Music Awards Once Again
Nicki Minaj is back to dominate the MTV Video Music Awards, returning this year as the night’s emcee and taking the stage as a performer.
Last year, Minaj co-hosted the VMAs alongside LL Cool J and Jack Harlow as the VMAs revamped the traditional hosting gig. As it stands, she’ll lead the proceedings solo this time, announcing the show’s lineup of performers, presenters, and winners. (Even with Minaj leading the proceedings, it remains to be seen exactly how the VMAs will navigate the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike, which has waylaid other awards shows.)
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Along with hosting duties, Minaj will also deliver a world premiere performance of her new single, “Last Time I Saw You.” The rapper released the song earlier this month, marking the latest offering from her highly-anticipated new album, Pink Friday 2, out Nov. 17.
Minaj is also up for five VMAs this year, including Video of the Year for “Super Freaky Girl” and Artist of the Year. The “Super Freaky Girl” clip also earned nominations for Best Hip Hop and Best Visual Effects, while Minaj earned a Best R&B nod for her song with Yung Bleu, “Love in the Way.”
Tapping Minaj for the 2023 VMAs seems a sensible choice after she helped anchor proceedings last year. On top of leading the show with Harlow and LL Cool J, she received the Video Vanguard Award and delivered a show-stopping, career-spanning performance of hits.
As for Pink Friday 2, the album will mark Minaj’s first proper full-length since 2018’s Queen, and it’ll also be — as the title suggests — a sequel of sorts to her smash 2010 debut, Pink Friday. A full track list hasn’t been released yet, but Minaj has been steadily trickling out songs over the past couple of years, including her 2022 Number One hit “Super Freaky Girl,” “Red Ruby Da Sleeze,” and now “Last Time I Saw You” (she also contributed “Barbie World,” with Ice Spice, to the Barbie soundtrack).
In an interview with Zane Lowe following the latter song’s release, Minaj said, “I just wanted the next song that I put out to represent my growth. Not just as an artist, but as a human being. I’ve experienced so many things that I hadn’t experienced five years ago, and that’s just the truth.”
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