Thoughts on Jay-Z and Lil Mama (and of course Kanye) at the VMAs
- story Peter Macia
Thanks to the wondrous internet, those of us who didn’t watch the MTV VMAs live last night were able to catch up on its most ridiculous and embarrassing moments today, after doing a bunch of other stuff and getting some lunch and listening to some music and staring out the window for a while. Kanye ran up on whats-her-name, ruining her “moment,” but in all truth, he created a moment for her that will last much longer than any she could have created with her thank you speech. You’re welcome. But the coup de grace was former FADER feature subject and Harlem pocket rocket, Lil Mama, bumrushing Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ closeout performance of “Empire State of Mind.” As you’ll see in the video, the performance was carefully scripted and scheduled to have Jay come out of his limo on the street an onto the stage just as his verse was set to begin. And he did. And he and Alicia did a nice rendition of the song, which has recently become the only thing people who own cars will play in said cars while driving through NY streets. New Yorkers are hyped on this shit—it’s kinda crazy. It’s even made some of us transplants reconsider our feelings about this city, and maybe that’s why that girl jumped on that stage. She’s probably listened to the song a hundred times and rapped and sang every word, daydreaming about being on that level. And then that level was, like, three feet away from her, so she stepped up. You can’t really blame her either. It’s like if Jay-Z had a Twitter, we’d all be @’ing that dude like we knew him. He would be our Facebook friend if he was on that too. She was just love RT’ing Hov’s performance, that’s all. She probably also thought a bunch of fools would follow her up there on some Girl Talk shit, which would’ve actually been kind of awesome, but it didn’t happen. So there she is. And without her, we wouldn’t have Jay’s incredible gasface. Plus, if anyone thinks she ruined a classic moment for dude, it was the MTV VMAs. Jay’s classic moment was on Friday night.
Oh, and by the way, FADER Label’s very own Matt & Kim snatched a moon man for Best Breakthrough Artist video. Congrats dudes!
(video and pick via Nah Right)
Related:
- Video: Kanye West, “Love Lockdown” (Live on MTV VMAs)
- Transmission From Planet Kanye
- Video: Kanye West, “Flashing Lights (Original Version)
- Freeload: Kanye West, “Love Lockdown”
- Video: Kanye West, “Flashing Lights”
- posted on Sep 14, 2009 in MUSIC NEWS, MUSIC VIDEO
- tags Alicia Keys, hip hop, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Mama, MTV VMA
September 14th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
oh man that was embarassing
September 14th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
Saw the internets blowing up about Lil Mama. What a f*cking idiot. Wow.
September 14th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
I think you are right and I agree on both counts.
Kanye was the best thing that happened to that show for MTV and my own entertainment at home.
September 14th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Who wants to bet that Lil Mama will become a meme in the hip hop community? I must admit, though, she’s got balls of adamantine for running out there. Jay-Z is a cold dude.
September 14th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
the funny thing about Kanye is I think he’s the only person alive over the age of 21 who actually think MTV means anything.
September 14th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Damn right, the truth with Kanye.
September 15th, 2009 at 10:52 am
[...] the nets is exploding with people biting Yeezey (I agree with The Fader’s assessment), the Cudder’s album [...]
September 15th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Our generation has no respect for their elders who have earned their stripes. Shame on you!
September 15th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Thats why I heart Fader and Pete Macia. This was the most intelligent response to this mis & over contrued incident. And indeed Friday’s concert was classic, from Santigold’s minor performance to her errrrrrrr “own song”, John Mayer’s guitar’s interpretation of Jay’s “Dirt of your shoulder” and cohesive riffs to DOA, Mary’s old school throw back, Pharell’s and Kid Cudi’s dropping of verses, the “run this town” live premier and the man himself, like the maestro controlling the ebb and flow of it all.
September 15th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Empire State of Mind feels Swizz Beatz-ish……
September 18th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Hahah…I understand some of the sentiments posted on behalf of yeezy and ma but let’s paint a different picture. What if some Z-list celeb bum-rushed one of Elvis’s performances or even better what if Milli Vanelli decided to join MJ whilst he was performing Thriller?
Disrespectful no matter what.
It would be different if it was a nobody but the fact that Lil Ma is who she is makes it really silly
September 19th, 2009 at 10:42 pm
Lil mama is a fucking tool and should be banned from T.V. For life. She speaks like an ignorant ghetto piece of shit too.
September 28th, 2009 at 9:18 am
y was lil mama up there lookin a damn fool?