Ariana Grande accepts the award for Best Hip Hop Video onstage during the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall on Aug. 20, 2018 in New York City.
The 2018 MTV Video Music Awards took over New York's Radio City Music Hall on Monday (Aug. 20) -- so who were the night's big winners?
Camila Cabello took home two big prizes -- video of the year for "Havana" and artist of the year -- while Childish Gambino nabbed three prizes for "This Is America," including best video with a message, accepted by the video's choreographer Sherrie Silver.
Who else won? Find all the winners below.
Video of the Year:
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry”
Bruno Mars – “Finesse (Remix)” [ft. Cardi B]
WINNER: Camila Cabello – “Havana” [ft. Young Thug]
The Carters – “APES**T”
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Drake – “God's Plan”
Artist of the Year:
Ariana Grande
Bruno Mars
WINNER: Camila Cabello
Cardi B
Drake
Post Malone
Song of the Year:
Bruno Mars – “Finesse (Remix)” [ft. Cardi B]
Camila Cabello – “Havana” [ft. Young Thug]
Drake – “God's Plan”
Dua Lipa – “New Rules”
Ed Sheeran – “Perfect”
WINNER: Post Malone – “rockstar” [ft. 21 Savage]
Best New Artist:
Bazzi
WINNER: Cardi B
Chloe x Halle
Hayley Kiyoko
Lil Pump
Lil Uzi Vert
Best Collaboration:
Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line – “Meant to Be”
Bruno Mars – “Finesse (Remix)” [ft. Cardi B]
The Carters – “APES**T”
WINNER: Jennifer Lopez – “Dinero” [ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B]
Logic – “1-800-273-8255” [ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid]
N.E.R.D – “Lemon” [ft. Rihanna]
Best Pop Video:
WINNER: Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry”
Camila Cabello – “Havana” [ft. Young Thug]
Demi Lovato – “Sorry Not Sorry”
Ed Sheeran – “Perfect”
P!nk – “What About Us”
Shawn Mendes – “In My Blood”
Best Hip Hop Video:
Cardi B – “Bartier Cardi” [ft. 21 Savage]
The Carters – “APES**T”
Drake – “God's Plan”
J. Cole – “ATM”
Migos – “Walk It Talk It” [ft. Drake]
WINNER: Nicki Minaj – “Chun-Li”
Best Dance Video:
WINNER: Avicii – “Lonely Together” [ft. Rita Ora]
Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa – “One Kiss”
The Chainsmokers – “Everybody Hates Me”
David Guetta & Sia – “Flames”
Marshmello – “Silence” [ft. Khalid]
Zedd & Liam Payne – “Get Low (Street Video)”
Best Latin Video:
Daddy Yankee – “Dura”
WINNER: J Balvin – “Mi Gente” [ft. Willy William]
Jennifer Lopez – “Dinero” [ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B]
Luis Fonsi – “Échame La Culpa” [ft. Demi Lovato]
Maluma – “Felices los 4”
Shakira – “Chantaje” [ft. Maluma]
Best Rock Video:
Fall Out Boy – “Champion”
Foo Fighters – “The Sky Is A Neighborhood”
WINNER: Imagine Dragons – “Whatever It Takes”
Linkin Park – “One More Light”
Panic! at the Disco – “Say Amen (Saturday Night)”
Thirty Seconds to Mars – “Walk On Water”
Video With a Message:
WINNER: Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Dej Loaf and Leon Bridges – “Liberated”
Drake – “God’s Plan”
Janelle Monáe – “PYNK”
Jessie Reyez – “Gatekeeper”
Logic – “1-800-273-8255” [ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid]
Best Cinematography:
Alessia Cara – “Growing Pains”
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry”
WINNER: The Carters – “APES**T”
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Eminem – “River” [ft. Ed Sheeran]
Shawn Mendes – “In My Blood”
Best Direction:
The Carters – “APES**T”
WINNER: Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Drake – “God's Plan”
Ed Sheeran – “Perfect”
Justin Timberlake – “Say Something” [ft. Chris Stapleton]
Shawn Mendes – “In My Blood”
Best Art Direction:
WINNER: The Carters – “APES**T”
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
J. Cole – “ATM”
Janelle Monáe – “Make Me Feel”
SZA – “The Weekend”
Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do”
Best Visual Effects:
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry”
Avicii ft. Rita Ora – “Lonely Together”
Eminem – “Walk On Water” [ft. Beyoncé]
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “All The Stars”
Maroon 5 – “Wait”
Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do”
Best Choreography:
Bruno Mars – “Finesse (Remix)” [ft. Cardi B]
Camila Cabello – “Havana” [ft. Young Thug]
The Carters – “APES**T”
WINNER: Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Dua Lipa – “IDGAF”
Justin Timberlake – “Filthy”
Best Editing:
Bruno Mars – “Finesse (Remix)” [ft. Cardi B]
The Carters – “APES**T”
Childish Gambino – “This Is America”
Janelle Monáe – “Make Me Feel”
WINNER: N.E.R.D – “Lemon” [ft. Rihanna]
Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do”
Push Artist of the Year:
July 2018 – Chloe x Halle
June 2018 – Sigrid
May 2018 – Lil Xan
WINNER: April 2018 – Hayley Kiyoko
March 2018 – Jessie Reyez
February 2018 – Tee Grizzley
January 2018 – Bishop Briggs
December 2017 – Grace VanderWaal
November 2017 – Why Don’t We
October 2017 – PRETTYMUCH
September 2017 – SZA
August 2017 – Kacy Hill
July 2017 – Khalid
June 2017 – Kyle
May 2017 – Noah Cyrus
Song of Summer:
Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa – "One Kiss"
WINNER: Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin – "I Like It"
DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper & Quavo – "No Brainer"
Drake – "In My Feelings"
Ella Mai – "Boo'd Up"
Juice WRLD – "Lucid Dreams"
Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B – "Girls Like You"
Post Malone – "Better Now"
While the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards on Monday night (Aug. 20) were heavy on memorable moments, they were relatively light on full-length performances.
With so many of the show's esteemed guests not actually taking the main stage to perform -- Cardi B broke the seal on the evening but quickly scampered back to her seat, while Madonna's Aretha Franklin tribute was kept to a perhaps-too-extended monologue -- and several up-and-coming artists playing abbreviated cuts on the sidestage, there were only nine full performances to be had in the main show.
That said, those nine mini-gigs still included political statements, wet T-shirts, competing medleys from the artists with the top two albums in the country right now, and one of the great career-spanning performances in show history. Here's how Billboard ranks the nine full performances from the first Monday night VMAs ever.
9. Travis Scott feat. James Blake, "Stargazing" / "Stop Trying to Be God" / "Sicko Mode"
Travis Scott became a superstar largely on his rep as a live sensation, but without an impossibly hyped crowd to help conduct the energy he projects, his actual stage show can come off a little inert. Scott's three-song Astroworld medley at the VMAs was fairly choppy, never really gaining momentum song-to-song despite his elaborately surreal stage setup, and ending just as it was starting to get going a little. Check Travis out as a headliner at likely a half-dozen different music festivals next year, but feel free to flip during his award-show performances.
8. Shawn Mendes, "In My Blood"
In front of projections of thundering skies, Shawn Mendes took the stage for the first performance of the night in a sleeveless shirt and greasy hair like the reincarnation of 1984 Bruce Springsteen. The ensuing rendition of Shawn Mendes lead single "In My Blood" -- which included Mendes donning an electric guitar, leading the audience in a singalong, and eventually getting totally drenched in a downpour of his own making -- might not have evoked peak Born in the U.S.A., but Mendes certainly looked and sounded the rock-star part by performance's end, wailing his heart out in his soaked-through tee.
7. Maluma, "Felices los 4"
In his debut VMAs performance, Maluma showed why his star power is crossing international lines. Originally released in April 2017, "Felices los 4" is a little old to still be played at the 2018 VMAs, but given the rareness of Spanish-language performances on the VMAs stage, it's not surprising that he opted for his most irresistible hit -- which soundtracked the silver-dressed Latin sensation not only getting frisky with a number of his backup dancers, but also doing a short dance with eventual video of the year winner Camila Cabello in the audience.
6. Logic feat. Ryan Tedder, "One Day"
Introduced by Teyana Taylor as one of the "most positive and impactful voices for change" of his generation, Logic began his performance of Ryan Tedder collab "One Day" by leading in a group of kids wearing shirts adorned with the phrase "We are all human beings" -- while his own tee stated unequivocally, "F*ck the wall." Unlike his performances of smash 2017 hit "1-800-273-8255" at last year's VMAs and this year's Grammys, where he took a moment out at song's end to explicitly preach his message, Logic let the music (and T-shirts) speak for themselves this time -- as well as a sign behind the stage that read "U.S. Border Patrol," making the song's anti-Trump immigration policy message clear. With the kids raising candles at the end and everyone hugging as Tedder belted the final chorus, it was an unsubtle but highly emotional climax that '90s Michael Jackson would've been proud of.
5. Panic! At the Disco, "High Hopes"
With some clever camerawork obscuring the fact that he was standing on an elevated platform, Brendon Urie of Panic! At the Disco began his performance of buoyant Pray for the Wicked single "High Hopes" by seemingly drifting through the skies, like in the climax to a '40s musical. The rest of Urie & Co.'s performance was nearly as dazzling, with a cacophony of strings and horns supporting the vocal histrionics and high-energy physicality of Urie, whose floral-print suit might've been the loudest thing on stage.
4. Post Malone, 21 Savage & Aerosmith, "Rockstar" / "Dream On" / "Toys in the Attic"
After a dutiful, 21 Savage-assisted run through his Hot 100-slaying 2017 single "Rockstar" from the Radio City rafters, Post Malone was lowered onto the main stage to live out his rock star fantasies in earnest: as a guitarist and backing vocalist for legit rock gods Aerosmith. The band kicked off with standard-bearing power ballad "Dream On" while Posty plugged in, then launched into the blistering title track of their 1975 masterwork Toys in the Attic, rather than their VMAs road-tested "Walk This Way" as initially predicted. It was a risky closing set for the night -- not many 2018 award shows end with four-decade-old classic rock deep cuts -- but it worked because Aerosmith still kick out the jams, and because Post's overjoyed sense of fantasy fulfillment was palpable from the second he strapped on his six-string.
3. Nicki Minaj, "Majesty" / "Barbie Dreams" / "Ganja Burn" / "Fefe"
From the middle of the cavernous World Trade Center terminal station, Nicki Minaj led a throng of rabid Barbz in a resounding performance of three highlights from her recent Queen -- "Majesty," "Barbie Dreams" and an a cappella "Ganja Burns" -- as well as her verse on controversial co-star 6ix9ine's "FeFe." Nicki sounded fully in command, and divorced from all the drama surrounding her album rollout, the Queen songs sounded fairly massive, leaving room for hope that the recent few weeks of controversy don't have to be the final word in this era of the rap superstar's career.
2. Ariana Grande, "God Is a Woman"
In a performance that felt like something her music video co-star Madonna might've brought to the VMAs 20 or 30 years ago, Ariana Grande's "God Is a Woman" performance saw her and a couple dozen backing dancers slowly slithering around and sprawling over a long table, an all-female Last Supper. After the imaginatively composed sequence, which Ariana belted through with pristine pitch, the performance closed with Ariana's mother, aunt and grandmother taking the stage next to her. Appropriately immaculate.
1. Jennifer Lopez, Hits Medley
"BLESS UP THE QUEEN, J-LO!" bellowed DJ Khaled at the end of Jennifer Lopez's Video Vanguard performance. Hard to argue with, particularly after a performance that contained a career's worth of expertly executed dance sequences, lavish costume changes, and -- above all -- beloved hits. Not all of the songs are classics, necessarily, but a handful of them legitimately are, and Lopez sped through them at such breakneck speed that you barely had time to get emotional over her Frozen Princess performance of "All I Have" before she was twerking up a storm to "Ain't It Funny." Twenty years into her pop career, her claim to the triple-threat throne remains virtually unchallenged.
CLEAVAGE, thigh-high splits and PDA on the pink carpet ... yep, it’s the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards.
Cardi B. Ariana Grande and Post Malone are among the early winners at the star-studded ceremony, which is on right now at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
Here's the full list of who has won so far (the winners are in bold)....
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry” – Republic Records
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
WINNER: Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records
The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
Childish Gambino – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records
Drake – “God’s Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Ariana Grande – Republic Records
Bruno Mars – Atlantic Records
WINNER Camila Cabello – Syco Music/Epic Records
Cardi B – Atlantic Records
Drake – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
Post Malone – Republic Records
PINK CARPET: BEST AND WORST DRESSSED AT THE VMAS
MICHAEL JACKSON VIDEO VANGUARD AWARD
Jennifer Lopez
SONG OF THE YEAR
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records
Drake – “God’s Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
Dua Lipa – “New Rules” – Warner Bros. Records
Ed Sheeran – “Perfect” – Atlantic Records
WINNER Post Malone ft. 21 Savage – “Rockstar” – Republic Records
BEST NEW ARTIST
Bazzi – iamcosmic/Atlantic Records
WINNER Cardi B – Atlantic Records
Chloe x Halle – Parkwood Entertainment/Columbia Records
Hayley Kiyoko – Atlantic Records
Lil Pump – Warner Bros. Records
Lil Uzi Vert – Atlantic Records
BEST COLLABORATION
Bebe Rexha ft. Florida Georgia Line – “Meant to Be” – Warner Bros. Records
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records
The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
WINNER: Jennifer Lopez ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B – “Dinero” – Epic Records/Nuyorican Productions
Logic ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid – “1-800-273-8255” – Def Jam Recordings
N.E.R.D & Rihanna – “Lemon” – i am OTHER/Columbia Records
BEST POP VIDEO
WINNER Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry” – Republic Records
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records
Demi Lovato – “Sorry Not Sorry” – Island Records
Ed Sheeran – “Perfect” – Atlantic Records
P!nk – “What About Us” – RCA Records
Shawn Mendes – “In My Blood” – Island Records
BEST HIP HOP
Cardi B ft. 21 Savage – “Bartier Cardi” – KSR/Atlantic Records
The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment
Drake – “God’s Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
J. Cole – “ATM” – Dreamville/Roc Nation/Interscope Records
Migos ft. Drake – “Walk It Talk It” – Quality Control/Capitol Records
WINNER Nicki Minaj – “Chun-Li” – Young Money/Cash Money Records
SONG OF THE SUMMER
WINNER: Cardi B, Bad Bunny and J Balvin – “I Like It”
DJ Khaled (featuring Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper and Quavo) – “No Brainer”
Drake – “In My Feelings”
Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa – “One Kiss”
Juice Wrld – “Lucid Dreams”
Ella Mai – “Boo’d Up”
Post Malone – “Better Now”
Maroon 5 (featuring Cardi B) – “Girls Like You”
BEST LATIN
Daddy Yankee – “Dura” – El Cartel Records/UMLE
WINNER J Balvin, Willy William – “Mi Gente” – UMLE/Republic Records
Jennifer Lopez ft. DJ Khaled & Cardi B – “Dinero” – Epic Records/Nuyorican Productions
Luis Fonsi, Demi Lovato – “Échame La Culpa” – UMLE/Republic/Island/Universal Music Latino
Maluma – “Felices los 4” – Sony Music Entertainment US Latin
Shakira ft. Maluma – “Chantaje” – Sony Music Entertainment US Latin
BEST DANCE
WINNER: Avicii ft. Rita Ora – “Lonely Together” – Geffen Records
Calvin Harris & Dua Lipa – “One Kiss” – Columbia Records
The Chainsmokers – “Everybody Hates Me” – Disruptor Records/Columbia Records
David Guetta & Sia – “Flames” – Atlantic Records
Marshmello ft. Khalid – “Silence” – RCA Records/Ultra Records
Zedd & Liam Payne – “Get Low (Street Video)” – Interscope Records
BEST ROCK
Fall Out Boy – “Champion” – Island Records
Foo Fighters – “The Sky Is A Neighborhood” – RCA Records
WINNER: Imagine Dragons – “Whatever It Takes” – KIDinaKORNER/Interscope Records
Linkin Park – “One More Light” – Warner Bros. Records
Panic! At The Disco – “Say Amen (Saturday Night)” – Fueled By Ramen/Atlantic Records
Thirty Seconds to Mars – “Walk On Water” – Interscope Records
VIDEO WITH A MESSAGE
WINNER: Childish Gambino – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records
Dej Loaf and Leon Bridges – “Liberated” – Columbia Records
Drake – ‘God’s Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records
Janelle Monáe ft. Grimes – “PYNK” – Bad Boy Records/Atlantic Records
Jessie Reyez – “Gatekeeper” – Island Records
Logic ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid – “1-800-273-8255” – Def Jam Recordings
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Alessia Cara – “Growing Pains” – Def Jam Recordings – Cinematography by Pau Castejón
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry” – Republic Records – Cinematography by Scott Cunningham
WINNER: The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment – Cinematography by Benoit Debie
Childish Gambino – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records – Cinematography by Larkin Seiple
Eminem ft. Ed Sheeran – “River” – Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records – Cinematography by Frank Mobilio & Patrick Meller
Shawn Mendes – “In My Blood” – Island Records – Cinematography by Jonathan Sela
BEST DIRECTION
WINNER: The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment – Directed by Ricky Saiz
Childish Gambino – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records – Directed by Hiro Murai
Drake – “God’s Plan” – YMCMB/Cash Money/Republic Records – Directed by Karena Evans
Ed Sheeran – “Perfect” – Atlantic Records – Directed by Jason Koenig
Justin Timberlake ft. Chris Stapleton – “Say Something” – RCA Records – Directed by Arturo Perez Jr.
Shawn Mendes – “In My Blood” – Island Records – Directed by Jay Martin
BEST ART DIRECTION
WINNER: The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment – Art Direction by Jan Houlevigue, The Louvre
Childish Gambino – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records – Art Direction by Jason Kisvarday
J. Cole – “ATM” – Dreamville/Roc Nation/Interscope Records – Art Direction by Miles Mullin
Janelle Monáe – “Make Me Feel” – Bad Boy Records/Atlantic Records – Art Direction by Pepper Nguyen
SZA – “The Weekend” – TDE/RCA Records – Art Direction by SZA and Solange
Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do” – Big Machine Records – Art Direction by Brett Hess
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry” – Republic Records – Visual Effects by Vidal and Loris Paillier for Buf
Avicii ft. Rita Ora – “Lonely Together” – Geffen Records – Visual Effects by KPP
Eminem ft. Beyoncé – “Walk On Water” – Shady/Aftermath/Interscope Records – Visual Effects Supervisor Rich Lee for Drive Studios
WINNER: Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “All The Stars” – TDE/Aftermath/Interscope Records – Visual Effects by Loris Paillier for BUF Paris
Maroon 5 – “Wait” – 222/Interscope Records – Visual Effects by TIMBER
Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do” – Big Machine Records – Visual Effects by Ingenuity Studios
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records – Choreography by Phil Tayag & Bruno Mars
Camila Cabello ft. Young Thug – “Havana” – Syco Music/Epic Records – Choreography by Calvit Hodge, Sara Bivens & Galen Hooks
The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment – Choreography by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Jaquel Knight
WINNER: Childish Gambino – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records – Choreography by Sherrie Silver
Dua Lipa – “IDGAF” – Warner Bros. Records – Choreography by Marion Motin
Justin Timberlake – “Filthy” – RCA Records – Choreography by Marty Kudelka, AJ Harpold, Tracy Phillips, and Ivan Koumaev
BEST EDITING
Bruno Mars ft. Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)” – Atlantic Records – Editing by Jacquelyn London
The Carters – “APES**T” – Roc Nation/Parkwood Entertainment – Taylor Ward and Sam Ostrove
Childish Gambino – “This Is America” – mcDJ / RCA Records – Editing by Ernie Gilbert
Janelle Monáe – “Make Me Feel” – Bad Boy Records/Atlantic Records – Editing by Deji Laray
WINNER: N.E.R.D & Rihanna – “Lemon” – i am OTHER/Columbia Records – Editing by Taylor Ward
Taylor Swift – “Look What You Made Me Do” – Big Machine Records – Editing by Chancler Haynes for Cosmo
vmas 2018
Nico Tortorella Does So Much at the VMAs, There’s None Left for the Rest of Us The Younger star wore what appears to be the new U.S. Bill of Rights on the back of their MTV red carpet look.
