I frequently reiterate the leaps and bounds that music videos have achieved within the past year and most especially this year in terms of compelling storytelling. Particularly in hip hop, we're really falling away from that "h*!s twerking in the back" mentality and are putting our backs into creative execution and breathtaking treatments for our music videos.
That said, the MTV VMA's are back and this year they have decided to combine both best male and best female videos into a category called Video Of The Year. Hmm! I'm not sure how I feel about that but it's done so... They've also apparently added a new category called Best Fight Against The System Video - why do I get the feeling that a rapper might take this one? We'll see.
Peep the nominations below and see how Kendrick Lamar is kicking butt:
Video of the Year
Kendrick Lamar – HUMBLE.
Bruno Mars – 24K Magic
Alessia Cara – Scars to Your Beautiful
DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller – Wild Thoughts
The Weeknd – Reminder
Artist of the Year
Bruno Mars
Kendrick Lamar
Ed Sheeran
Ariana Grande
The Weeknd
Lorde
Best New Artist
Khalid
Kodak Black
SZA
Young M.A
Julia Michaels
Noah Cyrus
Best Collaboration
Charlie Puth featuring Selena Gomez – We Don't Talk Anymore
DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller – Wild Thoughts
D.R.A.M. featuring Lil Yachty – Broccoli
The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey – Closer
Calvin Harris featuring Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Big Sean – Feels
Zayn and Taylor Swift – I Don't Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker)
Best Pop
Shawn Mendes – Treat You Better
Ed Sheeran – Shape of You
Harry Styles – Sign of the Times
Fifth Harmony featuring Gucci Mane – Down
Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley – Chained to the Rhythm
Miley Cyrus – Malibu
Best Hip Hop
Kendrick Lamar – HUMBLE.
Big Sean – Bounce Back
Chance the Rapper – Same Drugs
D.R.A.M. featuring Lil Yachty – Broccoli
Migos featuring Lil Uzi Vert – Bad & Boujee
DJ Khaled featuring Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper and Lil Wayne – I'm the One
Best Dance
Zedd and Alessia Cara – 8Stay
Kygo and Selena Gomez – It Ain't Me
Calvin Harris – My Way
Major Lazer featuring Justin Bieber and Mø – Cold Water
Afrojack featuring Ty Dolla $ign – Gone
Best Rock
Coldplay – A Head Full of Dreams
Fall Out Boy – Young and Menace
Twenty One Pilots – Heavydirtysoul
Green Day – Bang Bang
Foo Fighters – Run
Best Fight Against the System
Logic featuring Damian Lemar Hudson – Black SpiderMan
The Hamilton Mixtape – Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)
Big Sean – Light
Alessia Cara – Scars to Your Beautiful
Taboo featuring Shailene Woodley – Stand Up / Stand N Rock #NoDAPL
John Legend – Surefire
Best Cinematography
Kendrick Lamar – HUMBLE.
Imagine Dragons – Thunder
Ed Sheeran – Castle on the Hill
DJ Shadow featuring Run the Jewels – Nobody Speak
Halsey – Now or Never
Best Direction
Kendrick Lamar – HUMBLE.
Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley – Chained to the Rhythm
Bruno Mars – 24K Magic
Alessia Cara – Scars to Your Beautiful
The Weeknd – Reminder
Best Art Direction
Kendrick Lamar – HUMBLE.
Bruno Mars – 24K Magic
Katy Perry featuring Migos – Bon Appetit
DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller – Wild Thoughts
The Weeknd – Reminder
Best Visual Effects
Kendrick Lamar – HUMBLE.
A Tribe Called Quest – Dis Generation
KYLE featuring Lil Yachty – iSpy
Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley – Chained to the Rhythm
Harry Styles – Sign of the Times
Best Choreography
Kanye West – Fade
Ariana Grande featuring Nicki Minaj – Side to Side
Kendrick Lamar – HUMBLE.
Sia – The Greatest
Fifth Harmony featuring Gucci Mane – Down
Best Editing
Future – Mask Off
Young Thug – Wyclef Jean
Lorde – Green Light
The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey – Closer
The Weeknd – Reminder
