Nicki Minaj Receives MTV VMAs 2022 Video Vanguard Award From THESE People

Nicki Minaj was one of the brightest stars last night at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards.

From hosting the event to performing to accepting two awards, including the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, Mrs. Petty was booked and busy last night.

But what made her VMAs journey, as per her speech, was her loyal and avid fans, the Barbz, which took the spotlight for quite a time on the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards.

Nicki opened her 10-minute all-hit medley performance with 2014's "All Things Go," followed by "Roman's Revenge," and her iconic verse in the Kanye West hit "Monster," which Adele famously memorized.

She then proceeded to sing "Beez in the Trap," before rapping her fan-favorite verse in "Queen's" "Chun-Li."

A small verse of her ballad "Moment 4 Life" was also featured right before everyone was jamming to "Super Bass," that even got Taylor Swift dancing up her feet. Nicki rested for a while as her dancers tweked to "Anaconda," while she finished the entire set with her current Hot 100 leader, "Super Freaky Girl."

Barbz on the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards

Nicki Minaj's fans, what the music and entertainment industry referred to as "Barbz," were instrumental to the success of the rap royalty's music career, based on her candid speech last night.

After performing her massive hits in a career-spanning medley, MTV sought the help of five Barbz to award Nicki Minaj the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, which is quite fitting considering Barbz's effort in the recent weeks.

Barbz Carson, Shy, and Mike were among the five lucky Barbz that were selected to present the Video Vanguard Moonman to Nicki Minaj.

READ ALSO: MTV VMAs 2022 Dubbed 'Rigged' By Fans After THIS Winner Was Announced In her candid and heartfelt speech, Nicki thanked rap giants who she said inspired her flow - Lil Wayne, Foxy Brown, Lauryn Hill, Jay-Z, Slick Rick, and Dougie Fresh.

After which, Nicki acknowledged people who gave her huge opportunities in the music industry - Kanye West, Beyonce, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Eminem, Britney Spears, and Rihanna. Drake, whom she shared the stage recently with in Toronto at the Young Money concert, was also not forgotten in the speech.

"I wish that Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson was here. I wish that people meant and what they're going through. I wish people took mental health seriously, even for the people who you think have the perfect lives. I wish Pop Smoke, and JUICE Wrld, and Nipsey Hussle was here," Nicki Minaj said.

Her speech ran through a few more, and MTV strummed their infamous music roll, signaling awardees to cap off their speech, but Nicki pulled a Whitney and asked everyone to wait for her to thank the Barbz.

Nicki Minaj also received another Moonman award for Best Hip-hop Video for her collaboration with Lil Baby for "Do We Have A Problem."

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MTV, MTV Video Music Awards, VMAs, Nicki Minaj