Snoop Dogg Leads Hip-Hop’s Big Night As Cardi B Wins At MTV VMAs

Snoop Dogg put Hip-Hop at the center of Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards, hosting a Los Angeles show where Cardi B claimed Best Hip-Hop.

Cardi B and Kehlani won for “Safe,” beating Drake, Megan Thee Stallion, Travis Scott, Don Toliver and Tyler, The Creator.

Snoop had already framed the night as a homecoming when AllHipHop reported his hosting role earlier this month.

“MTV and the VMAs have been part of my story since the beginning. Some of the biggest moments of my career happened on that stage and on MTV – they gave hip hop a place to be loud, fearless and seen by the whole world. So to come back now and host the VMAs, all these years later, that’s a full-circle moment for me.”

During his opening monologue, Snoop leaned into Los Angeles and promised viewers the ceremony would feel like his kind of party.

“Having this show hosted by me, in my city, means two things: one, tonight is going to be the biggest party the VMAs has ever seen.”

Gunna represented Hip-Hop onstage by joining Shaboozey for “High Noon” after Shaboozey opened his set with “Cowgirl.”

Yung Lean performed with GENER8ION on “STORM II,” adding another rap voice to a lineup heavy on pop, country and rock.

Public Enemy’s Chuck D handled a major presentation, introducing Nirvana for the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award as Flavor Flav joined him.

“I don’t think there’s ever been a band exactly like Nirvana,” Chuck D said before the surviving members walked onstage.

Krist Novoselic then connected Nirvana’s staying power to authenticity, a theme that has long mattered across generations of Hip-Hop artists.

“Nirvana continues to resonate so deeply because people are still hungry for authenticity. Or something real, something uncompromising, something that tells you it’s OK to come as you are. Kurt would have loved that legacy.”

Teyana Taylor also appeared among the presenters, while French Montana, Moneybagg Yo and Gunna were among rap figures seen around the Peacock Theater.

Cardi B and Kehlani won Best Hip-Hop for “Safe,” giving Cardi one of the biggest Hip-Hop victories of the night.

The VMAs returned to Los Angeles for the first time since 2017, giving Snoop a hometown stage for his first solo hosting run.