VMA Rehearsals: Nicki Minaj, B.o.B, Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber, Jason Derulo, Travie McCoy
The pink stage is set for Nicki Minaj’s VMA debut. The hip-hop hottie, wearing skintight pants and a cowboy hat, rehearsed in downtown Los Angeles for her first-ever televised solo performance at tonight’s pre-show. In addition to delivering a remix of her No. 1 rap song “Your Love,” she will be joined by will.i.am for their single “Check It Out.”
“She’s dope, she’s really nice,” the Black Eyed Peas leader told Rap-Up TV of his collaborator. “She loves music, she loves to express herself, and she’s a sick-ass lyricist.”
Even after topping the charts, B.o.B and Paramore’s Hayley Williams had never met—that is until now. The duo will finally perform their collaboration “Airplanes” for the very first time together at tonight’s festivities.
B.o.B will accompany Bruno Mars and Hayley Williams for a three-song medley that includes “Nothin’ on You,” “Airplanes,” and Paramore’s “The Only Exception.”
Expect Justin Bieber to roll up in a red 1957 Chevy Bel Air when the teen phenom performs “Baby” for his fans outside at the Nokia Plaza at L.A. Live.
Jason Derulo told staging-rapup.kinsta.cloud to expect a darker version of “Ridin’ Solo” from him and house artist deadmau5.
Travie McCoy will flip his hit “Billionaire” for the VMAs. “Me and deadmau5 got together, went in on ‘Billionaire,'” the Gym Class Heroes frontman told MTV News. “He definitely took it, and it just turned into these crazy noises I never heard before.”
Photos by John Shearer/WireImage