Kanye West will receive the Video Vanguard award at Sunday’s VMAs, hosted in LA. In receiving this prize, the rapper and producer joins the ranks of pop music’s most prestigious, including David Bowie, Beastie Boys, Justin Timberlake and Beyoncé.
Formerly known as the Lifetime Achievement award, it is given to artists who have made a significant impact on the cultural landscape. The award was renamed the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard award from 1991 onwards.
.@kanyeWest will receive the 2015 MTV VMAs Video Vanguard Award! http://t.co/puhOD8OJR3 #VMAs pic.twitter.com/RD1DYi2Cue
— MTV VMA (@VMAs_2015) August 25, 2015
Although West has been recognised twice previously at the VMAs – taking home prizes for Jesus Walks and Good Life videos – the artist’s most memorable moment at the ceremony was during 2009’s event when he famously interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech.
In spite of West’s many headline grabbing moments as a provocateur, his videos are consistently fascinating innovative, from the surreal Bound 2, to the interactive experiment for Black Skinhead, and more recently, the sensitive footage shot for Only One.
This year’s VMAs are presented by Miley Cyrus, with the likes of Pharrell Williams, Demi Lovato, The Weeknd and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis confirmed as performers. It is not yet known if West will perform.
