The 2017 Video Music Awards held ay the Forum in Los Angeles aired on August 27, 2017 and hosted by Astronaut & Singer, Katy Perry, with a fire explosive opening performance by Kendrick Lamar to perform his newest single, “DNA” and “Humble” off album DAMN. Deservingly enough, later in the night, Kendrick took home the Video Of the Year Award for “Humble” and four other awards.

https://youtu.be/_VDv6h-3StI

The night was filled with live music and activists speaking out on the current issues we are facing in America. One of the unforgettable moments of the night was Robert Lee IV, pastor and descendant of Civil War general whose statue involved in the violence in Charlottesville earlier this month – introduced himself stating, “We have made my ancestor an idol of white supremacy, racism and hate. As a pastor, it is my responsibility to speak out against racism, America’s original sin.”

He brought forth the mother of Heather Heyer, killed in the Charlottesville crossfire, to speak about her loss and the Heather Heyer Foundation. She went on to say the foundation will help provide scholarships to students interested in pursuing law, education and social justice issues.

Paris Jackson used her nominee speech to give a brief and powerful PSA for unity, “Let’s leave here tonight knowing that… We must show these Nazi, white-supremacist jerks in Charlottesville and all over the country that as a nation with liberty as our slogan we have zero tolerance for their violence, their hatred, and their discrimination. We must resist!”

The night went on with performances and appearances by Sean Mendez, Lil Uzi Vert, Ed Sheeran, Nicki Minaj, Demi Lovato, Gucci Mane, Cardi B, and much more.

https://youtu.be/BLe1dddgZrg

See the list of winners below from Variety:

Video of the year:

Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope) (WINNER)
Bruno Mars – “24K Magic” (Atlantic Records)
Alessia Cara – “Scars To Your Beautiful” (Def Jam)
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna, and Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts” (Epic Records/We The Best)
The Weeknd – “Reminder” (XO/Republic Records)

Artist of the year:
Bruno Mars (Atlantic Records)
Kendrick Lamar (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope)
Ed Sheeran (Atlantic Records) (WINNER)
Ariana Grande (Republic Records)
The Weeknd (XO/Republic Records)
Lorde (Republic Records)

Best new artist (Presented by Taco Bell):
Khalid (RCA Records) (WINNER)
Kodak Black (Atlantic Records)
SZA (TDE/RCA Records)
Young M.A (3D)
Julia Michaels (Republic Records)
Noah Cyrus (Records)

Best collaboration:
Charlie Puth ft. Selena Gomez – “We Don’t Talk Anymore” (Atlantic Records)
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna, and Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts” (Epic Records/We The Best)
D.R.A.M. ft. Lil Yachty – “Broccoli” (Atlantic Records)
The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – “Closer” (Disruptor Records/Columbia Records)
Calvin Harris ft. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry, and Big Sean – “Feels” (Columbia Records)
Zayn and Taylor Swift – “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker)” (Republic Records) (WINNER)

Best pop:
Shawn Mendes – “Treat You Better” (Island Records)
Ed Sheeran – “Shape of You” (Asylum/Atlantic Records)
Harry Styles – “Sign Of The Times” (Columbia Records)
Fifth Harmony ft. Gucci Mane – “Down” (Syco Music/Epic Records) (WINNER)
Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley – “Chained To The Rhythm” (Capitol Records)
Miley Cyrus – “Malibu” (RCA Records)

Best hip hop:
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope) (WINNER)
Big Sean – “Bounce Back” (Def Jam)
Chance the Rapper – “Same Drugs” (Chance the Rapper LLC)
D.R.A.M. ft. Lil Yachty – “Broccoli” (Atlantic Records)
Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert – “Bad & Boujee” (300 Entertainment)
DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, and Lil Wayne – “I’m The One” (Epic Records/We The Best)

Best dance:

Zedd and Alessia Cara – “Stay” (Interscope) (WINNER)
Kygo x Selena Gomez – “It Ain’t Me” (Ultra/Interscope)
Calvin Harris – “My Way” (Columbia Records)
Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber and MØ – “Cold Water” (Mad Decent)
Afrojack ft. Ty Dolla $ign – “Gone” (Wall Recordings/Latium/RCA Records)

Best rock:
Coldplay – “A Head Full of Dreams” (Parlophone/Atlantic Records)
Fall Out Boy – “Young And Menace” (Island)
Twenty One Pilots – “Heavydirtysoul” (Fueled by Ramen/Atlantic Records)
Green Day – “Bang Bang” (Warner Bros. Records)
Foo Fighters – “Run” (RCA Records)

Best fight against the system (ALL HONORED):
Logic ft. Damian Lemar Hudson – “Black SpiderMan” (Def Jam)

The Hamilton Mixtape – “Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)” (Atlantic Records)
Big Sean – “Light” (Def Jam)
Alessia Cara – “Scars To Your Beautiful” (Def Jam)
Taboo ft. Shailene Woodley – “Stand Up / Stand N Rock #NoDAPL”
John Legend – “Surefire” (Columbia Records)

Best cinematography:
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope) (Scott Cunningham) (WINNER)
Imagine Dragons – “Thunder” (KIDinaKORNER/Interscope) (Matthew Wise)
Ed Sheeran – “Castle On The Hill” (Asylum/Atlantic Records) (Steve Annis)
DJ Shadow ft. Run The Jewels – “Nobody Speak” (Mass Appeal Records LLC) (David Procter)
Halsey – “Now or Never” (Astralwerks/Capitol) (Kristof Brandl)

Best direction:
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope) (Dave Meyers and the little homies) (WINNER)
Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley – “Chained To The Rhythm” (Capitol Records) (Mathew Cullen)
Bruno Mars – “24K Magic” (Atlantic Records)  (Cameron Duddy and Bruno Mars)
Alessia Cara – “Scars To Your Beautiful” (Def Jam) (Aaron A)
The Weeknd – “Reminder” (XO/Republic Records) (Glenn Michael)

Best art direction:
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope) (Spencer Graves) (WINNER)
Bruno Mars – “24K Magic” (Atlantic Records) (Alex Delgado)
Katy Perry ft. Migos – “Bon Appetit” (Capitol Records) (Natalie Groce)
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts” (Epic Records/We The Best) (Damian Fyffe)
The Weeknd – “Reminder” (XO/Republic Records) (Creative Director: Lamar C Taylor / Co-creative Director: Christo Anesti)

Best visual effects:
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope) (Company: Timber/Lead: Jonah Hall) (WINNER)
A Tribe Called Quest – “Dis Generation” (Epic Records) (Company: Bemo/Lead: Brandon Hirzel)
KYLE ft. Lil Yachty – “iSpy” (Atlantic Records) (Company: Gloria FX/Leads: Max Colt and Tomash Kuzmytskyi)
Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley – “Chained To The Rhythm” (Capitol Records) (Company: MIRADA)
Harry Styles – “Sign Of The Times” (Columbia Records) (Company: ONE MORE/Lead: Cédric Nivoliez)

Best choreography:
Kanye West – “Fade” (Def Jam) (Teyana Taylor, Guapo, Jae Blaze, and Derek ‘Bentley’ Watkins) (WINNER)
Ariana Grande ft. Nicki Minaj – “Side To Side” (Republic Records) (Brian and Scott Nicholson)
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope)  (Dave Meyers)
Sia – “The Greatest” (Monkey Puzzle Records/RCA Records) (Ryan Heffington)
Fifth Harmony ft. Gucci Mane – “Down” (Syco Music/Epic Records) (Sean Bankhead)

Best editing:
Future – “Mask Off” (Epic Records/Freebandz/A1) (Vinnie Hobbs of VHPost)
Young Thug – “Wyclef Jean” (300 Entertainment/Atlantic Records) (Ryan Staake and Eric Degliomini)
Lorde – “Green Light” (Republic Records) (Nate Gross of Exile Edit)
The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – “Closer” (Disruptor Records/Columbia Records) (Jennifer Kennedy)
The Weeknd – “Reminder” (XO/Republic Records) (Red Barbaza)

Song of the summer:
Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi, ft. Justin Bieber — “Despacito (Remix)”
Ed Sheeran — “Shape of You”
Shawn Mendes — “There’s Nothing Holding Me Back”
Demi Lovato — “Sorry Not Sorry”
DJ Khaled Feat. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller — “Wild Thoughts”
Camila Cabello Feat. Quavo — “OMG”
Fifth Harmony Feat. Gucci Mane — “Down”
Lil Uzi Vert — “XO Tour Llif3”

Michael Jackson video vanguard award:
P!nk