VMAs Recruit Alicia Keys for Jay-Z Performance, Eminem to Make "Special Appearance"

With three days to go until the Video Music Awards, MTV announced that Eminem will also appear on the show in a "special appearance." Details are sketchy regarding Eminem's role — Janet Jackson will also make a "special appearance" in a tribute to her brother Michael, so the term denotes something more than a standard performance — "but the last time Slim Shady made a "special appearance" on MTV, he was at the butt end of a Bruno gag, literally. Maybe Eminem will exact revenge on some unprepared member of the audience? Maybe he'll debut a track from his upcoming Relapse 2? We'll find out live September 13th when the VMAs invade New York's Radio City Music Hall.

MTV also revealed that Alicia Keys will join Jay-Z when Hova debuts his The Blueprint 3 song "Empire State of Mind" for the VMA audience. A whole cavalcade of presenters were also announced, including Megan Fox, Jimmy Fallon, Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, 50 Cent, Jack Black, Andy Samberg, Kristin Cavallari, Pete Wentz, Gerard Butler, Tracy Morgan, Adam Brody, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Alexa Chung, Gabe Saporta of Cobra Starship and Justin Bieber.

As Rolling Stone previously reported, the VMAs will also include performances by Green Day, Beyoncé, Muse, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Wale and Pink, trailers for This Is It and New Moon, the Jackson tribute, Russell Brand's controversial hosting plus hints of Britney Spears' possible involvement. We're sure MTV has much more surprises in store, so keep it locked to Rolling Stone all weekend for our full coverage of the event, which conveniently is taking place right next door to our office.

Related Stories:
• Michael Jackson's "This Is It" Trailer to Premiere During VMAs
• Janet Jackson to Pay Tribute to Michael at MTV's VMAs
• Britney Spears Gets Into Russell Brand's Head in VMAs Commercial

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Song Stories

“My President”

Young Jeezy | 2008

Young Jeezy teams up with Nas on this track, in which he compare his own success with the idea of an African-American winning the Democratic Party's nomination in the 2008 presidential election. "When I pulled up in my car, that s--- was unbelievable to people in my neighborhood because they were like, 'We grew up with him. How the hell did he accomplish this?'" he told Rolling Stone. "I feel like it was the same way with Obama. I grew up all this time, but I've never seen a black man this close to running this country."

More Song Stories entries »

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