An Afro-Surrealistic Worldview Looms Over This Year's Video Music Awards
A couple of years ago, when viral videos of black death were all the rage in America, MTV rolled out one of the blackest Video Music Awards in the show's history.
Comedians Keegan-Michael Key & Jordan Peele co-hosted as faux social media influencers and , in sketches parodying the most inane corners of . Rihanna performed a total of four times (not including her of Drake's desperate attempt at a kiss while presenting her with the Video Vanguard Award). Seven years after crashing Taylor Swift's acceptance speech, Kanye West got seven uninterrupted minutes to ramble about Hollywood's incestuous web of fame and infamy, while shouting out his old girlfriend Amber Rose, his wife Kim Kardashian and her one-time fling Ray J. A toned Teyana Taylor gave viewers a visual workout in the premiere of Ye's new video for "Fade." Beyoncé took home the most trophies by the night's end, including one for video of the year ("Formation"), after performing a 16-minute medley of songs from her groundbreaking visual album . It was one of those rare award shows where all the black artists who were supposed to win did, at a moment when Black
