Home > Atlanta Music Scene > Archives > 2008 > September > 08 > Entry
Atlantans At The VMAs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
In the Big Britney Comeback(?) — also known as MTV’s Video Music Awards last night — there were a number of local happenings of note, and of course, we want your take.
Did you think it was funny when, early on, Jamie Foxx pointed out Atlanta rapper-actor T.I. and said “Don’t shoot me”; and made another reference to “bail money”?
(If you don’t know, T.I. pled guilty to three firearms charges in March of this year, and is facing 366 days in prison in March 2009. See his first interview since that plea, with the AJC, HERE).
What about T.I.’s performance later of his No. 1 hit in the country, “Whatever You Like” - particularly, the way it was produced? And the new song he debuted with Rihanna (with T.I. in top photo)?
The only other Atlanta resident to perform was T-Pain (above, as part of Lil Wayne’s segment). Like it?
Happen to catch Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy’s arrival in a presidential-like motorcade? Or local talents Jermaine Dupri (above), Ludacris, Ne-Yo, Ciara, Keri Hilson, Cee-Lo and T.I. with fiancee — notice the rock! - Tameka “Tiny” Cottle (second photo above) on the red carpet? (See the rest our VMA red carpet gallery HERE ).
And if we can stretch out a bit to Atlanta natives, how would you rate Kanye West’s new song, which closed the show? (See the YouTube video BELOW) (Oh - and see the rest our VMA photo gallery HERE ).
Comments
By Gail
September 8, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this
I was very disappointed that AMERICANS let a English guy, put down our country and President so bad. AND they clapped! I thought that was so uncalled for.
By Thugs
September 8, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this
What’s with all the above mug shots???
By My3Kids
September 8, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this
I agree with you Gail!
By Sarah
September 8, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this
The show is too anti-American, too low rent and too white trash. Unless you’re a high school drop out living in a trailer or Building C of the projects, how could a person with an IQ above room temperature relate to this mess? Look at the people in the pictures, you expect me to watch this? It was a come back for Britney Spears? Why? Because she didn’t fall on her large butt and was able to utter a few words? My…such lofty goals she had to reach. The MTV crowd use to be hip, now it’s a bunch of uneducated criminals and dunces.
By T
September 8, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this
Nope didn’t watch. “Don’t shoot me.” lol lol lol, cute.
By bbb
September 8, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this
rihanna was awful- she should have just stayed to lyp synching…she was very flat
kanye was also flat most of the song but it was still better than his rapping
i wonder why xtina chose to lyp synch?
Russell Brand was very funny- you have to able to laugh at America…..blind patriotism is more lethal than a few words of dissension from a comic…but we are all entitled to our opinions.
But, music television is dead and not one credible musician was nominated…not one…
By cara
September 8, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
The show was horrible and super GHETTO! I can’t stand George Bush and I thought Brand went too far. He wasn’t funny at all. The only music I enjoyed was Travis and DJ AM. The rest of the acts were not good and why was old azz Demi Moore presenting????
By becky
September 8, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this
Guess what? Our country has been in hades the last eight years. Stopping the British guy was not going to change anything! Bush did this on his own and the cult that follows him…if I was in that crowd I would have stood up and cheered
By dont bite me bro
September 8, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this
Mary J fights dogs.
By WTF
September 8, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this
I pretty much lost interest right after Britney won the VMA for best music video. She cannot compare to the other talent that was nominated. I did not care for the english guy and most of the acts were very getto. I do not know why I even bothered! MTV and the VMA’s SUCK!
By Kindergarten Teacher
September 8, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this
NOPE…..DIDN’T CARE…..”MAD MEN” WAS ON…..THAT WAS MUCH MORE INTERESTING!
By freebabe
September 8, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this
I didn’t like the British guy either & whomever decided to pick him as a host needs to be fired. I’m no fan of Bush but he was way outta of line. As far as ghetto- the reason some of the rappers are so popular is because of white suburban kids blasting their music.Lil Wayne needs to keep his pants up& I think Britney look nice. Its nice not to see her being an idiot
By freebabe
September 8, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
I didn’t like the British guy either & whomever decided to pick him as a host needs to be fired. I’m no fan of Bush but he was way outta of line. As far as ghetto- the reason some of the rappers are so popular is because of white suburban kids blasting their music.Lil Wayne needs to keep his pants up& I think Britney look nice. Its nice not to see her being an idiot
By john1
September 8, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
Poor becky needs a group hug…her self pity level is off the chart…
By Miss P
September 8, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
Brand wasn’t funny at all. He tried too hard to make ppl laugh. I enjoyed Lil wayne, but wished he kept his shirt on. Rih-Rih should definitely stick to lip singing, b/c she sounds like garbage live. I didn’t care for the first half of TI’s performance but he and Rihanna didn’t look bad together. Watch out Chris Brown and Tiny! Now Britney Spears … notice her initials spell BS. B/c that’s exactly what I said as she kept racking up awards. No way was “Pieces of Me” deserving of all that “honor”. Anyways, the show was crap and I hope they do a better job with a good host and performers next year.
By vmagirl
September 8, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this
VMAS were awful.For this to be their 25th anniversary I expected more. I was expecting Britney to open up better than she did. This was like an award show they threw together at the last minute.Half of the mics were not working properly.The host[who is he anyway] was just brutally honest but went wayyyy to far about Bush and the Jonas Bros.I love some T.I. but the “Whatever You Like” performance was a waste of time!Kanye did his thing hands down!Maybe MTV will step it up next year!
By Kindergarten Teacher
September 8, 2008 2:27 PM | Link to this
NOPE…..DIDN’T CARE…..”MAD MEN” WAS ON…..THAT WAS MUCH MORE INTERESTING!
By red adair
September 8, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this
Didn’t watch and don’t care.
By red adair
September 8, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
Didn’t watch and don’t care.
By SKI
September 8, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this
Why is a British Ahole making fun of our prez anyway, only Americans are allowed to do that (Ask a European how much they pay for a gallon of gas).OOOHHHH great comeback Brit. You were probably lip syncing the intro. MTV has lost touch with what will soon be their ex-fans.
By Watcher
September 8, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
Brand - funny sometimes. Britney - looked nice. Rihanna - Better, get yo money Jigga Lil Wayne & T-Pain - Someone Get God on the phone ASAP about these two. Kanye - is going thru it, performing in shawdows, so not his style. Overall - I like the backlot performances! Good idea.
By ATL Legacy
September 8, 2008 3:09 PM | Link to this
Pink was the hottest act of the night. Her entire performance shows why she has staying power. TI and Rihanna- decent. Althoug Wayne and T-Pain aren’t so easy on the eyes, they always bring their “A” game to their peformances. Tiny and Vanessa Bryant need to find a STYLIST QUICK!!! Otherwise the show was mediocre at best, especially for a 25th Anniversary. Hopefully they will plan better next year.
By DH
September 8, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this
I stopped to watch for about two minutes while I channel surfed. from the looks of what I saw it looked like a Clayton County School Board meeting. Lot’s of dumb looing people I don’t want living next to me. Bash Bush all you want you idiots, your Obama is tanking in the polls, he’ll never be President. You idiots.
By Non-white male
September 8, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this
Obama tanking in the polls, and people are surprised??? America, please wake up, there will never be a Black president. You can tell based on some of the comments here that all Black people are lumped into the same category. The show did suck, but not because of “ghetto thugs”, the show was just looked like it was thrown together. Actually there were more non-Black artists performing, presenting and receiving awards. So you can’t really blame it on the “ghetto thugs”, aka Black people this time.
By The Prophet
September 8, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
Seeing the pictures above, and realizing this is being passed off as “art,” I realize the fall of Western civilization is nigh … . Welcome to the Third World, where apparently we as a nation are destined — and deserve — to be.
By That guy
September 8, 2008 5:26 PM | Link to this
Hey, The Prophet, crackers, I mean white folks, will be the fall of the Western civilization. Empires fell because they thought they were better than everyone else and messed with the wrong people, just like Americans have been doing for years. Sounds like crackers, I mean white folks, to me. I mean, how long do you think you can push somebody around and tell them what to do before something like, let’s say 9/11, happens???
By BiteMe
September 8, 2008 5:58 PM | Link to this
The brit-twit was way out of line in almost everything he said. Unfunny, lame, vicious, sexist, offensive, stupid. Obama would be smart to distance himself from this garbage.
By Charles
September 8, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this
I haven’t figured out why they are called Video Music Awards. They’re videos alright with guys grabbing their genitals - but, there’s no music involved. All I hear is some garbled speech about beating women, killing cops and other assorted violence.
By Bryan
September 8, 2008 6:11 PM | Link to this
I was disappointed overall with the way this show was put together. I get what MTV was trying to do in that they were “rehearsing” live performances but I generally didn’t understand the relevance of certain acts appearing on stage (Paris Hilton, Lauren from “The Hills”, etc.) I was really disappointed with the opening act. Rihanna is talented but her voice cracked too much to be the opening act. To me, Christina’s performance was one of, if not, the best performances of the entire show. I think she should have opened.
By kim
September 8, 2008 6:53 PM | Link to this
It was horrible, I made it though the first 5 mins and it was painful. Are you sure it was not the BET music awards?
By Chazz
September 8, 2008 7:58 PM | Link to this
This was by far one of the worst shows..ever! And, by the way, how can MTV do a video awards show when they hardly show videos??? That Brit should have never been asked to do the show. He was too anti-American and, although I don’t like them, he was too cruel to the Jonas Brothers. I hope he is one fad that comes and goes.
And, how much do you thin these TV and Movie companies pay to get their “stars” to appear to give out awards?
I was sssooooo looking forward to hearing Kate Perry sing and all I heard was like 10 or 15 seconds of each song!
MTV…change the name or go away already!
By TiredofIt
September 8, 2008 8:14 PM | Link to this
MTV - Oh yeah.
“Video killed the Radio Star -1981” Tom Petty - post apocalyptic desert finds a a guitar. :Round ‘n Round” -RATT “Why Me?” Planet-P “Dance Hall Days” -Wang-Chung
OK up to this point.
“Wipeout” RunDMC ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
YAWN
By Ray
September 8, 2008 8:35 PM | Link to this
George Bush not allowed to carry a pair of scissors…HILARIOUS.
By MARCEL MARCEAU
September 8, 2008 8:48 PM | Link to this
,,”“. ,. ? , !!!!
By AGA
September 8, 2008 8:56 PM | Link to this
When you have the courage to FIRE your left-radical reporters (LIKE THAT HORRIBLE TUCKER) your readership will go up and some of us will actually subscribe again. You have the most liberal newspaper in all of the south, and it’s disgusting to treat intelligent readers to your CRAP….I’m ashamed of you. My fellow New Englanders and I have all cancelled the subscription and NEVER refer to your articles, etc. Wise up and get rid of the PINHEADS you employ.
By haha
September 8, 2008 9:27 PM | Link to this
I’m just glad people see who is endorsing Obama. Look to the celebrities on the VMAs for more information on who you should vote for in the upcoming election. If you liked what you saw on the VMAs just tune in for more during an Obama presidency.
By haha
September 8, 2008 9:28 PM | Link to this
I’m just glad people see who is endorsing Obama. Look to the celebrities on the VMAs for more information on who you should vote for in the upcoming election. If you liked what you saw on the VMAs just tune in for more during an Obama presidency.
By Alice Peterson
September 8, 2008 9:44 PM | Link to this
I just watched Bill O’Reilly and saw Cynthia Tucker and realized why your ratings are soooo low. I purchase your paper on weekends and Thanksgiving but I will Never buy another. I am so sick of the far left shoving their agenda down our throats. They act as if they think we are too stupid to make up our own mind if we had the truth about both candidates. The media need to stop pushing their agenda and report the facts and stop being so biased.
By becky becky
September 8, 2008 11:01 PM | Link to this
Actually I do NOT need a hug I just took my rose colored glasses off and I wish you all would do the same.
By vmagirl
September 8, 2008 11:12 PM | Link to this
PPL, cmon now this is abt the Video Music Awards show not Obama Music Awards show.Leave the man out of it.
By tina
September 8, 2008 11:23 PM | Link to this