King Kendrick reigned supreme at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards, where he took home six Moon Persons after opening the show with a fire-filled medley of “DNA.” and “HUMBLE.”
While accepting his Video of the Year award, Kendrick Lamar took a moment to thank Dave Free and Dave Meyers, the co-directors of “HUMBLE.” “Glory to God every time, giving us these amazing talents,” he said. “I ain’t nothing without my team.”
K-Dot — who took home Best Hip Hop, Best Cinematography, Best Direction, Best Art Direction, and Best Visual Effects for “HUMBLE.” — reflected on his work as part of the little homies, the directorial duo that also includes Free. Plus, he celebrated Meyers’ legendary career, which has been shining for decades.
“Dave Free,” he said. “I’ve been rocking with this guy since 14 years old. He’s always been a visionary. We always put our heads together. He’s one of the greatest visionaries today in the game.”
Turning to Meyers, Kendrick smiled once again. “Dave Meyers,” he began. “I think me and Dave Free been wanting to rock with you since we was 14 years old so thank you for allowing us to take our thoughts and wild imaginations to the next level. This guy’s always been a genius. True pleasure, for real.”
Lamar walked into Sunday’s show with DAMN. good odds, as the evening’s most nominated artist, but there were other big winners, as well. Ed Sheeran nabbed Artist of the Year, while Gucci Mane won his first VMA ever for Best Pop Video (“Down”), which he shared with Fifth Harmony.
Performances throughout the night included Logic, Alessia Cara, and Khalid (“1-800-273-8255”), 5H and Guwop (“Angel” and “Down”), Lil Uzi Vert and Ed Sheeran (“Shape of You” and “XO TOUR Llif3”), and 30 Seconds to Mars and Travis Scott (“Walk on Water”).
Taylor Swift was a no-show, but she did manage to premiere her “Look What You Made Me Do” video, which featured nods to her Kanye West and Kim Kardashian feud.
Another one of the night’s powerful moments came by way of Susan Bro, the mother of Heather Heyer, the young woman who was killed while protesting against white supremacy in Charlottesville this month. “Only 15 days ago, my daughter Heather was killed as she protested racism,” said Bro. “I miss her, but I know she’s here tonight.”
After announcing The Heather Heyer Foundation, Bro explained how MTV decided to honor this year’s Best Fight Against the System winners. “I want people to know that Heather never marched alone. She was always joined by people from every race and every background in this country,” added Bro. “In that spirit, MTV has decided to honor all six nominees for Best Fight Against the System. Through their diversity, these six videos show there are many ways to take action and many battlegrounds in the fight for social good.”
See a full list of winners below.
2017 MTV Video Music Awards Winners
VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.”
Bruno Mars – “24K Magic”
Alessia Cara – “Scars to Your Beautiful”
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”
The Weeknd – “Reminder”
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Bruno Mars
Kendrick Lamar
Ed Sheeran
Ariana Grande
The Weeknd
Lorde
BEST NEW ARTIST (Presented by Taco Bell)
Khalid
Kodak Black
SZA
Young M.A
Julia Michaels
Noah Cyrus
BEST COLLABORATION
Charlie Puth ft. Selena Gomez – “We Don’t Talk Anymore”
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”
D.R.A.M. ft. Lil Yachty – “Broccoli”
The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – “Closer”
Calvin Harris ft. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry & Big Sean – “Feels”
Zayn & Taylor Swift – “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker)”
BEST POP
Shawn Mendes – “Treat You Better”
Ed Sheeran – “Shape of You”
Harry Styles – “Sign of the Times”
Fifth Harmony ft. Gucci Mane – “Down”
Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley – “Chained to the Rhythm”
Miley Cyrus – “Malibu”
BEST HIP HOP
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.”
Big Sean – “Bounce Back”
Chance the Rapper – “Same Drugs”
D.R.A.M. ft. Lil Yachty – “Broccoli”
Migos ft. Lil Uzi Vert – “Bad & Boujee”
DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper & Lil Wayne – “I’m the One”
BEST DANCE
Zedd and Alessia Cara – “Stay”
Kygo x Selena Gomez – “It Ain’t Me”
Calvin Harris – “My Way”
Major Lazer ft. Justin Bieber and MØ – “Cold Water”
Afrojack ft. Ty Dolla $ign – “Gone”
BEST ROCK
Coldplay – “A Head Full of Dreams”
Fall Out Boy – “Young and Menace”
Twenty One Pilots – “Heavydirtysoul”
Green Day – “Bang Bang”
Foo Fighters – “Run”
BEST FIGHT AGAINST THE SYSTEM
Logic ft. Damian Lemar Hudson – “Black SpiderMan”
The Hamilton Mixtape – “Immigrants (We Get the Job Done)”
Big Sean – “Light”
Alessia Cara – “Scars to Your Beautiful”
Taboo ft. Shailene Woodley – “Stand Up / Stand N Rock #NoDAPL”
John Legend – “Surefire”
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (Scott Cunningham)
Imagine Dragons – “Thunder” (Matthew Wise)
Ed Sheeran – “Castle on the Hill” (Steve Annis)
DJ Shadow ft. Run The Jewels – “Nobody Speak” (David Proctor)
Halsey – “Now or Never” (Kristof Brandl)
BEST DIRECTION
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (Dave Meyers & the little homies)
Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley – “Chained to the Rhythm” (Mathew Cullen)
Bruno Mars – “24K Magic” (Cameron Duddy & Bruno Mars)
Alessia Cara – “Scars to Your Beautiful” (Aaron A)
The Weeknd – “Reminder” (Glenn Michael)
BEST ART DIRECTION
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (Spencer Graves)
Bruno Mars – “24K Magic” (Alex Delgado)
Katy Perry ft. Migos – “Bon Appétit” (Natalie Groce)
DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna & Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts” (Damian Fyffe)
The Weeknd – “Reminder” (Creative Director: Lamar C Taylor / Co-creative Director: Christo Anesti)
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.”
A Tribe Called Quest – “Dis Generation”
KYLE ft. Lil Yachty – “iSpy”
Katy Perry ft. Skip Marley – “Chained to the Rhythm”
Harry Styles – “Sign of the Times”
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Kanye West – “Fade” (Teyana Taylor, Guapo, Jae Blaze & Derek ‘Bentley’ Watkins)
Ariana Grande ft. Nicki Minaj – “Side to Side” (Brian & Scott Nicholson)
Kendrick Lamar – “HUMBLE.” (Dave Meyers)
Sia – “The Greatest” (Ryan Heffington)
Fifth Harmony ft. Gucci Mane – “Down” (Sean Bankhead)
BEST EDITING
Future – “Mask Off”
Young Thug – “Wyclef Jean”
Lorde – “Green Light”
The Chainsmokers ft. Halsey – “Closer”
The Weeknd – “Reminder”
SONG OF SUMMER
“Despacito Remix” – Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber
“Down” – Fifth Harmony ft. Gucci Mane
“OMG” – Camila Cabello ft. Quavo
“Shape of You” – Ed Sheeran
“Sorry Not Sorry” – Demi Lovato
“There’s Nothing Holding Me Back” – Shawn Mendes
“Wild Thoughts” – DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller
“XO Tour Llif3” – Lil Uzi Vert