TOP TRAX By DJ FR8-O
MTV'S VIDEO VANGUARD OF THE YEAR:
JENNIFER LOPEZ MTV made the announcement about this year's recipient on July 31, via livestream with the stunned and stunning-as-ever JLo saying, "To be the recipient this year is like… I can't even believe it, I'm so excited." This year's award is extra special because the Puerto Rican pop princess will also be the first Latin artist to receive the honor. "That's always an amazing thing," she explained. "Because you want everybody to know that they have a fair shot at anything in this life. And if I can be the first to do anything, that just… is not about me. It's about everybody else. It's about them." It was nearly two decades ago that the 49-yearold first appeared on the VMAs as a nominee for Best New Artist; and in that time, she has given us some of the most iconic dance songs (and videos) of our generation. Not only has she conquered the music world, she's made a separate career as an actress, a producer and, of course, a mother. Starting out as a Fly Girl on the hit '90s TV show In Living Color, Jennifer Lynn Lopez was just a pretty face dancing in
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n just a couple of weeks, the world will be glued to their TVs as our favorite acts take the stage for the 35th installment of the MTV Video Music Awards. Besides featuring the inevitable and highly-anticipated moments of shock-and-awe by nominees and attendees alike, the show will also be honoring Jennifer Lopez as this year's recipient of the coveted Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. The Video Vanguard made its debut in 1984 at the inaugural VMAs, where it was awarded to David Bowie, The Beatles, and film director Richard Lester. The iconic award recognizes the accomplishments of artists in music and film, and is also given to music video directors who have created some of the most acclaimed music videos aired by the network. In 1991, it was renamed in honor of Michael Jackson, the original video vanguard himself.