MTV has announced that Kanye West will be the recipient of its “highest honor” at this weekend’s Video Music Awards. Kanye will pick up the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, given this year in recognition of West’s “groundbreaking videos” and his impact “on music, art, fashion, and culture.” Previous winners include Madonna, Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, Peter Gabriel, Guns N’ Roses, Beastie Boys, Britney Spears, and Justin Timberlake.
A press release elaborates on Kanye’s contribution to music video canon:
Throughout his career, West has blended musical and visual artistry to powerful effect. From his trilogy of videos for “Jesus Walks,” to the mind-bending animation of “Heartless,” to the arresting imagery of “Bound 2,” he’s pushed boundaries and delivered something new with every successive video.
It’s unknown if West will perform at the awards, airing at 9pm (ET/PT) this Sunday, and hosted by Miley Cyrus. After his Billboard Award performance earlier this year, in which he was heavily censored, it was speculated that he may never again perform at another awards ceremony. The list of artists confirmed to perform at the show, so far, includes Nicki Minaj, The Weeknd, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars and Selena Gomez.