The Black Eyed Peas will make their long-awaited first performance on the MTV Video Music Awards on Aug. 30, when they perform their new single “Vida Loca.” The Peas performed “Where Is the Love?” on the VMAs pre-show at Radio City Music Hall 17 years ago, but never made it to the main show until now.
Red-hot rapper DaBaby will also perform on the show for the first time. He is expected to join Roddy Ricch to perform their smash “Rockstar,” which logged seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Looking back, I can’t believe Black Eyed Peas have never played the MTV Video Music Awards,” the group’s will.i.am said in a statement. “…To be on the top of the charts and on the MTV VMA big stage is a blessing. Thanks to our fans who made this all possible, and we’re going to give them something very special with our first-ever performance of ‘Vida Loca.’”
“Vida Loca,” which features Nicky Jam and Tyga, is from the Peas’ eighth studio album, Translation. There is speculation that the Peas may also join J Balvin to perform another track from that album, “Ritmo (Bad Boys for Life),” which is nominated for best collaboration.
The Peas have a second nomination this year—best Latin for “Mamacita” (with Ozuna and J. Rey Soul).
The Peas have won two VMAs—best choreography in a video for “Hey Mama” (2004) and best hip-hop video for “My Humps” (2006). Remarkably, the Peas weren’t nominated at all in 2009-10, when they were at their commercial zenith with three No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
Da Baby is nominated for three awards this year—artist of the year and two nods for “BOP” –best hip-hop and best choreography. He was also nominated for one award last year—song of the summer for his breakout hit “Suge.”
The 2020 VMAs, hosted by Keke Palmer, will air live on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Other performances set for the show include Ricch’s No. 1 Hot 100 smash “The Box,” Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande’s No. 1 smash “Rain on Me,” BTS’ “Dynamite,” Miley Cyrus’ “Midnight Sky,” CNCO’s “Honey Boo” and unspecified performances by The Weeknd, Doja Cat and Maluma. Gaga is also expected to perform a medley.