The VMA's invade New York...again!

Insanity ruled in New York this week. The MTV Video Music Awards came to town last night. There were a ton of pre-parties on Weds night and after-parties last night. I only got invited to one party BUT it was one of the hottest parties around. The Blender/vitaminwater party at Tao. More on that later...

If you click on the link above in the subject line to the MTV Overdrive page click on the VMA BACKSTAGE UNCENSORED ON DEMAND section. In the first backstage bit with STAGE LEFT interviewer Cipher Sounds heading to talk to LL Cool J and Andre 3000 in the make-up room then you can see me for a brief second standing in an bright orange T-shirt behind the security just before Cipher goes into the actual room. My one-minute of fame. Ha!!

I had the pleasure of working at the VMA's. It was my job to meet LL Cool J after he got off the red carpet and take him where he needed to be during the awards show. If you click on this link you can see thumbnails of him at the awards show and after party. Look for his beautiful and sweet wife Simone too!

So while I was waiting at the end of the red carpet and backstage, I had so many artists walk past me. It's kind of surreal to see some of these folks in person!
I saw Nas and his hot wife Kelis, Pink, Rev Run from Run DMC and his family, Fall Out Boy, Jack Black, The Rock, Lil Jon, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Shakira, Angels And Airwaves, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Johnny Knoxville and the Jackass crew, Pharrell, Slim Thug, Nick Lachey and his girlfriend MTV VJ Vanessa Minnillo (separetly of course), All American Rejects, Chamillionaire, tennis player Andy Roddick, James Blunt & his girlfriend Petra Nemcova, 50 Cent, Queen Latifah, Busta Rhymes and Spliff Star, Kayne West, Ludacris, T.I., Wyclef, Ok Go, Olympic medalist Shaun White, Jared Leto, Jack White and The Raconteurs, Lou Reed, and Lil Kim.









LL Cool J was such a blast to work with. He was so nice and easy going. We talked for a while backstage, by the green room and when I took him to his seat. By the end of his time at the VMA's, he was calling me by my DJ name 'Catskillz' and he told me that he thought I looked like I was in my 20's. (Thanks LL!). That's always nice to hear when you are in your mid-30's.

After LL Cool J left the show, I was able to stick around and watch the awards from inside Radio City Music Hall. I also wandered outside the theatre by the lobby bar to chat up friends and music biz acquaintances. It was nice to see Nick from Atlantic, Scotty from The Lodge, rapper E-40, Cee-Lo from Gnarls Barkley, Diplomats capo Jim Jones, Kevin from MTVu and fellow Canadian Jeremy Bates who is the tour manager for The Killers.

Before he left the show, LL Cool J and his crew also invited me to his after party at Tao...but alas by the time I got there, the cops were shutting down the party. No one was getting in since it was at capacity. Boo!

You can check out who was there. Click here and here.

But then I ran into Jeremy again and The Killers. They were also trying to get into Tao and they were going to bring me in with them. But guess what? They also couldn't get in. It was pandemonium with cops shouting at everyone and flashing lights on us to get us to move. So The Killers decided to go to Beyonce's VMA after party/birthday party at the 40/40 Club. They invited me along. Woo!

People.com: B'DAY PRESENT

Beyoncé, who scorched the VMAs red carpet in her crystal-encrusted gown, switches into another party frock for her album release party that night at boyfriend Jay-Z's 40/40 Club. B’Day is due Sept. 5, the day after the singer rings in her 25th.

I walked along the red carpet with Jeremy & the band and got into the club but I didn't get into the VIP section with them. Oh well. I waited for a bit by the entrance and saw DJ/producer Alchemist (I used to work with him) and he also didn't get into the VIP section so then I didn't feel like the only one. Reagardless - it was still a fun time! The music was bumping and the crowd was hopping!

I had as much fun as I did when I worked the VMA's in 2003 with Redman. I have to say it was great to have all the action back in NYC...sorry Miami!

Here's a list if the winners (marked with a '*'.

Best Male Video
* James Blunt, "You're Beautiful"
Busta Rhymes featuring Mary J. Blige, Rah Digga, Missy Elliott, Lloyd
Banks, Papoose & DMX, "Touch It (Remix)"
Nick Lachey, "What's Left Of Me"
T.I., "What You Know"
Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx, "Gold Digger"

Best Female Video
* Kelly Clarkson, "Because of You"
Christina Aguilera, "Ain't No Other Man"
Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland, "Promiscuous"
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean,"Hips Don't Lie"
Madonna, "Hung Up"

Best Group Video
* All-American Rejects, "Move Along"
Panic! At The Disco, "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
Fall Out Boy,"Dance, Dance"
Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Dani California"
Gnarls Barkley, "Crazy"

Best Rap Video
* Chamillionaire featuring Krayzie Bone, "Ridin"
50 Cent, "Window Shopper"
T.I., "What You Know"
Busta Rhymes featuring Mary J. Blige, Rah Digga,
Missy Elliott, Lloyd Banks, Papoose & DMX, "Touch It (Remix)"
Yung Joc featuring Nitty, "It's Goin' Down"

Best R&B Video
* Beyonce featuring Slim Thug & Bun B, "Check On It (Pink Panther)"
Mariah Carey, "Shake It Off"
Chris Brown, "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)"
Mary J. Blige, "Be Without You"
Jamie Foxx featuring Ludacris, "Unpredictable"

Best Hip Hop Video
* Black Eyed Peas, "My Humps"
Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx, "Gold Digger"
Common, "Testify"
Three 6 Mafia, "Stay Fly"
Daddy Yankee, "Rompe"

Best Dance Video
* Pussycat Dolls featuring Snoop Dogg, "Buttons"
Madonna, "Hung Up"
Sean Paul, "Temperature"
Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland,"Promiscuous"
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean, "Hips Don't Lie"

Best Rock Video
*A.F.I., "Miss Murder"
30 Seconds To Mars, "The Kill"
Panic! At The Disco, "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Dani California"
Green Day, "Wake Me Up When September Ends"

Best Pop Video
* Pink, "Stupid Girls"
Christina Aguilera, "Ain't No Other Man"
Madonna, "Hung Up"
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean, "Hips Don't Lie"
Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland, "Promiscuous"

Best New Artist in a Video
* Avenged Sevenfold, "Bat Country"
Angels And Airwaves, "The Adventure"
James Blunt, "You're Beautiful"
Panic! At The Disco, "I Write Sins Not Tragedies",
Chris Brown featuring Juelz Santana, "Run It"
Rihanna, "S.O.S."

Viewer's Choice
* Fall Out Boy, "Dance, Dance"
Chris Brown featuring Juelz Santana, "Run It"
Rihanna, "S.O.S."
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean, "Hips Don't Lie"
Kelly Clarkson, "Because of You"

Video of the Year
* Panic! At The Disco, "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
Christina Aguilera, "Ain't No Other Man"
Red Hot Chili Peppers, "Dani California"
Madonna, "Hung Up"
Shakira featuring Wyclef Jean, "Hips Don't Lie"