Show-Stoppers: Highlights From the 2013 MTV VMAs

Kanye's moody vibe, Miley's twerking and more moments.

2013 MTV VMA Highlights - After weeks of anticipation, the MTV Video Music Awards are over and its time to start dissecting the best moments of the night. (Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for MTV)

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2013 MTV VMA Highlights - After weeks of anticipation, the MTV Video Music Awards are over and its time to start dissecting the best moments of the night. (Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for MTV)

Kanye West - First up is Yeezy's contrasting performance: instead of performing (as expected) the high-energy, dogs-out "Black Skinhead," West went for the remarkably minimalist "Blood on the Leaves," which was as moody as we've ever seen 'Ye. (Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for MTV)

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Kanye West - First up is Yeezy's contrasting performance: instead of performing (as expected) the high-energy, dogs-out "Black Skinhead," West went for the remarkably minimalist "Blood on the Leaves," which was as moody as we've ever seen 'Ye. (Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for MTV)

Lady Gaga - Lady Gaga shocked us with her dressed-down look (black Prabal Gurung dress, makeup-free face) during the red carpet arrivals, but she unleashed the drama during her performance of "Applause." The diva, whose last VMAs performance was in 2011, rocked a bikini and wigs on top of wigs, which she peeled back one at a time during the show. We knew Gaga couldn't stay straightforward for long.  (Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for MTV)

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Lady Gaga - Lady Gaga shocked us with her dressed-down look (black Prabal Gurung dress, makeup-free face) during the red carpet arrivals, but she unleashed the drama during her performance of "Applause." The diva, whose last VMAs performance was in 2011, rocked a bikini and wigs on top of wigs, which she peeled back one at a time during the show. We knew Gaga couldn't stay straightforward for long. (Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for MTV)

Twitter Reacts to Miley Cyrus's VMA Performance (@MileyCyrus) - After Miley Cyrus finished delivering her booty-twerking, tongue-wagging, foam-finger-humping performance at the 2013 Video Music Awards, Twitter had a field week clowning the young singer for showing off her a--, literally. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage for MTV)

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Miley Cyrus - The new leader of the Twerk Team really pushed the envelope during this year's show. Cyrus donned a blinged-out leotard for a performance with Robin Thicke of their respective hits "We Can't Stop" and "Blurred Lines," but the real show-stopper was the former Disney star's dedicated booty dance for Thicke. Cyrus had promised "the best VMAs performance of all time," and some would argue that she delivered. (Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage for MTV)

Robin Thicke - Speaking of Mr. Thicke, while the singer may have taken an, ahem, back seat to Cyrus during the raunchy joint performance, he did manage to prove that people are still not over his infectious summer anthem. 

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Robin Thicke - Speaking of Mr. Thicke, while the singer may have taken an, ahem, back seat to Cyrus during the raunchy joint performance, he did manage to prove that people are still not over his infectious summer anthem. 

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Iggy Azalea and Lil Kim - Two generations of outspoken rap divas took the stage to present Macklemore and Ryan Lewis for Best Hip Hop Video. The Queen Bee wore a laser cut black bodysuit designed by Anthony Latimore for the event. (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for MTV)

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Iggy Azalea and Lil Kim - Two generations of outspoken rap divas took the stage to present Macklemore and Ryan Lewis for Best Hip Hop Video. The Queen Bee wore a laser cut black bodysuit designed by Anthony Latimore for the event. (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for MTV)

Photo By Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for MTV

Justin Timberlake - Timberlake electrifyed the crowd with solo performances of his many hits, which drew comparisons to Michael Jackson and earned him the nickname "President of Pop" by Jimmy Fallon. The talented star barely broke a sweat as he shuffled, strutted, popped and locked throughout the entire Barclays Center. He even got on the keyboard during his rendition of "Señorita." (Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for MTV)

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Justin Timberlake - Timberlake electrifyed the crowd with solo performances of his many hits, which drew comparisons to Michael Jackson and earned him the nickname "President of Pop" by Jimmy Fallon. The talented star barely broke a sweat as he shuffled, strutted, popped and locked throughout the entire Barclays Center. He even got on the keyboard during his rendition of "Señorita." (Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for MTV)

Daft Punk, Pharrell and Taylor Swift - After flaking on Stephen Colbert earlier this month, the elusive robots that are Daft Punk kept their word and took the stage at the VMAs, along with their "Get Lucky" collaborator Pharrell, to present the Moonman for Best Female Video to Taylor Swift. (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for MTV)

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Daft Punk, Pharrell and Taylor Swift - After flaking on Stephen Colbert earlier this month, the elusive robots that are Daft Punk kept their word and took the stage at the VMAs, along with their "Get Lucky" collaborator Pharrell, to present the Moonman for Best Female Video to Taylor Swift. (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for MTV)

Kevin Hart - Trust Kevin Hart to bring the funny. The 2012 VMAs host practically hijacked the mic from this year's hosts One Direction, and we can't say we're mad. "Miley better get a pregnancy test," Hart joked after Cyrus's blush-worthy performance with Robin Thicke. He also warned Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift to stay the "hell away" from the "Blurred Lines" singer "unless y'all want to end up on a d--k Amber Alert or something."  (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for MTV)

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Kevin Hart - Trust Kevin Hart to bring the funny. The 2012 VMAs host practically hijacked the mic from this year's hosts One Direction, and we can't say we're mad. "Miley better get a pregnancy test," Hart joked after Cyrus's blush-worthy performance with Robin Thicke. He also warned Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift to stay the "hell away" from the "Blurred Lines" singer "unless y'all want to end up on a d--k Amber Alert or something."  (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for MTV)

'NSYNC - Wishes do come true! Justin Timberlake and his former 'NSYNC bandmates more than answered fan requests for a VMAs reunion, shutting down the show with a brief medley that had everyone on their feet. Even the edgiest stars in the audience, like Lady Gaga, let their inner geeks out and celebrated the boy band's return to the stage.   (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for MTV)

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'NSYNC - Wishes do come true! Justin Timberlake and his former 'NSYNC bandmates more than answered fan requests for a VMAs reunion, shutting down the show with a brief medley that had everyone on their feet. Even the edgiest stars in the audience, like Lady Gaga, let their inner geeks out and celebrated the boy band's return to the stage.  (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for MTV)

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Macklemore and Ryan Lewis - After beating out A$AP Rocky, Kendrick Lamar and others for Best Hip Hop Video, the power duo delivered a moving performance of their song "Same Love." They were joined on stage by Jennifer Hudson for the track, which has become the anthem for marriage equality and won the Best Video With a Social Message prize.  (Photo: REUTERS/Eric Thayer/LANDOV)

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Macklemore and Ryan Lewis - After beating out A$AP Rocky, Kendrick Lamar and others for Best Hip Hop Video, the power duo delivered a moving performance of their song "Same Love." They were joined on stage by Jennifer Hudson for the track, which has become the anthem for marriage equality and won the Best Video With a Social Message prize.  (Photo: REUTERS/Eric Thayer/LANDOV)

Most Eligible Bachelorette: Rihanna - Now that she's washed that man (Chris Brown) out of her hair, Rih Rih is ready to play the field once again. The bad gal has been spotted out with several suitors, including New York Knicks star J.R. Smith and ex-flame Drake, but hasn't settled on one guy just yet.  (Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for MTV)

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Rihanna - She didn't perform nor win any Moonmen, but Rihanna still managed to grab the spotlight at the VMAs for her daring outfit and her bleak reaction to Miley Cyrus's attention-grabbing performance. Rih Rih donned a gold cross grill, T-shirt bearing an image of MC Lyte and cuffed jeans. But nothing could compare to her blank — maybe disapproving? — expression watching Cyrus's grind on Robin Thicke.  (Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic for MTV)

A$AP Rocky - The rapper's awkward moment on stage with basketball player Jason Collins may have been completely forgotten thanks to Miley Cyrus' antics, but a picture spoke a thousand words. In a screen grab of the moment, Rocky's body language looked stiff and uncomfortable, as were his words. The rapper later apologized for Collins and fans, saying he is not homophobic but couldn't figure out why MTV had him "standing next to his n**** when they are talking about gay people." With an apology like that, who needs insults? (Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for MTV)

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Speaking the Truth - A$AP Rocky and Jason Collins speak onstage during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards at the Barclays Center on August 25, 2013 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.(Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for MTV)

Best Hip Hop Song of The Year: Drake - "Started From The Bottom"  - Drake's bouncy track speaks to the dreamers, up-all-nighters and hustlers who are hell-bent on making it to the top. (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images)

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Drake - After a rumored dinner date with Rihanna before the show, Drake spread love the Brooklyn way with a sultry performance of "Hold On, We're Going Home." Before raising the roof with "Started From the Bottom," he kicked off the performance with a live reinactment of the cover art of his upcoming album Nothing Was the Same (the rapper in all black and framed by a blue sky and white clouds), dropping September 24. (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for MTV)