Eminem & T.I.Pop, Kanye Flops at MTV VMAs

Hip-Hop showed up in full force at Sunday night’s 2009 MTV VMAs with big wins by rap heavyweights Eminen and T.I., super star performances by both veteran Jay-Z and newcomer Wale, and of course a notable outburst by the notoriously outspoken Kanye West.

Early in the show, West interrupted an acceptance speech by pop singer Taylor Swift after she won a moonman for Best Female Video. Hijacking the microphone from Swift, Ye told the crowd that Beyonce had “one of the best videos of all time,” causing angry audience members to boo the Chi-Town rapper.

Although West was nominated for several awards for his “Love Lockdown” video, he was unseen for the remainder of the night. T.I.’s Live Your Life” clip beat out the Louis Vuitton Don in the Best Male Video category and Eminem’s “We Made You” took home the trophy for Best Hip-Hop Video. Em, who also appeared in several skits with comedian Tracy Morgan throughout the show, thanked the fans for sticking with him over his five-year absence and dedicated the win to his late friend and fellow D12 partner-in-rhyme, Proof.

Throughout the night, Washington, D.C. MC Wale headed the ceremony’s house band, performing some of the year’s biggest hits as well as songs from his own highly anticipated major label debut, Attention: Deficit. The XXL Freshman alumnus also backed fellow classmate Kid Cudi as they performed the Cleveland rapper’s new single, “Make Her Say.”

Closing out the show was Brooklyn legend Jay-Z as he ran through “Empire State of Mind,” his duet with Alicia Keys from The Blueprint 3. Hov donned his signature Yankee cap as he payed homage to his New York hometown with Keys in tow singing the chorus.

For a full list of winners, visit mtv.com.