Hip-hop has had a long history of facing opposition in terms of being embraced by mainstream media, but one outlet that has continuously shown love and support to the genre is MTV.

Although MTV has had its own instances in which it was accused of shunning Black artists (most notably by the late rock star David Bowie), as well as hip-hop as a whole, missteps like refusing to televise the Best Rap Video category at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards would be forgiven in due time, resulting in what has been a longstanding relationship between hip-hop and the network. In addition to trailblazing shows like Yo! MTV Raps, which saw rap fully integrated into MTV's programming, their inclusion of artists in the lineups for their MTV Video Music Awards performances helped solidified the bond between the mainstream and the culture.

Run-D.M.C.'s performance at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards, the first time a rap act appeared on the network's grand stage, would be followed by early rap stars like the Fat Boys and Tone Loc, who were among hip-hop's first crossover stars. By the time the 1990s hit, rap was slowly becoming the most popular genre of the youth and young adults. This was reflected at the MTV Video Music Awards yearly, as many of hip-hop's most legendary figures would move the crowd and prove that hip-hop was as worthy as rock or country, culturally.

With the 32nd edition of the MTV Video Music Awards on its way Sunday (Aug. 28) and Nicki Minaj, Future, Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign set to perform, we've handpicked the 30 most iconic rap performances in the awards show's history. Did your favorite make the cut?

  • 1

    "Let's Get It Started" and "U Can't Touch This"

    MC Hammer with Special Generation Live at 1990 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 2

    "Mama Said Knock You Out"

    LL Cool J at 1991 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 3

    "Hip Hop Hooray"

    Naughty By Nature at 1993 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 4

    "Push It," "None of Your Business," "Whatta Man" and "Shoop"

    Salt-N-Pepa at 1994 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 5

    "Murder Was the Case

    Snoop Dogg at 1994 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 6

    "Sabotage"

    Beastie Boys at 1994 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 7

    "Tha Crossroads"

    Bone Thugs-N-Harmony at 1996 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 8

    "Doin' It"

    LL Cool J at 1996 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 9

    "I'll Be Missing You"

    Diddy, Faith Evans and Sting at 1997 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 10

    "Not Tonight (Ladies Night Remix)"

    Lil' Kim, Left Eye, Missy Elliott, Da Brat and Angie Martinez at 1997 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 11

    "Make 'Em Say Uhh"

    Master P & No Limit Family at 1998 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 12

    "Gone Till November" and "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)"

    Pras, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Mya, Wyclef Jean and Canibus at 1998 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 13

    "Hi, My Name Is," "Guilty Conscience" and "Nuthin But a G Thang"

    Eminem, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg at 1999 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 14

    "Jigga My Nigga," "Can I Get A..." and "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)"

    Jay-Z, DJ Clue and Amil at 1999 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 15

    "Bawitdaba," "Rock Box" and "Walk This Way"

    Run-D.M.C., Aerosmith and Kid Rock at 1999 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 16

    "Everything Is Everything"

    Lauryn Hill at 1999 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 17

    "The Real Slim Shady"

    Eminem at 2000 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 18

    "Country Grammar"

    Nelly at 2000 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 19

    "One Minute Man" and "Get Ur Freak On (Remix)"

    Missy Elliott, Nelly Furtado, Ludacris and Trina at 2001 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 20

    "Bad Boy for Life," "I Need a Girl (Part One), "I Need a Girl (Part Two)" and "Pass the Courvoisier, Part II"

    P. Diddy, Busta Rhymes, Ginuwine, Pharrell and Usher at 2002 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 21

    "Baby Boy" and "Crazy in Love"

    Jay Z and Beyonce at 2003 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 22

    "P.I.M.P."

    50 Cent and G Unit at 2003 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 23

    "Jesus Walks," "All Falls Down" and "Through the Wire"

    Kanye West, Chaka Khan and Syleena Johnson at 2004 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 24

    "Lean Back"

  • 25

    "Love Lockdown"

    Kanye West at 2008 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 26

    "A Milli" and "Got Money"

    Lil Wayne and T-Pain at 2008 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 27

    "Empire State of Mind"

    Jay Z and Alicia Keys at 2009 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 28

    "Runaway"

    Kanye West and Pusha T at 2010 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 29

    "Hold On, We're Going Home" and "Started From the Bottom"

    Drake at 2013 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 30

    "Anaconda"

    Nicki Minaj at 2014 MTV Video Music Awards
  • 31

    "Fuck Up Some Commas"

    Future at 2016 MTV Video Music Awards

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