Remember When: Eminem and Hundreds of Stans Invaded the 2000 MTV VMAs With “The Real Slim Shady”

Eminem is officially opening for the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards. One can’t help but think about the very first time the rapper made history by opening for that very ceremony 24 years ago.

The turn of the millennium was a heck of a time for fans, musicians, and even critics alike. Eminem’s career was taking off at an explosive pace, so it’s only natural that he would be invited to perform at the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards.

The award ceremony was held at the glittering Radio City Music Hall in New York. Nobody really knew what to expect from Eminem’s groundbreaking performance, but no one really expected an entourage of impersonators to pull up.

Will The Real Slim Shady Please Stand Up?

Eminem appeared in his signature white tank top and baggy pants, just moments after starting the performance outside of the venue with “The Real Slim Shady”. Armed with his army of Marshall Mathers lookalikes, Eminem stormed the venue and cut through the audience of A-list singers, actors, and celebrities.

It was a little bit scary, honestly. Few acts had brought in a literal army of doppelgangers to an MTV Video Music Awards performance. However, Eminem took a cheekier approach to the show once inside. He danced with some celebrities and shook hands with Carson Daly before actually hitting the stage.

There, Eminem began belting out his hit song “The Way I Am”.

This performance is one of legend. Nobody had really done what Eminem did before. It was comedic, enticing, and uniquely collaborative. Not only was his group of lookalikes involved, but so was the audience. Other musicians would be afraid to interact with that kind of crowd on the fly. I mean, would you want Renée Zellweger or Bono’s snipers to take you out for touching them? That’s the beauty of this performance: Eminem couldn’t have cared less. That carefree, gangster, almost punk-rock energy was what made him a star after that very performance.

It is worth noting that there were other stellar performers that night in 2000. Britney Spears, N’SYNC, Janet Jackson, Christina Aguilera, Nelly, and more put on an incredible show. But when it comes down to it, the night was all about Eminem. He took home the awards for Video Of The Year and Best Male Video.

Photo by Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock

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