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Drake, Kanye West Set for MTV Video Music Awards

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MTV has announced the first performers for the 27th Annual Video Music Awards on September 27 in Los Angeles: Drake, Florence + the Machine, and — get ready for a double take — Kanye West. Yep. Kanye West.

Yes, the same Kanye West whose onstage interruption of Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech at last year’s VMAs gave birth to the phrase “I’mma let you finish,” and endures as one the most uncomfortable moments in awards show history.

Ye’s pretty excited about it, hopping on Twitter to tell the world: “Just met with MTV and it’s about to go down! VMA’s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” (Yeah, that’s 36 exclamation points. We counted.)

Grammy-nominated Drake will perform for his first time at the VMA’s, and UK artist Florence + The Machine will sing her four-time VMA nominated song, “Dog Days Are Over,” off the excellent Lungs.

“I recorded that song in a cupboard with no instruments,” Florence said. “For this song to be recognized at such an iconic event is a total dream.”

Nicki Minaj, Emma Stone, Penn Badgely, Trey Songz, Selena Gomez, and Ne-Yo are also set to appear as award presenters. MTV will be announcing more performers and presenters at a later date, but for now, fans can vote on the general VMA categories, including Best New Artist, Best Female Video, and Best Male Video, among others. Cast your votes here.

Early prediction? MTV remakes the “Imma-let-you-finish” incident in spoof fashion to open the show, starring Aziz Ansari as Kanye and Amy Poehler as Taylor Swift — and somehow, Will Ferrell joins in, maybe as Beyonce or something.

What do you think about the initial VMA performer lineup and Kanye’s return? Tell us in the comment section below!