By Chris Richburg
The MTV Video Awards will receive a helping hand from Hip-Hop superstars T.I. and Kanye West as they join a host of performers and presenters in celebrating the show’s 25th anniversary.
West will close out the event with a finale performance, while T.I. will debut his new duet with R&B/Pop singer Rihanna for the first time.
The rappers and Rihanna join an eclectic bunch of previously announced performers that include Pink, Kid Rock, Paramore, Lil Wayne and the Jonas Brothers.
Pop diva Christina Aguilera will mark her first televised performance since giving birth earlier this year with a special rendition of her hit "Genie in a Bottle."
West’s fellow Chicago rhymesayer Lupe Fiasco as well as Katy Perry and The Ting Tings will be on hand to commemorate the 25th annual VMA’s by performing new and classic hits with DJ AM and former Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker.
Barker and DJ AM will play an active role in the show as they mix live drum beats to scratched records throughout the show.
Among the awards handed out at this year’s VMA’s will be Best Female Video and Best Male Video as well as Best New Artist and Video of the Year.
News of West’s closing performance and the T.I./Rihanna duet comes one day after MTV confirmed that Britney Spears will open its yearly awards show.
The 2008 MTV Video Music Awards, hosted by comedian/actor Russell Brand, will air live at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday (September 7).