Artists who deserve the MTV Video Vanguard Award

Long before the world of YouTube and streaming services, music lovers were glued to MTV to watch videos from their favorite artists. In 1984 MTV launched its own award show: the "MTV Video Music Awards" (VMAs). The event showcases artists awarded for visuals in categories such as Best Concept Video, Best Editing in a Video and Video of the Year. However, the night's most coveted honor is the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, which highlights how an artist's career and achievements have impacted pop culture. Previous recipients include David Bowie, Janet Jackson, Kanye West and Rihanna. With Missy Elliott set to join VMA royalty with this year's Video Vanguard honor as the first female rapper recipient, let's take a look at our picks of potential winners for the next 20 years. 

Singer, songwriter, and showstopper: Those are just a few of the titles to describe Lady Gaga. Ever since Gaga released her debut album, "The Fame," back in 2008, she has not only elevated her sound but also her creativity in showmanship and visuals. Gaga has already won a number of MTV Video Music Awards over the years, including Best Art Direction for "Paparazzi" and Best Video with a Message for "Born This Way." 

Few artists have elevated the form of music videos and visual arts as high as the Icelandic artist Bjork has. For her first solo single following her breakup with the indie darlings Sugarcubes in 1992, no less than French filmmaker Michel Gondry worked with Bjork for "Human Behaviour," an alternative classic for the "120 Minutes" generation. She'd go on to work with Gondry, along with acclaimed directors Spike Jonze and designer Alexander McQueen, on numerous other videos.

Busta Rhymes is a rapper who is known for his eccentric but unique style. From his fashion statements to his storytelling visuals, he is an artist who has always believed in thinking outside the box. Busta holds 16 VMA nominations throughout his career, and his videos are fan favorites in the hip-hop world. 

Will the real Slim Shady please stand up? Eminem has sold over 200 million records worldwide and established himself as an artist who can always come back strong after a hiatus. MTV once ranked him as one of the biggest icons in pop history, and he's won 12 VMAs — including Video of the Year and Best Editing.

British rock band Coldplay first came onto the scene in 1996 and landed best-selling albums in the United States and the United Kingdom. The band has sold over 100 million records worldwide and has been awarded five VMAs. 

Powerhouse singer Celine Dion holds a career spanning nearly four decades. Her top charting hits include “Because You Loved Me,” “My Heart Will Go On” and “I’m Your Angel.” Although she’s been nominated only twice for past VMAs, her talent, poise and longevity have inspired future generations.

Although Ludacris is now widely known for his role in "The Fast and the Furious" film series, he first came onto the scene in the hip-hop world back in 1999. The rapper holds only one VMA to his name, but his videos were always regarded as unworldly visuals.

Kelly Clarkson was crowned the first winner of "American Idol," and her title helped shaped the new generation of TV music competitions. Clarkson won back in 2003 and has released eight albums since then. In addition to her own singing career, she was recently a judge to find the next big star on "The Voice."

West Coast legend Snoop Dogg has one of the most innovative careers among rappers. From gangsta rap, to pop, to reggae, to gospel, Snoop can try his hand at any genre. He also displays an entrepreneurial spirit with clothing lines, sports leagues, acting and game show hosting. Snoop can do it all!

Sir Elton John won the VMA Special Recognition Award back in 1987, which to some might seem like a Lifetime Achievement Award. He’s accomplished everything such as winning Grammys, Brits and Academy Awards, he is in the Songwriters Hall of Fame and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He’s reached almost 50 years in the music business with 30 studio albums to his name, and he’s still touring to this day.

Whether his name is Diddy, Puff Daddy or Brother Love, Sean Combs holds the type of ambition that many artists desire. Diddy is not only the self-proclaimed inventor of the remix, but he also is known to push the culture in his videos with fashion statements and talented cameos. He's topped the Forbes list of the richest hip-hop stars for seven years straight. 

Singer Mariah Carey is arguably known as one of the best singers in the world due to her five-octave range. Although she’s been nominated for VMAs for her hit songs — “One Sweet Day” with Boyz II Men and “Shake It Off” — Mimi has never been awarded with her own "moon person." With a near 30-year career and 14 studio albums to date, she has transformed how hip-hop was implemented into pop and R&B.

Jay Z has always been a businessman. He started his own label in Roc-A-Fella Records in 1995. Since then he has remained a king in the hip-hop world, and he’s also ventured into the fashion, sports, liquor and TV industries. He definitely has some VMA competition in his wife, Beyonce, but he’s won eight VMAs including Best Cinematography in a Video and Best Direction in a Video.

One of Atlanta’s biggest rap groups, OutKast is a five-time VMA winner thanks to visuals for “Hey Ya” and “Ms. Jackson.” Group members Big Boi and Andre 3000 were always known for their outlandish style of blending hip-hop with jazz, funk, soul and techno alongside fiery verses. Although it’s been over 10 years since OutKast released a studio album, the group still tours in addition to solo music efforts of its members.

Singer-songwriter Usher released his self-titled album back in 1994. He is known for his showmanship on stage — so much so that he was praised by his idol, the late Michael Jackson. He’s been nominated for 17 VMAs throughout his career and won awards for Best Male Video and Best Dance Video for his 2004 hit song, “Yeah!”

Pop diva Christina Aguilera has come a long way since her days on the "Mickey Mouse Club." Her strong vocal range typically has award shows calling her for tributes, such as one she did for Whitney Houston on the BET Awards back in 2001. She’s won VMAs for the seductive video in “Lady Marmalade” with Pink, Mya and Lil’ Kim. Her fellow Mouseketeers Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears have already won the Vanguard Award. It's Christina's time to shine. 

To some rock 'n' roll fans, Aerosmith is arguably one of the greatest rock bands of all time. To hip-hop fans, some might recognize it as the band that collaborated with rap group Run-D.M.C. on the hit song “Walk This Way.” Throughout the group's career, Aerosmith has won 10 VMAs and sold over 150 million records worldwide. 

T-Boz, Left-Eye and Chilli, also known as TLC, became one of the best-selling groups in the '90s. Their unique fashion displayed tremendously in all of their music videos. One of their most memorable videos was “Waterfalls,” in which one scene displays each member's body transformed into water. It's been over 15 years since music fans tragically lost Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes in a car accident, but the trio's video legacy lives on. 

Producer, writer, fashionista, rapper — Pharrell is a man of many names and interesting hats. Thanks to his work with Teddy Riley, Pharrell and his production group, The Neptunes, have made hit songs for a number of artists, including Jay Z, Nelly, Gwen Stefani and Madonna — just to name of few. Pharrell has released a couple of solo efforts, but he's also the only artist to create a 24-hour music video for his hit song “Happy.”

Green Day is known for popularizing punk rock for bands of today such as Simple Plan and My Chemical Romance. Green Day has won a total of 11 VMAs, including Video of the Year for the 2005 hit, “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.”