MTV's Video Music Awards surprise revealed

Jay-Z and Kanye West expected to perform at Sunday's event

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Jay-Z and Kanye West perform at the 51st annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles

Lucy Nicholson / REUTERS file

Jay-Z and Kanye West are expected to rock the VMAs.

By Marc Malkin

updated 8/28/2011 1:39:02 AM ET

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Jay-Z and Kanye West are getting up off their big thrones to perform at tomorrow's VMAs.

Who knew the two hip-hop superstars were even coming to this year's Moonman shindig, because...

READ: Meet Britney Spears' New Musical Gal-Pals

When I was down at Nokia Live on Thursday to get a peek at the seating arrangement, there were no placards for Jay-Z or West.

Kittens and puppies re-enact VMA moments

I'm told most of the MTV crew and production team don't even know yet when they'll actually take the stage during the show.

Slideshow: Kanye West (on this page)

Now, the big question: Will Beyonce join them? Jay-Z's wifey is featured on "Lift Off," one of the tunes on Jay-Z and West's new album, Watch the Throne.

Story: Maroon 5 singer Levine disses MTV, VMAs

Previously announced performers include Lady Gaga, Adele, Chris Brown and Young the Giant, among others. The night will also include tributes to Britney Spears and the late Amy Winehouse.

MORE SCOOP: Will Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart be at the VMAs? Find out in Marc's latest video blog

Will you watch? Discuss on Facebook.

Photos: Kanye West

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Complex attitude
Kanye West was one of the main headliners at The Big Chill Festival 2011 at Eastnor Castle Deer Park in Ledbury, United Kingdom, but he used some of his stage time to claim he felt that people looked at him "like Hitler." (Ollie Millington / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Rev up your engines
West performs on the first night of the F1 motor race meeting in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Friday, Nov. 12, 2010. The singer is a race car enthusiast, and in 2006, sponsored a car in the Formula BMW World Finals in Spain. The red-and-white painted car showcased his bear mascot. (Nousha Salimi / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation
I love a parade
West rides a float down 7th Avenue in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2010. (Charles Sykes / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

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Expensive smile
After tweeting a picture in July 2010 that showed a mouthful of bling, West explained on the "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" that he actually had gold and diamonds inserted to replace his bottom of row of teeth because he "just thought the diamonds were cooler." But it's likely that the device is removable and West still has his own teeth. (The Ellen DeGeneres Show) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Film director
West is pictured before a screening of "Runaway," a short film he directed that accompanies his 2010 album "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy." TheGrio.com described the film as "cinematically beautiful (but) wrought with metaphors that can feel equally forced and confusing." (Chris Pizzello / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Dynamic duo
Jay-Z and West perform at Yankee Stadium in New York on Sept. 13, 2010. (Kevin Mazur / WireImage) Share Back to slideshow navigation
A toast
West also performed at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. He didn't reference the Swift incident directly, but his song "Runaway" did suggest "a toast for the scumbags." (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Forgiven
At the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards, Swift performed "Innocent," a song that referenced West jumping on stage during her award acceptance at the previous year's ceremony. The lyrics include the line "32 is still growing up now, you're still an innocent." (Matt Sayles / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

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Top of the world
West performs onstage during the 2010 BET Awards in Los Angeles. He has received seven BET and BET Hip-Hop Awards over the years, including best male hip-hop artist in both 2005 and 2008. (Kevin Mazur / WireImage) Share Back to slideshow navigation

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"Imma let you finish..."
West stole the headlines at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards when he grabbed the microphone from country star Taylor Swift, saying that Beyonce should have won the award for best female video instead of Swift. Later, when Beyonce won for best video of the year, she called Swift up on stage to finish her interrupted speech. West later apologized. (Kevin Mazur / WireImage) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Related story Kanye West apologizes for outburst at VMAs
On the red carpet
Rose wore a figure-hugging outfit when she and West attended the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

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Supporting education
In 2009, West attends a news conference for a benefit concert encouraging kids to stay in school. West had a middle-class upbringing and reports that his high school grades were "A's and B's. And I'm not even frontin'". He dropped out of college but has spoken to young audiences encouraging them to get a college education. His late mother was the chair of the English department at Chicago State University before retiring to manage her son's career. (Paul Warner / WireImage) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Always in fashion
West and model Amber Rose, left, sit next to singer Natasha Bedingfield at the Alexandre Herchcovitch fall fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in 2009. The high-profile couple dated from 2008 until the summer of 2010. (Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images for IMG) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Lighting up the night
West led all nominees at the 2008 Grammy Awards with eight. He won four, and performed two songs, including "Hey Mama," a tribute to his late mother. (Michael Caulfield / WireImage) Share Back to slideshow navigation

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Head to head
In 2007, West and 50 Cent released new LPs in the same week. 50 Cent promised to retire from making solo music should he fail to outsell West. West's album sold 957,000 copies in its first week and beat 50 Cent's "Curtis" (691,000) handily, but 50 Cent didn't retire after all. (Roling Stone) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Related story 50 Cent promises to quit if Kanye outsells him

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Sore loser again, in Europe this time
At the 2006 MTV Europe Music Awards in Denmark, West jumped on stage and launched into a profanity-laced tirade arguing that he should have won the best video award that went to Jeremie Rozan and Martial Schmeltz, directors of "We Are Your Friends" by Justice vs Simian. He interrupted the duo's acceptance speech, arguing that his big-budget video for "Touch the Sky" deserved to win because it "cost a million dollars and Pamela Anderson was in it." (Dave Hogan / Getty Images for MTV) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Related story Kanye West a sore loser at MTV Europe awards
Mother love
West holds the three Grammys he won in 2006 and poses with his mother, Donda, a college English professor. She died in 2007 of complications of cosmetic surgery at age 59. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger later signed the "Donda West Law," which made it mandatory for patients to show they are medically cleared before undergoing elective cosmetic surgery. (Kevin Winter / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation
Savior of rap?
West again caused controversy in 2006, when Rolling Stone put him on its cover wearing a crown of thorns. In the interview, West confessed that he suffered from an addiction to porn that he said began when he was five and saw his father's Playboy magazine. (Rolling Stone via AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation

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Strike up the band
West and Jamie Foxx wore marching-band uniforms to perform West's hit "Gold Digger" during the 2006 Grammys. He won three Grammys that year, and "Gold Digger" won for best rap solo performance. (Timothy A. Clary / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

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That's right, I won
West won best rap album for "The College Dropout" at the 2005 Grammy Awards. His speech was considered cocky by critics, and included his statement that "A lot of people were wondering what I was going to do if I didn't win anything ... I guess we'll never know" (Wireimage) Share Back to slideshow navigation

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Buy one, buy 10
West poses at Tower Records in New York in 2005, where he signed copies of his CD "Late Registration." (Peter Kramer / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

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Unlikely angel
West is seen performing his hit "Jesus Walks" at the 2005 Grammys. That year, he was nominated for 10 awards and won three, including rap album of the year. (Frank Micelotta / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

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Speaking out
Mike Myers paired up with West during a benefit concert follwing Hurricane Katrina in 2005, during which West famously deviated from the script to say "George Bush doesn't care about black people." Bush would later call the event "one of the most disgusting moments" of his presidency. West and Myers are seen here reuniting on "Saturday Night Live" in 2005. (NBC via Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation

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Sore loser
West's temper surfaced early. After learning he lost the best new artist award to country singer Gretchen Wilson at the American Music Awards in 2004, he stormed out of the award ceremony. He later tells reporters, "I felt like I was definitely robbed, and I refused to give any politically correct bullsh--ass comment ... I was the best new artist this year." (WireImage) Share Back to slideshow navigation

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With Anna Nicole Smith
Kanye West began his career as a music producer in 1996, but then struggled to earn his own record deal. In 2004, he released his debut album, "The College Dropout." Reality show star and model Anna Nicole Smith appeared in the music video for that album's single, "The New Workout Plan." The song pokes fun at the idea that women are valued only for their shape, men for their money. Smith died in 2007 after a prescription drug overdose. (L. Cohen / WireImage) Share Back to slideshow navigation

Related slideshow Anna Nicole Smith

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MTV's Video Music Awards surprise revealed

Jay-Z and Kanye West expected to perform at Sunday's event

Below:

Jump to photos Kanye West

Photos: Kanye West

Complex attitude

Rev up your engines

I love a parade

Expensive smile

Film director

Dynamic duo

A toast

Forgiven

Top of the world

"Imma let you finish..."

On the red carpet

Supporting education

Always in fashion

Lighting up the night

Head to head

Sore loser again, in Europe this time

Mother love

Savior of rap?

Strike up the band

That's right, I won

Buy one, buy 10

Unlikely angel

Speaking out

Sore loser

With Anna Nicole Smith

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