Eminem has had many unforgettable performances at the MTV Video Music Awards shows and this year he intends to set the mood for the night with his performance to open the show.

“We thought that there’s no better way to kick off the show than a performance from Eminem,” MTV general manager Stephen Friedman recently told The Associated Press.

Em is up for eight Moonmen this year, most notably “Not Afraid” for Male Video and Video Of The Year.

Tune in Sunday, September 12, 2010 at 9 pm ET