The performances on last night's 2013 Video Music Awards were all memorable in their own way. There was an *NSYNC reunion, multiple Lady Gaga costume changes and of course, Miley Cyrus getting down and dirty with Robin Thicke.

One that may have left a serious impact was Kanye West's performance of 'Blood On The Leaves,' off his latest album Yeezus. 

The 36-year-old rapper decided to keep it minimal with a serious rendition of his first live performance of the song. 

After an introduction from 30 Seconds to Mars band member Jared Leto, the screen showed a close up of West's face with dim red lighting.

The song started with the sample of Nina Simone's 1965 jazz cover of Billy Holiday's "Strange Fruit," which was recorded in 1939 and is famous for its racial commentary.

The lines "bodies swinging in the Southern breeze" and "strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees" refers to the slavery and lynchings that were part of U.S. history.

After the slow and haunting introduction, West moved into a set up that showed only his sillhouette as he danced and rapped for the rest of the song. The backdrop, which looked like a forest, was actually Steve McQueen's 'Lynching Tree.'

It wasn't until the song finished that viewers actually got to see West again, who was illuminated with a dim blue light.

Although girlfriend and new mother Kim Kardashian wasn't at the awards ceremony, she managed to comment on her boyfriend's performance via Twitter, saying it was the best performance of the night.

West is known for making controversial statements and has a history of memorable VMA moments.

Back in 2009, West infamously interrupted Taylor Swift's Female Video of the Year acceptance speech, saying that Beyoncé should have won.

Earlier this month, West was interviewed by Kris Jenner on her show Kris, to discuss the memorable moment that garnered him a lot of criticism.

"The last thing I would want to happen to my daughter is some crazy drunk black guy in a leather shirt come up and cut her off at an awards show," West stated. "That's the last thing I'd want."