Eminem opened Wednesday night’s MTV Video Music Awards by performing his new song “Houdini,” in an act that paid homage to his iconic performance at the same show in 2000.

Eminem, wearing a blonde wig, a black tee and jeans and a dog tag necklace, was joined on stage with hundreds of lookalikes in blonde wigs and matching outfits as he sang “Houdini,” which is nominated for “Video of the Year” and “Best Hip-Hop Video.”

The act was a throwback to the 2000 VMAs, at which he sang “The Real Slim Shady” in front of an army of Slim Shadies. That performance was nominated at this year’s VMAs for “Most Iconic” in the show’s history, but it lost to Katy Perry’s 2013 performance of “Roar.”

Eminem is nominated in six categories this year, including “Artist of the Year,” and is tied with Peter Gabriel with the most wins in VMA history. He last opened the VMAs in 2010, when he performed “Love the Way You Lie” with Rihanna.