VIDEO: Kanye West Knocks Back the Cognac at VMAs

Before Kanye West arrived onstage and grabbed the mic during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for Best Female Video, he was grabbing a bottle of Hennessey on the red carpet, taking a few sips, passing it on to pals, and drinking it from inside Radio City Music Hall.

Buzznet.com shows the man in action in an exclusive video, as he offers the bottle to friends on the red carpet outside the ceremony. Pictures from inside show 'Ye partaking from a half-empty bottle of the strong stuff, along with girlfriend Amber Rose.