“Don’t Call It a Comeback!” According to PEOPLE, LL COOL J is returning to host the 2025 MTV VMAs. This marks the second time LL will host the ceremony. In 2022, he co-hosted with Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow. The “Mama Said Knock You Out” has a long history with MTV. In 1991,  he won his first Moon Person in for Best Rap and was the first rapper ever to receive the Video Vanguard Award in 1997. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Video Music Awards (@vmas) Uncle L and MTV go way back. He performed onstage during the 50 years of hip-hop all-star tribute. in 2023, he celebrated the 40th anniversary of Def Jam Records with Public Enemy in 2024. This song, “Murdergram Deaux”, his duet with Eminem, is nominated in the Best Hip-Hop category from LL Cool J’s 2024 album The Force this year. The MTV VMAs revealed their nominees for the upcoming awards show on August 5, and Kendrick Lamar and Bruno Mars have 11 nominations.  Lady Gaga, for the first time in her career,  is the most-nominated artist for the VMAs with 12 nominations.  ROSÉ and Sabrina Carpenter have eight nominations. Ariana Grande and The Weeknd have seven nominations. Billie Eilish has six nods, and Charli xcx received five nods. Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, who are both nominated for artist of the year. The 2025 MTV VMAs air live from UBS Arena in New York on Sunday, Sept. 7, at 8 p.m. ET on CBS (for the first time) and MTV. The ceremony will also stream on Paramount+.

Kid Cudi accused Drake of “kicking him while he was down.” During an interview with CBS Mornings, Cudi detailed how he and Drake had a fallen out over ghostwriting allegations. In a tweet at the time,  Cudi said that Drake and Kanye West can’t be the greatest rappers with “30 people writing songs for them.” Drake responded in 2016 with a diss track “Two Birds, One Stone” and named Cudi who was in a rehab at the time. “I was like, oh okay, you wanna kick me when I’m down. Great,” Cudi said. “But he wanted to play the game with me. He wanted me to put him in my song or whatever and I’m not that type of artist. “I’m not going to the studio angry rapping about some other man and putting him in my art. That’s not what we’re gonna do here,” he contined. “I’m gonna come to your doorstep and I’mma let you know that I’mma see you. I’mma see you and that’s a promise.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by CBS Mornings (@cbsmornings) Eventually, the two rap stars were able to patch things up after West who set up a meeting between them. Cudi gave a guest verse on Drake’s Certified Lover Boy. “I went on to do a record for him for his album, but granted, I haven’t heard from him ever since,” he expressed.  “It just let me know that time is over. We’ll never be homies like we were before. I don’t have any beef with him anymore and I’m not mad at him or anything,” Cudi said. “It’s just time has gone by. We are in different places. It’s all good. I know he loves me. I know that. And I know he respects me as an artist. That’s good enough for me.”

Killer Mike is jumping into the podcast game. On August 13, he debuted with Conversate with Killer Mike. Co-hosted by his partner and former Outkast DJ Cutmaster Swiff, the show will feature his takes on the latesttopics of the day that “hit like your favorite mixtape.” “I created the show because I think that people need to converse more,” Mike said. “People need to sit with people that don’t look like them, that aren’t from the same background, that don’t even see the world in the same way and just simply have conversation. I think it grows our perspective.” Tje tongue-in-cheek name makes it clear that Conversate with Killer Mike will not be your everyday podcast. With a “roundtable-style dialogue with an opinionated cast and crew that’s part bars and business, part books and barbershop banter, but across the board authentic.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Conversate with Killer Mike (@conversatewithkillermike) “I hope listeners walk away from every episode of Conversate with a slightly different understanding of perspectives that may not be like their own,” the Grammy Award winner said.  “Having a former Atlanta mayor tell you that essentially power and politics comes down to what the fuck are you gonna do about it? Either you’re bullying, saying that, or you’re refusing to be bullied and you’re doing something about it,” Mike continued.  “I think that’s an amazing thing to be said in this day and time. It gets us back to a time where we watched All in the Family and The Jeffersons and our feelings weren’t catered to like babies.” Conversate with Killer Mike is available on all podcasts. Follow @conversatewithkillermike for updates, exclusive clips and the ride of a lifetime.

Ice Spice’s mom goes viral after Ice Spice shares a selfie of the two online. Ice Spice’s mom, Charina Almanzar, is proving that beauty runs in the family. A recent mirror selfie featuring the Bronx rapper and her mother has taken social media by storm, with fans praising the duo’s striking resemblance and undeniable style. “Loooord have mercy” reacted one fan. “MOMMA SPICE IS VERY NICE!!!” View this post on Instagram A post shared by HOT 97 (@hot97) Ice Spice has been making waves on Instagram after her recent posts. Her weight has been a hot topic recently, with the rapper addressing health concerns after fans grew worried when she started losing weight. While previously on X Spaces, Ice explained, “I actually came on here to talk about that real quick,” she began. “Cuz I was like, b*tch, I wish y’all never learned the word Ozempic. That’s one thing I wish. Oh my God! Like what even is Ozempic? Wha the f*ck is that? Genuinely, what is that?”  Ice goes on to say the gym and eating healthy is actually what’s keeping her healthy. “You lazy ass b*tches never heard of a gym?” she questioned. “It’s called eating healthy. It’s called being on tour. Like what the hell. Maybe if I was sitting at home all day it’d be easier to stay big.”

Issa Rae will be coming to a city near you. The Insecure creator has announced dates to promote her new book,  I Should Be Smarter Now.  The tour kicks off Sept. 8 in Philadelphia, with stops in Washington, D.C., and Dallas before closing Sept. 24 in Detroit.  The new collection of essays is the  follow-up to her 2015 bestseller The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. According to the synopsis, I Should Be Smarter Now is a“fearlessly authentic essay about the entertainment industry—the setbacks, high-stakes risks, and hard-won successes—by Issa Rae, named one of Time magazine’s most influential people in the world. “It’s a gamble to bet on yourself in Hollywood. But Issa Rae placed it. Charting her evolution from struggling writer to media mogul, she pulls back the curtain on her ever-evolving career in an always-changing industry and reveals that the best investment she made was her belief in herself. As she reflects on weathering storms and lessons learned, Issa moves forward with renewed purpose,” the synopsis continued. View this post on Instagram A post shared by HOORAE, An Issa Rae Company (@hooraemedia) Presale tickets are available starting Tuesday at 10 a.m. ET. Back in June, Rae spoke about what led her to write the book. “This collection is part confession, part reflection and part ‘here’s what I wish I’d known,’” Rae told PEOPLE. “But mostly it’s just me being honest about the weird, wonderful journey from having big dreams to making them a reality.” “From dreaming of briefcases as a child to running her own media empire, Issa’s creative evolution is both hilarious and inspiring,” publisher Julia Sommerfeld added. “These essays capture her remarkable journey with the wit, wisdom and real talk that has made millions of people feel seen.” I Should be Smarter Now will be available for purchase on Tuesday, Aug. 26 and is available for preorder now.

Co-parenting is not a term that Nick Cannon will endorse. During a recent episode of his Wondery podcast Nick Cannon @ Night , Cannon responded to a fan’s question. “Curious to hear Nick’s perspective on managing multiple co-parenting relationships while dating,” the listener wrote in on X. “It’s a unique situation that could offer some real insights for blended families.” The Wild’ N Out creator acknowledged that he “always kind of had an issue” with the term “co-parenting,” because he believes it’s just “parenting.” “When you start throwing labels on things, I think it does more harm than help and can get very dangerous, because then everybody else has a preconceived notion of what you’re doing,” Cannon said. “I haven’t figured it out yet. I haven’t gotten it all the way right. But also to your point, if I just step into every situation with respect and compassion and individuality,” he added.”That’s the other thing I always do with anyone I’m involved with in my life.” Nick Cannon has 12 children with six different women: Mariah Carey, Brittany Bell, Abby De La Rosa, Alyssa Scott, Bre Tiesi, and LaNisha Cole. He has twins, Moroccan and Monroe, with Mariah Carey. Brittany Bell is the mother of Golden Sagon, Powerful Queen, and Rise Messiah. Abby De La Rosa shares twins Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir, and Beautiful Zeppelin with Cannon. Alyssa Scott is the mother of Zen (who passed away at 5 months old) and Halo Marie. Bre Tiesi is the mother of Legendary Love, and LaNisha Cole is the mother of Onyx Ice ColeNew episodes of Nick Cannon @ Night arrive every Wednesday at 5 pm PST/8 pm ET on YouTube, Wondery+, and everywhere podcasts are available.

Paramount Skydance has officially ended talks to sell BET Networks, putting an end to months of speculation surrounding the network’s fate. The announcement came on Wednesday during an extensive press Q&A, just days after Skydance CEO David Ellison closed his acquisition of the studio. View this post on Instagram A post shared by David Ellison (@davidellisonskydance) Ellison affirmed that BET will remain a core pillar of the company’s streaming vision, positioning the brand and its extensive content catalog as vital to future growth. His approach marks a departure from Paramount Global’s recent trend of selling assets to generate quick capital, instead committing to strengthening and retaining existing brands. In recent years, BET drew interest from private equity firms and prominent Black investors, including Tyler Perry. The potential sale was seen as a major turning point for Black-owned media, sparking debates on the cultural and economic impact such a deal might have. By halting negotiations, Ellison signaled his intent to keep BET firmly under Paramount Skydance’s control, anchoring it as a flagship within the company’s streaming ecosystem. Ellison revealed that this philosophy was present from his earliest conversations with former Paramount Global chair and majority shareholder Shari Redstone. Their initial meeting, he said, centered on maintaining the integrity of the company’s portfolio — which includes Paramount Pictures, CBS, and BET — and investing in its long-term potential. “We had this conversation with Shari when we first met about the company,” Ellison told reporters. “It is our intention to keep the company together and invest in that lens.” The decision comes amid a rapidly evolving media landscape, where legacy networks face fierce competition from tech-driven streaming platforms. BET remains a cultural force, especially in music, film, and television programming for Black audiences. Its high-profile events, scripted shows, and reality series maintain strong engagement across platforms, making it a critical driver of audience loyalty. With BET’s position secured, Ellison’s strategy reflects a broader industry shift toward consolidation over liquidation. For audiences and industry insiders, the move offers a rare sense of stability — and the promise of expanded cultural influence for one of television’s most enduring brands.

Anderson. Paak was a part of the star-studded lineup that performed at Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles. But he said he had to beg Dr. Dre to get on the show. During a recent episode of Drink Champs, Paak revealed how he got on the stage for the historic performance. “They had already dropped a flyer for the Super Bowl. I was not on that sh*t,” the Silk Sonic member recalled. “I hit Dre direct. ‘Dre, what the f**k? Let me get on that joint. Let me play drums, something,” Paak continued. “I gotta get in there some way’. He said, ‘Hey, it’s all good.’” Paak then shared how he felt drumming during Eminem’s performance of “Lose Yourself.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by REVOLT (@revolt) “The way they orchestrated it, it went off without a hitch. That was a big moment for sure. I was like, ‘Should I smile?’ I couldn’t help it. And I’m like, ‘I’m going to be straight-faced.’ And then, as you can see, I had the biggest fucking smile the whole time. I tried. I was hyped,” he said. Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Kendrick Lamar, and 50 Cent also hit the stage during epic performance. Amazingly, he almost skipped out on an opportunity to work with Dre when he thought about skipping a recording session with the legendary producer. “I’ve got my own thing going. I don’t need to go and work on this. My manager was like, “Are you an idiot?” He was like, “Dude, you go, bro.’ Then I went, and it was like, wow, right there first two people meet Dre and D.O.C,” Paak said “He was working on a project called Compton, and he was working with these two writers, Mez, who is my dog to this day, and JT, when they were like, ‘Yo, we love your song “Suede.” That was the song I had bubbling. He was like, ‘We love this, and we want to play it for Dre,’, he continued.  I was like, well, let’s make some new shit and  get them excited about something else, you know, in case they don’t like it,  “When he heard he said, ‘What the fuck was that? And gave me two thumbs up.”

Benzino is stepping into a new era, using his fitness progress as the centerpiece of his public image. The Boston native, now 60, has updated his OnlyFans platform to highlight his dedication to the gym. Originally launched in 2020, the account will now showcase the transformation he has worked hard to achieve, and he wants fans to start calling him “King Zeno.” Recently, he explained his motivation during an Instagram post, telling followers, “The only reason I got OnlyFans is because I work out, so I like to show my body.” He says his training schedule has him in the gym five days a week and believes his audience will enjoy the results as much as he does. The page will feature workout routines, fitness tips, progress shots, and plenty of shirtless appearances. While focusing on health and physique, Benzino has still found time to address his critics. He recently took aim at Fat Joe over comments about the cancellation of the BET Hip-Hop Awards. “Why Fat Joe said it’s gentrification, after they let his a** host the awards two years earlier?” he asked. “The ratings were the worst ever after he hosted it. Was it gentrification when you was hosting it, Joey? Stop, man. Joe, you’re putting out too much misinformation on the internet, bro. You gotta do better, man.” His other target has been 50 Cent, who posted one of Benzino’s recent freestyles in a mocking light. Responding from the gym, Benzino said, “I just put a little video out… just minding my business… I see your man Curtis posted it. This n***a really… he really f**k with Zino huh? I tell you what, though, the boxing challenge still there. I’m down to make a couple of m’s. I’ll go three rounds with your goofy a**.” He also challenged 50 to deliver a better verse.

Latto is starting the year with a confident outlook on both music and relationships, offering advice that reflects her own journey. With her single “Somebody” out and a new album in the works, she recently spoke with Billboard about love, attraction, and the value of keeping certain things to yourself. For her, finding the right partner began with focusing inward. “I think I stumbled upon my person by just investing in and building myself up. Then I attracted someone who was on the same wavelength, the same frequency,” she explained. “Too many times, we try to chase it instead of being it ourselves. When you are that, it naturally attracts to you. You gotta be that first, that’s step one.” When it comes to what she looks for, Latto says loyalty and confidence matter most. “I am a very loyal person, so I value loyalty, just having my back and being there for me,” she said. “A confident man is going to respect you, respect himself and carry himself a certain way while respecting the relationship.” Privacy is another priority. Latto believes it helps relationships stay authentic and protected. “Privacy a hundred thousand percent keeps things real. It keeps people out of your business. Evil eyes are real, people will hate and wish bad on you. I’d rather have people out my business,” she shared. To her, the strongest relationships are built on a united front, with both partners focused on each other instead of outside noise. Her recent D’USSÉ campaign played on the mystery surrounding her love life, but her real message is less about teasing and more about empowering others. For Latto, love works best when you know your value, stand firm in who you are, and allow the right person to meet you where you are.