Busta Rhymes’ Boundary-Breaking Career Earns Visionary Honor at VMAs

Busta Rhymes will receive the inaugural Rock the Bells Visionary Award and perform at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards in New York. (Photo Credit: Derek Blanks)

The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards are setting the stage for a night that blends cultural celebration with high-voltage performances — and hip-hop icon Busta Rhymes is at the center of it all.

On Sept. 7, the rap legend will receive the first-ever Rock the Bells Visionary Award, honoring his groundbreaking career and enduring impact on music and culture, before hitting the stage for a performance expected to steal the night.

The recognition caps an extraordinary run for Busta, who this year also cemented his name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and remains a constant creative force. Across three decades, he has sold more than 20 million albums, earned 12 Grammy nominations, landed seven Top 10 debuts on the Billboard 200 and seen over 60 million of his records certified gold and platinum. Since his first VMA appearance in 1997, Busta has delivered some of the show’s most electric moments, including the rapid-fire medley that closed the 2021 broadcast. His return in 2025 underscores not just his longevity, but the way he continues to shape the conversation in hip-hop.

He won’t be the only artist honored. Ricky Martin will make history as the first recipient of the Latin Icon Award, marking a four-decade career that has sold more than 70 million albums and redefined Latin pop for a global audience. Martin, who first lit up the VMAs stage in 1999, will return on the 26th anniversary of that performance, bringing his legacy full circle.

LL Cool J will host the ceremony live from UBS Arena in New York. The Queens legend — a VMA veteran and pop-culture mainstay — anchors the night in his first solo turn as host. The show will air coast-to-coast on CBS, simulcast on MTV, and stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.

The first wave of announced performers signals the breadth of the 2025 show. Breakout singer-songwriter Alex Warren makes his debut with his global No. 1 hit “Ordinary,” which has him nominated for Best New Artist, Best Pop and Song of the Year. Sabrina Carpenter, last year’s Song of the Year winner, returns with eight nominations including Video of the Year for “Manchild.” J Balvin, one of Latin music’s most decorated stars, will perform “Zun Zun” with Justin Quiles and Lenny Tavárez, before joining DJ Snake for the live premiere of “Noventa.” Rising artist sombr will also take the stage for the first time, fresh off nominations for Best New Artist and Best Alternative.

But the story this year is Busta Rhymes — a performer whose career has spanned generations, genres, and platforms without losing its urgency. From his early days with Leaders of the New School to his chart-smashing solo records and iconic videos, Busta has remained a larger-than-life presence. His recognition with the Rock the Bells Visionary Award is less a career capstone than a reminder that his influence remains present tense. On VMA night, the stage is his again.

Busta Rhymes Feted as Hip-Hop Icon During Harlem Day Celebration

Busta Rhymes holds up the Hip Hop Icon Award during Harlem Week’s Harlem Day celebration at St. Nicholas Park in New York. The Brooklyn-born rapper was honored for his three-decade career, global impact, and contributions to hip hop culture. 

Busta Rhymes, whose rapid-fire flow and high-voltage performances helped redefine East Coast rap, was honored Sunday with the Hip Hop Icon Award during the finale of Harlem Week. The Brooklyn-born emcee received the recognition from the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce at St. Nicholas Park, where his son, Trillian Wood-Smith, also performed.

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A post shared by Busta Rhymes (@bustarhymes)

The honor came as part of Harlem Day, the signature closing event of Harlem Week, a 51-year-old celebration themed this year as “Celebrate Our Magic.” Harlem Day featured three stages of music and tributes to Congressman Charles B. Rangel, Dr. Hazel Dukes, and the late Harry Belafonte, along with a musical salute to Quincy Jones led by Ray Chew.

Organizers selected Busta Rhymes not only for his chart-topping hits, platinum albums, and Grammy-nominated career, but also for his enduring influence on hip-hop culture and his global representation of New York. Over more than three decades, he has collaborated across genres and delivered boundary-pushing music videos and performances that inspired generations.

On Instagram, Busta thanked Harlem Week’s organizers and the community, writing: “THE BLESSINGS DON’T STOP SO THE BLESSINGS WON’T EVER STOP!!! … AIN’T NOTHING BETTER THAN TO RECEIVE YOUR FLOWERS WHILE YOU CAN SMELL ‘EM IN ABUNDANCE!!!”

The award follows another milestone for Busta Rhymes earlier this month, when he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, cementing his place among hip-hop’s most influential figures.

Courts Hand 3½-Year Sentence to Sean Kingston in Fraud Case

Sean Kingston appears in a booking photo following his arrest on federal wire fraud charges. The singer was sentenced Friday to three and a half years in prison in connection with a $1 million luxury goods scheme. (Photo Credit: Broward Sheriff’s Office)

The saga of Sean Kingston — once known for the breezy charm of “Beautiful Girls” — has taken a starkturn.

On Friday, the 35-year-old singer was sentenced to three and a half years in federal prison, plus three years of supervised release, after being convicted of his role in a $1 million wire fraud scheme alongside his mother, Janice Eleanor Turner, in March 2025. Turner previously received a five-year prison term, plus supervised release, in July.

Janice Eleanor Turner,

Kingston’s mother, is

serving a five-year sentence 

for her role in the fraud

scheme.

In court, Kingston — real name Kisean Paul Anderson — apologized to the judge, expressing regret over his actions. He had sought to delay surrender due to health issues, but Judge David Leibowitz ordered immediate custody, rejecting the request.

The case against the duo revealed a striking pattern: between April 2023 and March 2024, Kingston and his mother approached dealerships, jewelers, and specialty retailers with promises of social media promotion in lieu of payment. Victims were invited to Kingston’s Florida home and shown fabricated wire receipts to explain payment delays. According to investigators, the items — including a bullet-proof Escalade, a 19-foot LED TV, and luxury watches — were never paid for.

Prosecutors accused Kingston of exploiting his celebrity status to manipulate victims into parting with their goods, describing his actions as a calculated deception. Kingston’s attorney painted a different picture, arguing he was financially naive — thrust into fame as a teenager and unable to manage his money. The judge recognized his acceptance of responsibility and gave him a lighter sentence than initially requested.

The downfall began with a SWAT raid on Kingston’s rented Southwest Ranches mansion in May 2024. Turner was taken into custody on the spot, while Kingston was apprehended later at Fort Irwin, California, where he had been performing.

Kingston’s rise to fame began at age 17 with his 2007 debut, “Beautiful Girls,” which earned the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Hits like “Fire Burning” and “Take You There” followed. In recent years, his legal troubles and inability to manage finances — despite continued musical output like the single “Thick Thighs” in October 2024 — added an undercurrent of cautionary narrative to his legacy.

LL Cool J to Run the Show as Sole Host of 2025 MTV VMAs

LL Cool J will host the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards solo for the first time on Sept. 7 at UBS Arena in New York. (Photo Credit: Peter Yang)

LL Cool J has been a fixture of the MTV Video Music Awards for decades — tearing up stages, setting records, and making history long before most of today’s nominees were even in the game. Now, the Queens-born hip-hop pioneer is stepping into the spotlight solo to host the 2025 VMAs on Sept. 7, live from UBS Arena in New York.

The broadcast — airing coast-to-coast on CBS, simulcast on MTV, and streaming on Paramount+ — marks the first time LL will emcee the awards by himself. He co-hosted in 2022 alongside Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow, but this year, it’s his name alone at the top of the bill.

The move feels like a full-circle moment for a rapper who’s been part of VMA history since the early ’90s. In 1991, LL took home his first Moon Person for Best Rap Video. Six years later, he became the first rapper to receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, a recognition of both his music video innovation and his role in bringing hip-hop visuals into the mainstream.

In the years since, he’s turned the VMAs into a personal stage for culture-shifting moments — from leading an all-star tribute to hip-hop’s 50th anniversary in 2023 to a surprise Def Jam 40th anniversary set with Public Enemy in 2024.

This year, LL isn’t just the host — he’s a contender. His 2024 single “Murdergram Deaux,” a collaboration with Eminem from his critically acclaimed album The Force, is nominated for Best Hip Hop.

For LL Cool J, the VMAs gig is another chapter in a career that’s defied categories. A two-time Grammy winner, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and multi-platinum artist, he’s also had a 14-season run as Special Agent Sam Hanna on “NCIS: Los Angeles” and launched the SiriusXM channel Rock The Bells Radio to preserve and promote classic hip-hop.

His return to the VMAs is more than nostalgia — it’s proof that the rapper who broke through at 16 with “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” still knows how to command a stage.

“LL Cool J is the blueprint,” said MTV executive producer Bruce Gillmer. “His impact spans music, television, film and culture. Having him host solo for the first time is going to be electric.”

Boston to Rename Roxbury Street 'New Edition Way' to Honor R&B Pioneers

Mike Edwards, Los Angeles Times, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Boston is giving its most famous R&B sons the ultimate homecoming salute. On Aug. 30, Mayor Michelle
Wu will declare “New Edition Day” in honor of the groundbreaking group, and the city will officially rename Dearborn Street at the corner of Ambrose and Albany streets in Roxbury as New Edition Way — a stretch near the Orchard Gardens Boys & Girls Club, where the members first sang together in the Orchard Park housing projects.

The celebration begins with the street-naming ceremony at 10 a.m., followed by a community block party one block away starting at 11 a.m., featuring live music, free food, backpack giveaways for youth, and appearances by the group.

On Instagram, Ricky Bell put the moment in perspective for fans around the world:

“We are so humble and equally excited to receive this incredible honor that is given to us by our home City of Boston. So come celebrate with us, catch a flight, take the train, drive or walk — this event would not be complete without the amazing energy of the #NE4Lifers!

“I am truly grateful for the privilege of being made a permanent fixture in our city that has played such a significant role in shaping our lives and career. It brings me immense joy to think that future generations of my family, friends, and #NE4Lifers from all over the world will be able to walk and drive down New Edition Way. This honor is mind-blowing in the most awesome way. 02119 IS and WILL always be my home.”

Bobby Brown echoed the emotion: “Boston is where it all began for us. This honor means the world to me.”

Mayor Wu called the event “a unique opportunity to bring Boston’s neighborhoods together in a celebration of culture, pride and community” and praised the group’s impact “from our communities here in Boston to the music industry worldwide.”

 

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Formed in 1978, New Edition changed the face of modern R&B with their blend of smooth harmonies, streetwise swagger, and chart-topping hits. From “Candy Girl” and “Cool It Now” to “If It Isn’t Love” and “Can You Stand the Rain,” they set the blueprint for boy bands and bridged the gap between soul, pop, and hip-hop. Their 1996 comeback album “Home Again” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, cementing their staying power.

Over four decades, the group has earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (2017), the BET Lifetime Achievement Award (2017), and inductions into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame (2022) and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame (2023).

Snoop Dogg to Bring West Coast Heat to Australia’s AFL Grand Final Stage

Snoop Dogg will headline the pre-game entertainment at the 2025 AFL Grand Final on Sept. 27 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. 

The AFL has locked in one of hip-hop’s most recognizable voices for its biggest day, announcing Snoop Dogg as the headline act for the Telstra pre-game entertainment at the 2025 Toyota AFL Grand Final on Sept. 27 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The Australian Football League — founded in 1897 as the Victorian Football League and rebranded in 1990 — is the premier competition in Australian rules football, with its Grand Final regularly drawing over 100,000 fans in person and millions more watching nationally.

Snoop Dogg’s Biggest Sports & Entertainment Hosting Moments

• Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show (2022) — Performed alongside Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, and 50 Cent in a set hailed as one of the NFL’s most memorable shows.
• WrestleMania 32 (2016) — Took the mic at AT&T Stadium, performed live, and was inducted into WWE’s Hall of Fame celebrity wing.
• NBA All-Star Weekend Appearances — Provided live performances and fan engagement at multiple NBA events, bringing music to the heart of the sport.
• NHL Stadium Series & Charity Games — Delivered high-energy sets at major hockey events, blending his West Coast style with global sports culture.
• American Song Contest (2022) — Co-hosted NBC’s music competition with Kelly Clarkson, showcasing his live-event charisma.

For Snoop, it will be his first-ever performance at the MCG and his highest-profile Australian sporting event appearance to date. The West Coast rap legend, who rose to fame on Dr. Dre’s 1992 album "The Chronic" before releasing his multi-platinum debut "Doggystyle," has delivered three decades of chart-topping tracks, including “Gin and Juice,” “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and “Young, Wild & Free.”

“It’s an absolute honor to be hitting the stage at the AFL Grand Final — it’s one of the biggest events on the Aussie calendar,” Snoop said in a statement released by the league. “Can’t wait to bring the energy and celebrate with the fans. Let’s make it unforgettable.”

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said the addition of Snoop reflects the league’s push to make Grand Final day a cultural event as well as a sporting one. “Snoop Dogg is a pioneer, a performer, and a true entertainer,” Dillon said. “He’s played to packed stadiums around the world — but we think 100,000 fans at the MCG might just be his most iconic crowd yet.”

The AFL has a recent track record of bringing in global headliners for Grand Final entertainment, including Katy Perry, Robbie Williams, and The Killers. This year’s show will again be produced by the Mushroom Group, whose CEO Matt Gudinski promised “an unforgettable spectacle” and hinted at more Australian artists joining the bill.

Snoop’s relationship with Australia has had its twists. In 2007, he was denied a visa over past convictions in the United States, but the ban was lifted in 2008, allowing him to tour the country multiple times since. His most recent visit was part of a sold-out 2023 arena run.

Telstra executive Brent Smart said the company is “thrilled” to host the pre-game entertainment for the fifth straight year. “We’re passionate about delivering unforgettable experiences for fans. We’re confident Snoop Dogg will make this year’s celebration one to remember.”

The pre-game show will take place roughly an hour before the 2:30 p.m. bounce, following the traditional motorcade of coaches and players from the competing teams. Additional performers for the 2025 AFL Grand Final are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

NYC Immortalizes DJ Mister Cee, Fatman Scoop With Street Co-Namings

Street signs honoring the late Fatman Scoop in East Harlem and the late DJ Mister Cee in Brooklyn were unveiled over the weekend, cementing the hip-hop legends’ place in New York City history.

New York City immortalized two of its most celebrated voices with street co-namings over the weekend — forever linking DJ Mister Cee and Fatman Scoop to the boroughs where they made history.

On Saturday afternoon, the corner of 109th Street and 5th Avenue in East Harlem became Isaac “Fatman Scoop” Freeman III Place. The crowd heard from Kurtis Blow, who painted a vivid picture of Scoop’s influence:

“When you went into a club and the club was packed and they threw on a Fatman Scoop record, you knew you were at the place to be. Just hearing his voice, you knew it was time to do your best dance moves.”

🎤 “Fatman Scoop ain’t nothing to play with!” — Hip-hop legend @KurtisBlow1 sharing his remarks at the Harlem street co-naming of Isaac “Fatman Scoop” Freeman III Place at E 109th St & 5th Ave. 🗽✨ pic.twitter.com/2y2rZ2R0it

— Okayplayer (@okayplayer) August 9, 2025

Scoop — whose unmistakable hype voice turned countless tracks into anthems — died on August 30, 2024, at the age of 56 after collapsing onstage in Hamden, Connecticut. The Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause as hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, ruling his death from natural causes.

 

On Sunday afternoon, Brooklyn’s Classon and Lafayette Avenues were officially co-named DJ Mister Cee Way in honor of the DJ, producer, and tastemaker who championed Big Daddy Kane, The Notorious B.I.G., and countless others. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams attended, while Mayor Eric Adams called him a “true hip-hop legend taken too soon” in a social post.

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A post shared by DJ MAGIC THE GIFT • HOT97 (@iamdjmagic)

DJ Mister Cee’s son, DJ Magic, shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram:

“Today was a major day for Pops aka DJ Mister Cee… Classon & Lafayette co-naming unveiling. We will never forget you, Pop. I love you and miss you.”

DJ Mister Cee was a true hip-hop legend taken too soon.

Thank you for all you gave to the culture and to Brooklyn. This street co-naming will honor your lasting legacy. pic.twitter.com/NYXeSAYFDz

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) August 10, 2025

Mister Cee — born Calvin LeBrun — passed away April 10, 2024, at age 57. The New York City Medical Examiner listed his cause of death as diabetes-related coronary artery and kidney disease.

Atlanta Rapper T-Hood Killed in Georgia Shooting at 33

Rapper T-Hood  was killed in Snellville, Georgia, after a domestic dispute outside his home.

Southern hip-hop is in mourning. Tevin Hood — better known as T-Hood — was shot and killed Friday at a residence in Snellville, Georgia, according to Gwinnett County police. He was 33.

Officers were dispatched around 7 p.m. to the 3900 block of Lee Road following reports of a dispute at the home. First responders found Hood with gunshot wounds, rendered aid, and transported him to a hospital, where he died from his injuries. One individual was detained at the scene and is currently being interviewed; the shooting is being investigated as a homicide. Authorities emphasized there is no active threat to the public.

RIP T HOOD 💔 one of the first people to hop on me and @Deedotwill vivid trap beats.

he was literally the only person to hop on this melody i did from scratch. I ain’t fuckin with this at all i’m ngl. pouring up for my all my niggas tonight pic.twitter.com/uVJAPPVuhJ

— glick attachment (@cashgangrott) August 9, 2025

Hood’s mother, Yulanda, confirmed his identity to local media and rejected claims of a party taking place at the time of the shooting. Family members spoke with Channel 2 Action News, validating the tragic news.

Known for his work in Southern rap, T-Hood released tracks including “Ready 2 Go,” “Perculator,” “Girls in the Party” and “Big Booty” with B.o.B. He was also named Trendsetter of the Year at the 2025 Black Only Awards.

i been all over the place trying to find a way to process the passing of my dawg. i knew t hood a while and he used to always go crazy at every stage he was on.

he really went crazy with his talent and im fortunate to have got some work in with him. one of the few artists who… pic.twitter.com/YQqzJ2Vh9X

— DJ Blak Boy (@DJBlakBoy) August 10, 2025

Just weeks prior, Hood shared an eerie Instagram video promoting his song “Grave Diggerz.” Wearing a ghost costume in a cemetery, he joked, “Come down to the cemetery. I have a spot for you… Just die today.” Fans have since called the clip chillingly prophetic amid the tragedy.

Producer Deddotwill, a frequent collaborator, expressed his grief online: “We was just on the phone all day. I can’t believe you are gone. REST IN PEACE T-HOOD, I LOVE YOU BROTHER.”

DJ Blak Boy added his personal tribute: “I knew T-Hood a while… he was a light of energy… always supported everybody… a friend I’ll miss.”