Beyoncé Makes History, Janet Jackson Shines at the 2025 AMAs

Janet Jackson performs onstage at the 2025 American Music Awards at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas on May 26, 2025. (Rich Polk)

The 2025 American Music Awards, held on Monday night at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas and hosted by Jennifer Lopez, celebrated the significant and continuing impact of urban music. One of the evening's most prominent moments was the presentation of the Icon Award to Janet Jackson, recognizing her profound influence on pop, R&B and global music culture.

Jackson, dressed in a white cropped jacket, baggy blue jeans, white sneakers, and a headband, captivated the audience with a medley of her iconic hits, including “All for You,” “Rhythm Nation,” and “Together Again,” marking her first televised performance in seven years.

In her acceptance speech, she said, “I don’t consider myself an icon,” while emphasizing her family's deep commitment to music over fame. The Icon Award, first awarded in 2013, has previously been awarded to artists such as Rihanna and Lionel Richie.

Jackson’s tribute underscored the enduring relevance of urban music within the broader popular music landscape, a point further emphasized by Kendrick Lamar’s victory in the Favorite Hip-Hop Song category for “Not Like Us.” Lamar, who received the most nominations of the night with 10, once again demonstrated his artistic power, authenticity, and ability to connect with contemporary culture.

Beyoncé made history in the country genre, winning Favorite Female Country Artist for her acclaimed project, "Cowboy Carter," which also took home Favorite Country Album honors. This win represents a significant achievement for a Black artist in a category historically dominated by white artists.

SZA also had a memorable evening, taking home both Favorite Female R&B Artist and Favorite R&B Song for “Saturn.” These awards acknowledge her innovative approach to R&B, blending genres while staying true to her artistic vision, solidifying her position as a leading voice in modern R&B.

Adding to his legacy, Eminem won both Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist and Favorite Hip-Hop Album for "The Death of Slim Shady: Coup de Grâce," highlighting his enduring relevance and impact within the hip-hop genre. Megan Thee Stallion won Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist.

Billie Eilish was the biggest winner of the night, sweeping the major categories, including Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for Hit Me Hard and Soft, and Song of the Year for “Birds of a Feather.”

Chappell Roan was recognized as New Artist of the Year, marking a significant breakthrough for the rising star.

 

Key Winners:

• Artist of the Year: Billie Eilish
• New Artist of the Year: Chappell Roan
• Album of the Year: "Hit Me Hard and Soft" (Billie Eilish)
• Song of the Year: “Birds of a Feather” (Billie Eilish)
• Favorite Male Hip-Hop Artist: Eminem
• Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist: Megan Thee Stallion
• Favorite Hip-Hop Song: “Not Like Us” (Kendrick Lamar)
• Favorite Female R&B Artist: SZA
• Favorite R&B Song: “Saturn” (SZA)
• Favorite Female Country Artist: Beyoncé
• Favorite Country Album: "Cowboy Carter" (Beyoncé)
• Icon Award: Janet Jackson

For a complete list of winners click here.

Dr. Dre’s $10 Million Boost Helps Redefine Compton High’s Future

Dr. Dre’s legacy has always been intertwined with Compton, and now the rap legend is giving back to the California community in a major way. On Thursday the newly rebuilt Compton High School campus was unveiled, a $225-million project that promises to reshape the future of education for the city’s youth.

At the heart of the transformation is Dre’s $10 million donation to the school’s performing arts center, ensuring that the next generation of Compton’s talent has the space to create, perform and dream big.

The 31-acre campus represents a complete overhaul of the old school, which had long been plagued by outdated facilities. The new high school is a vision of modernity, featuring a digital library, cutting-edge classrooms and athletic facilities designed for the digital age. From a football stadium to multiple sports courts and a state-of-the-art gym, this campus is built to foster both academic and athletic success.

But it’s the performing arts center that stands out as a direct reflection of Dre’s impact on the city. The $10 million donation has turned the center into a state-of-the-art venue where students can explore their passions in music, theater and dance. A mural of Dre’s face on the exterior of the building serves as a powerful reminder of his roots and his ongoing commitment to elevating his hometown.

"I didn’t have that creative outlet when I was in high school," Dre said during the unveiling. "Now these kids have that space, and it’s all about giving them the chance to express who they are and what they can become."

Dre’s involvement is a reflection of his lifelong connection to Compton. The new campus will serve 2,000 students and is funded by school-construction bonds approved by local voters. This revitalization is not just about the physical space but about creating opportunities for Compton’s youth to thrive in ways that were once out of reach.

"Compton is a breeding ground for talent," Dre added. "I’m living proof that coming from Compton, nothing can stop me. Anything is possible."

'You Burned My Car': Kid Cudi Recounts Accusing Combs in Federal Trial

An evidence photo, displayed Thursday, May 22, 2025, during testimony in federal court in New York, shows the damage to a Porsche belonging to rapper Kid Cudi, born Scott Mescudi. Cudi testified that the vehicle was firebombed at his Los Angeles home in January 2012, an act he blamed on Sean "Diddy" Combs during Combs's ongoing sex-trafficking trial.

Kid Cudi delivered gripping testimony Thursday in Sean “Diddy” Combs’s federal sex-trafficking trial on Thursday, recounting a harrowing 2012 firebombing of his Porsche and an earlier home break-in, both of which he unequivocally blamed on the music mogul.

The Grammy-winning rapper, born Scott Mescudi, detailed to jurors how in January 2012, a Molotov cocktail was launched into his Los Angeles driveway, engulfing his Porsche. He testified he first learned of the inferno from his dog sitter.

When Mescudi, 41, later confronted Combs about the destroyed vehicle at a meeting in a Los Angeles hotel, Combs flatly responded, “I don't know what you’re talking about,” Mescudi testified. He described Combs during that meeting as posturing “like a Marvel super villain,” standing with his hands behind his back looking out a window, an encounter Mescudi found “off-putting” due to Combs's calmness.

Kid Cudi's testimony included multiple bombshell allegations against Diddy, including blowing up Cudi's car with a Molotov cocktail. ⚖️

Cudi also alleges that Diddy broke into his home, moved security cameras, injured and locked away his dog and went through all his belongings. https://t.co/JnPagsMl1y pic.twitter.com/3CfJA1Ame0

— Key To The City 🔑 (@K3yToTheCity) May 22, 2025

“I remember looking at him and thinking, ‘You burned my car,’ ” Mescudi told the court. He added that Combs eventually apologized for "everything and all that [expletive]" approximately three years later, around 2015, after which Mescudi said he "found peace with it."

Prosecutors assert the car bombing exemplifies a pattern of “intimidation and violence” Combs allegedly employed, particularly concerning his former girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura. Mescudi had a brief romantic relationship with Ventura in late 2011, during a period when her relationship with Combs was reportedly intermittent.

On cross-examination, defense attorneys emphasized that no arrests were made or charges filed in connection with the firebombing, and Mescudi acknowledged he never witnessed who threw the incendiary device. “There is no physical evidence tying Mr. Combs to that incident,” a defense attorney stated.

Mescudi also recounted an unnerving break-in at his Hollywood Hills home in December 2011, which he said occurred after Combs became aware of his relationship with Ventura. He testified that security cameras had been tampered with, gifts rifled through, and his dog was inexplicably locked in a bathroom, prompting him to file a police report. Mescudi also testified that during this period, Combs called him while Mescudi believed Combs and associates were at his house. Mescudi said he asked Combs, "Motherf--ker, are you in my house?" to which Combs allegedly replied, "I am here waiting for you."

Further, Mescudi stated that Ventura had confided in him that Combs had been physically abusive towards her, describing incidents where “he would hit her, sometimes kick her.”

Combs, 54, has pleaded not guilty to a range of federal charges, including sex trafficking by force, transportation for prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy. Prosecutors allege he operated a criminal enterprise that abused, threatened, and coerced women over nearly two decades. Combs’s defense team has argued that his relationships were consensual and part of a lifestyle that included non-traditional arrangements.

The trial also heard continued testimony Thursday from George Kaplan, a former executive assistant to Combs, who reportedly testified to witnessing Combs "attack" Ventura. The trial is slated to continue.