Hip‑hop legend LL Cool J is returning to the VMAs stage—this time as the solo host for the 2025 ceremony. Set for September 7 at New York’s UBS Arena, he’ll lead an evening broadcast live for the first time on CBS, alongside MTV and Paramount+ simulcasts.
This marks his most prominent hosting role since co‑hosting the awards in 2022 with Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow, and he carries with him a storied legacy at the VMAs. LL Cool J earned his first Moon Person in 1991 and made history as the first rapper to receive the Video Vanguard Award in 1997. He’s also taken the stage for tributes honoring hip-hop’s 50th anniversary and Def Jam Records’ 40th celebration.
Adding to the excitement, he’s also contending for Best Hip‑Hop Video with “Murdergram Deaux,” a collaboration featuring Eminem from his 2024 album THE FORCE.
As VMAs 2025 amps up, Lady Gaga leads the nominations with 12 nods, followed by Bruno Mars and Kendrick Lamar. With new categories like Best Pop Artist and Best Country in the mix, and LL Cool J at the helm, the stage is set for a night of high-stakes talent, genre-spanning recognition, and cultural resonance.
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