Entertainment icon and GRAMMY® Award winner LL COOL J will host the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), set to air live from New York’s UBS Arena on Monday, September 8, at 00:00 WAT on CBS and MTV (DStv Channel 130).

This marks the first time the hip-hop pioneer will host the show solo, after previously sharing the stage with Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow in 2022.

“LL COOL J has been a trailblazer in music and culture for over three decades, and his return to the VMAs stage as host is a full-circle moment,” said the producers.

A legacy of VMAs moments

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee has a long history with the awards show. He first won a Moon Person in 1991 for Best Rap and made history as the first rapper to receive the Video Vanguard Award in 1997.

In recent years, LL COOL J has been part of several standout moments on the VMAs stage, including a star-studded hip-hop 50th anniversary tribute in 2023 and a Def Jam 40th anniversary celebration in 2024 featuring surprise guests Public Enemy.

This year, his single Murdergram Deaux featuring Eminem—off his 2024 album THE FORCE—is nominated for Best Hip-Hop.

Performers and surprises to come

Organisers say additional performers, presenters, and special guests will be announced in the coming weeks. Viewers can follow updates on @CBS, @MTV, and @VMAs across social platforms using the hashtag #VMAs.

The production is led by Bruce Gillmer, Jesse Ignjatovic, and Barb Bialkowski, alongside a seasoned team of award-winning producers.

Sponsors for the 2025 VMAs include BACARDÍ®, Burger King®, DORITOS®, Dunkin’®, and PANTENE.

How to watch

Fans in Nigeria and across Africa can tune in on MTV (DStv Channel 130), while U.S. audiences can watch live on CBS. Paramount+ Premium subscribers will also be able to stream the show live via their local CBS affiliate, with on-demand viewing available afterward.

About LL COOL J

Beyond his VMAs legacy, LL COOL J is a cultural icon, known for his influential rap career, acting roles, and impact on global entertainment. He has continued to bridge generations with his music, including collaborations with top stars like Eminem.

About the MTV VMAs

The MTV Video Music Awards, launched in 1984, remain one of the most watched and talked-about nights in music. The event is famed for its unforgettable performances, groundbreaking visuals, and cultural moments that shape the industry.

The National Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya popularly known as MC Oluomo has made a public appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to show mercy to Fuji music icon, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1), over a recent ban on his flights.

In a heartfelt statement, MC Oluomo compared K1’s situation to that of a “prodigal son” who has admitted his mistakes, expressed regret, and pledged to make amends.

“I, Alhaji Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, President of the NURTW, humbly and fervently appeal to you to exercise mercy and forgiveness towards Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1). Like a prodigal son, K1 has acknowledged his mistakes, is sincerely apologetic, and is willing to make amends,” MC Oluomo wrote.

The appeal follows a ban imposed on K1 and pilot Oluranti Ogoyi by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) after an incident at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport’s local wing in Abuja.

MC Oluomo urged the Director-General of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo, and the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Barrister Festus Keyamo (SAN), to “temper justice with mercy” and lift the sanctions.

“On behalf of K1, I extend unreserved and heartfelt apologies to the CEO of Value Jet, Mr. Kunle Soname, the staff, the pilot, and the general public. We acknowledge K1’s wrongdoing and deeply appreciate his 50-year contributions to Nigeria’s growth and the promotion of Yoruba culture worldwide,” he said.

Highlighting K1’s legacy as an ambassador of Yoruba music and culture, the NURTW chairman pleaded with the authorities to weigh the singer’s decades of service against the recent controversy.

“I plead with the authorities to accept K1’s apology and show mercy, considering his legacy and dedication to the nation. May wisdom guide your decisions, and may we not throw away the baby with the bathwater,” MC Oluomo stated.

The statement concluded with prayers for the President and the nation:

“God bless you. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

K1, also known as King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, has been a dominant figure in Fuji music for over five decades, shaping the genre’s growth and taking Yoruba culture to global stages.

Nigerian singer Oluwatosin Ajibade, better known as Mr Eazi, has married actress and fashion entrepreneur Temi Otedola, daughter of billionaire businessman Femi Otedola, in a private wedding in Iceland.

The ceremony took place at Hallgrímskirkja Church in Reykjavík — one of Iceland’s most iconic landmarks — which was specially decorated with flowers and closed to the public for the occasion.

According to reports, Temi, the youngest of Otedola’s three daughters, exchanged vows with the Skin Tight crooner in the presence of a small circle of family and friends.

The guest list included high-profile figures such as Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, who was spotted alongside comedian Broda Shaggi in video clips shared on Instagram. Temi’s sister, Florence Otedola, popularly known as DJ Cuppy, and their mother were also seen at the event.

Broda Shaggi posted short clips on his Instagram Story, capturing joyful moments with the groom and some of the distinguished guests in Reykjavík.

Mr Eazi and Temi Otedola first announced their engagement in April 2022, when Temi posted a 38-second video of the proposal on Instagram. In several interviews and social media posts since then, the couple hinted that they wanted a private and exclusive wedding celebration.

The wedding in Iceland fulfilled that promise, blending a serene destination with the warmth of an intimate gathering.