LL Cool J to host 2025 VMAs solo at UBS Arena

LL Cool J will host the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, taking the stage solo for the first time at the UBS Arena in New York on Sunday, Sept. 7, at 8 p.m. ET. The ceremony will be broadcast on CBS for the first time, with MTV and Paramount also carrying the event, underscoring a broader cross-platform approach as the VMAs enter a new era of partnership and reach. The veteran rapper, actor and producer is nominated this year for Best Hip Hop with the single Murdergram Deux, a collaboration with Eminem from his latest album, The Force.

The hosting gig marks a milestone in LL Cool J’s long history with the VMAs. He previously co-hosted the 2022 ceremony with Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow, but this year he takes control of the show solo. His connection to the VMAs stretches back to the early days of his career, including a Moon Person for Best Rap Video in 1991 and the Video Vanguard Award in 1997, making him one of the ceremony’s most enduring figures. He has also participated in VMAs moments celebrating hip hop’s 50th anniversary in 2023 and Def Jam Records’ 40th anniversary in 2024. The nomination for Murdergram Deux adds a contemporary note to a program that historically celebrates...