The blessings just keep coming for Busta Rhymes. Weeks after being honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the rap icon is about to make history again — this time at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.
MTV has announced that Busta will be the very first recipient of the Rock the Bells Visionary Award, a new honor created to celebrate his boundary-pushing artistry, cultural impact, and unstoppable legacy in music. The award will be presented during the VMAs on Sunday, Sept. 7, and in true Busta fashion, he’ll also hit the stage with one of his explosive live performances.
A Career Built on Greatness
With more than 20 million albums sold worldwide, seven Top 10 debuts on the Billboard 200, and 12 Grammy nominations, Busta’s catalog is stacked with hits that have defined generations. He boasts over 60 million certified gold and platinum records, cementing him as one of hip-hop’s most innovative and enduring voices.
Last year, MTV honored him with the Global Icon Award at the 2024 VMAs, and now, with this Visionary Award, his influence is officially etched into MTV history.
LL COOL J Hosts a Star-Packed Night
Hosting duties for the 2025 MTV VMAs will go to LL COOL J, who returns to the stage after co-hosting alongside Nicki Minaj and Jack Harlow back in 2022. This year, the ceremony will air live from UBS Arena in New York, broadcasting on CBS for the first time ever, as well as streaming on Paramount+.
LL’s own history with MTV runs deep. In 1991, he earned his first Moon Person trophy for Best Rap, and in 1997, he became the first rapper to ever win the prestigious Video Vanguard Award.
The Year’s Biggest Nominees
The 2025 VMA nominations, revealed earlier this month, are already stirring fan debates.
- Lady Gaga leads the pack with 12 nominations — the most in her career.
- Kendrick Lamar and Bruno Mars follow closely with 11 nods each.
- ROSÉ and Sabrina Carpenter earned eight nominations apiece.
- Heavyweights like Ariana Grande and The Weeknd both scored seven, while Billie Eilish picked up six and Charli XCX grabbed five.
- Of course, pop queens Beyoncé and Taylor Swift are both in the running for Artist of the Year.
Hip-Hop Royalty Meets Pop Power
The night promises to be one of the most unforgettable in recent memory, with Busta’s Visionary Award serving as a reminder that hip-hop’s pioneers continue to shape the culture just as much as today’s chart-toppers.
Fans are already buzzing online about what Busta’s performance might look like, and given his track record of legendary visuals and stage energy, expectations are sky-high.
Don’t miss it: The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards air live on Sunday, Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and MTV, and stream live on Paramount+.
