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The 50 Best Albums of 2025 So Far (Staff Picks)
Blockbuster albums have dominated the charts in 2025. Look at the Billboard Hot 100 at various points this year and you'd have seen multiple songs in the top 50 from Sabrina Carpenter's Short n' Sweet, Billie Eilish's Hit Me Hard and Soft, Kendrick Lamar's GNX and GloRilla's Glorious, among others — many of which are still excelling on the chart even as we reach the year's halfway point. The problem with that from a 2025 perspective, of course: Those big-ticket albums were all originally released in 2024. More from Billboard The Story of Whitney Houston's 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody,' the Billboard Staff's No. 1 Pop Song Take Our Ultimate Pop Quiz to See How Well You Know the 500 Best Pop Songs Every Song Ranked on Beyonce's 'Renaissance': Critic's Picks Yes, we've had a bit of a problem getting 2024 — a period of releases too big to cycle through them entirely within 12 months — out of our system so far this year. Slowly but surely, however, 2025 has been catching up: We've seen culture-moving albums from established superstars Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga and Morgan Wallen, as well as level-up projects from ascendant artists Playboi Carti, Fuerza Regida and Turnstile, and some highly exciting debut LPs from newer hitmakers like Central Cee and Addison Rae. And those are just the current big names: As always, there were also plenty of new underneath-the-mainstream names who took us by surprise, as well as old favorites taking new directions we never saw coming. You can find all of those in our staff list of the 50 best albums of 2025 so far. Check them out — presented alphabetically by artist below — and let's all pledge to do a better job cutting the cord with 2024 for the second half of the calendar debut EP from 54 Ultra is a vibrant, genre-blending journey through synthy R&B, soul, and Latin-infused grooves. The New Jersey-raised, one-man band infused this project with heartfelt storytelling, bilingual lyricism and catchy hooks. With standout singles like 'Upside Down' and 'Talk 2 Me,' along with new gems 'Halo' and 'Does He Know It,' this six-track project offers an effortlessly smooth introduction to an artist whose sound feels both timelessly soulful and refreshing. — QUINCY GREENAddison Rae completed the TikTok phenom-to-pop star transformation with the arrival of her fantastic Addison debut album in June. Doubters were quickly turned into believers with 2024's buoyant 'Diet Pepsi,' which is now certified platinum by the RIAA. The 24-year-old tuned out the noise with the vulnerable 'Headphones On' and put her own spin on the high-wire act that stardom can be on 'Fame Is a Gun.' Her bubbly personality and southern charm are very much in the same vein as early Britney Spears; indeed, while she represents Gen-Z, Addison boasts many of the qualities that Millennials loved most about their pop stars in the 2000s. — MICHAEL SAPONARAOn her sophomore project Let Go Letters, country singer-songwriter Avery Anna uses her potent songwriting pen and honeyed vocal to tell the stories of her fans, resulting in a project that is raw and resonant. The project is inspired by notes sent to Anna for her 'Let Go Letters' series, aimed at helping her fans jettison past traumas. She used those stories to craft detailed, thoughtful and ultimately encouraging songs that hold up a mirror to those who have struggled with issues of depression, body image, addiction, domestic violence and more. — JESSICA NICHOLSONDays into 2025, as the world was still shaking off its holiday stupor, the visionary Puerto Rican artist dropped the boldest, most inventive statement of his career. Debí Tirar Más Fotos infuses Bunny's well-worn música urbana and Latin pop with salsa, bolero, plena, and other regional sounds from recent decades – and his new aesthetic direction turned heads. The genre-dabbling wouldn't amount to much, though, if the songs weren't stellar: Higher-energy tracks like 'Nuevayol' pop off with the trunk-rattling greatness fans have come to expect from Benito, but it's songs like the effervescent 'Baile Involidable,' recorded with a live salsa orchestra, and aching ballad 'Bokete,' where his creative advancements truly shine. — ERIC RENNER BROWNOn her second album, the artist born Sabrina Teitelbaum manages the often-breathtaking feat of juxtaposing matter-of-fact, autobiographical lyrics about body image issues, dysfunctional relationships and lasting mother-daughter issues, with sizzling '90s rock guitar hooks and some of the most beautiful harmonies since '70s Fleetwood Mac. If You Asked for a Picture eschews romance for realism that should resonate with her generation — and really anyone with scars to show (who also enjoys a well-crafted pop-rock song). — FRANK DIGIACOMOCCM hitmaker Lake's newly released King of Hearts project is more genre-defying than ever, folding in country, pop, hard rock, gospel and more, while still being strongly centered on his unflinchingly honest message of faith, healing and an unwavering belief in redemption. He continues his penchant for collaborations, joining his raw, emotional vocal on duets with country hitmaker Jelly Roll (their popular hit 'Hard Fought Hallelujah'), as well as gospel and CCM artists CeCe Winans, Hulvey and Hank Bentley. — a rock'n'roll biome that soldiers on without David Bowie, Syd Barrett and now, Brian Wilson, Car Seat Headrest have stepped into the void left by these empathic artists who pushed the boundaries of sonics, subject matter and song length. The Scholars is a past-is-prologue rock opera that honors CSH's inspirations — The Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, The Who and Ziggy Stardust among them — with existential reflection and sly musical references, and showcases the metamorphosis of frontman Will Toledo's minivan musings into a hot-s–t band that sounds like no other. — remorse, and folklore stitched from Argentina's northern roots collide in Latinaje, an album that feels like stepping into Cazzu's most intimate world. It opens with a 'copla' (poetry) to her homeland before 'Mala Suerte' sweeps in — a carnival-esque lament that tumbles into a sleek hip-hop beat. Heartache shapes much of the album (seemingly informed by the artist's very public breakup with her baby daddy, Nodal) with tracks like the haunting tango 'Ódiame' and 'Con Otra,' a tearjerker that transforms its sadness into cumbia villera passion. There's range here, too, with Elena Rose's bolero-infused 'Engreído' and Maka's flamenco-tinged 'Ahora' adding depth. But Cazzu shines brightest alone, offering moments like 'Inti,' a lullaby wrapped in a lo-fi trap for her daughter. Latinaje is a celebration of Latin sounds — old and new — powered by heartbreak and fierce cultural pride. — ISABELA RAYGOZA'No introduction needed, but girls still ask what my name is,' U.K. rap star Central Cee grumbles to begin debut LP Can't Rush Greatness. 'Like anytime I get on the mic, it don't cover a hundred regions/ Sweden, Norwegian, New Zealand…' America may or may not be on that list yet — Greatness reached an impressive but not quite overwhelming No. 9 on the Billboard 200 — but regardless, the album sounds like a triumph, Cee proving himself one of the few MCs dextrous enough to admit his paranoia about eating out ('You seen what happened to PnB Rock?/ I can't even wine and dine these days'), then brag about his eating-in game ('Remember the meals were microwaved/ Now my private chef is askin' how do I like my steak') in the same song. He gets verses from (and holds his own against) spitters as skilled and varied as Skepta, 21 Savage and Young Miko, but Cee doesn't need their help, or anyone else's: 'F–k the award ceremony speech,' he raps on 'St. Patrick.' 'I done it myself, so who am I thankin'?' — ANDREW UNTERBERGERThe prolific Crockett made the move to a major label on his album Lonesome Drifter, but the set makes it clear that he hasn't shed any of his vocal charisma or penchant for blending elements of country, soul, R&B and blues. Working with Shooter Jennings, he offers a dire warning against greedy music industry scammers on 'Game I Can't Win,' offers vivid storytelling on 'Easy Money,' and nods to his Texas roots with a cover of the Terry Stafford and Paul Fraser-written George Strait classic 'Amarillo by Morning.' — on the heels of his career-defining 2023 epic Timeless, Davido had already cemented his status as one of the current Big Three in Nigerian music (alongside Wizkid and Burna Boy) even before the release of 5ive. And probably the best part about this album — yes, his fifth — is that he continues to explore his own sound, rather than reaching for collaborations that pull him out of his comfort zone or into realms in which he doesn't naturally exist. That makes for another powerful collection of songs that nonetheless push the limits in his own way, while collaborations with Victoria Monét ('Offa Me'), Victony and Musa Keys ('Holy Water') and ODUMODUBLVCK and Chike ('Funds') bring some additional dynamism to the set. — DAN RYSAt 33 minutes, the second album from Ela Minus is short but deep, with the Colombian producer giving 10 tracks of textural electronic music reminiscent of every weird girl's favorite club queen, Björk. The themes also go further than dance's standard issue 'put your f–king hands up' fare, with the artist going existential — 'I'm on my knees/ Haven't found a faith/Here I am again/ Bending everything 'til it breaks,' she laments on the shimmering, spirited 'Broken' — across often hard-edged club music that altogether emits clarity of intention and self-possessed confidence. — KATIE BAINA new artistic partner, Carlile, and a new producer, Andrew Watt, helped spark John's creativity, resulting in one of the best albums he's been attached to in years. The team wrote and recorded the album in just 20 days. The opening track, 'The Rose of Laura Nyro,' incorporates one of that brilliant songwriter's best songs, 'Eli's Coming.' The album includes 'Never Too Late,' the Oscar-nominated song from last year's doc, Elton John: Never Too Late. The closer, 'When This Old World Is Done With Me,' sounds like Elton's farewell to his fans. Let's all fervently hope it's not. – PAUL GREINWeighing in at an economical 36 minutes, this thoughtful eight-track song cycle examines how the pressures of the real world can constantly chip away at creativity and the power of music. It's a masterwork meant to be listened to from start to finish, including the dynamic opening track (and first single) 'Hands of Time' and 'Johnny,' which expands on Charlie Daniels Band's classic 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia,' and was written by Church the day after the 2023 Covenant School shooting in Nashville. Recorded with a full orchestra, Evangeline is an ambitious effort that far expands not only Church's repertoire, but that of contemporary country. — MELINDA NEWMANFor her fourth album, Danish singer-songwriter Erika de Casier went the surprise route, dropping off a lush, ethereal collection of 11 trip-hop jewels collectively titled Lifetime. From the pounding tabla of 'You Can't Always Get What You Want' to the whirring sample of Cypress Hill's 'Insane in the Brain' in the hook of 'Delusional,' de Casier fine-tunes her mining of the past for a limitless, ever-surprising future. Disarmingly honest in its lyricism, Lifetime is de Casier's subtle offering to those who have grown tired of top 40's overly curated swings at quote-unquote authenticity. — KYLE DENISSince entering the regional Mexican scene in 2020, Eslabon Armado has remained a steady force, delivering back-to-back seminal albums — including its latest, Vibras de Noche II. The 15-song sequel set (plus an intro and outro) – which debuted at No. 4 on Billboard's Top Latin Albums chart – finds the Mexican American band ushering a new era of sad corridos, powered by Eslabon's signature moody guitars and deeper, more mature lyrics about navigating heartbreak and solitude. Catering to a Gen Z fandom that has embraced this sad-vibe lifestyle, you can count on Eslabon to get you in your feelings. — GRISELDA FLORESRegional Mexican music reaches a new stratosphere with 111XPANTIA, the genre-bending triumph from Fuerza Regida. Breaking barriers for música mexicana, the San Bernardino troupe landed at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in May — second that week only to global superstar Bad Bunny — with the highest-charting album the genre has ever seen. The record thrives on its unflinching duality, pairing folky banjo melodies on tracks like 'Peliculiando' and 'Nocturno' with reggaetón-dembow hybrids such as 'Lokita' (featuring Anuel AA) and 'Lababubu' (with Bellakath). It opens with the commanding 'GodFather,' a nod to the iconic '70s film, and closes with the smoky wistfulness of 'Malboro Rojo.' Named after the Náhuatl word for 'manifest,' 111XPANTIA feels like Fuerza Regida's definitive statement of arrival. — artist changing their sonic focus from album to album is a tale as old as time — less common is the artist who transforms their sound between an album and its follow-up singles, and then finds a wildly different third path for their next full-length. That's the journey that Jane Remover has boldly completed over the past two years though, following the sparse neo-shoegaze of 2023's Census Designated with a couple of ultra-catchy pop singles, 'Magic I Want U' and 'Flash in the Pan,' last year, and then turning to aggressive electro-rap and hyperpop with the stunning Revengeseekerz; regardless of your entry point, their ambition and production command will leave your head spinning, as well as wondering where they might go next. — JASON LIPSHUTZAs trans people continue to face threats, attacks and legislation erasing their identities around the globe, rising alternative artist Jasmine.4.T countered the vitriol with compassion. On You Are the Morning, the singer-songwriter's stunning debut album, Jasmine shared the intimate details of her own transition, from her own struggle to find her footing in her gender identity ('New Shoes') to the self-assuredness that comes when you do find that footing ('Woman'). You Are the Morning is nothing short of a remarkable debut for Jasmine.4.T, as well as one of the most important albums from a trans artist in the last decade. — STEPHEN DAWFoxes opens with Isbell singing a cappella on 'Bury Me,' which sets the tone for the Georgia artist's first solo album in a decade, momentarily setting aside his band, the 400 Unit. The agile, largely acoustic album feels intimate with vivid snapshots that Isbell fans have come to expect, but still often seem breathless in their confessional nature — such as on 'Eileen,' about a breakup where Isbell admits, 'my own behavior was a shock to me,' or on 'Gravelweed,' where the now-divorced singer-songwriter questions what his past love songs now mean. But he still ends on a lilting, lovely note with 'Wind Behind the Rain,' written as a wedding song for his brother and now-sister-in-law. — fans have long awaited her official solo debut, and with RUBY, she delivers a striking first project that radiates confidence, elegance, and empowerment. The album opens with 'Like JENNIE,' a bold statement track that introduces her unapologetic persona through blunt, self-assured lyrics. That energy carries throughout the album, with each track reinforcing the central themes and reflecting RUBY as a symbol of Jennie's artistry: rare, authentic, and multifaceted. The project effortlessly blends empowerment through femininity with her newfound creative freedom, showcasing her full control over both the sound and visual direction of her work. — KRISTEN WISNESKIAcross three full albums now, Reyez has cemented herself as a genre-bending, emotionally raw songwriter who defies categorization and instead revels in the messiness of it all — all being life, relationships, sex, therapy, trauma, recovery, family and the dizzying highs and devastating lows that come along with all of that. It metastasizes on Paid in Memories, which careens from punk to bounce to pop to soul to R&B to hip-hop to reggaetón and all the way back around, with each track showcasing her live-wire voice and her witty yet personal-to-the-point-of-painful lyricism. It's typical of a Yessie album at this point to be so diverse as to not have a single representative track to which one can point to and say, 'This is the vibe' — and at this point, that's just another part of the appeal. — and sweet, JoJo's eight-song EP didn't reinvent the modern R&B wheel but did fulfill an ever-important task: reminding listeners that her voice and pen continue to deepen in strength and versatility, and that she's quietly remained one of the genre's best for decades now. From the bumping groove of the swaggering 'Nobody' to the vulnerability of only piano and voice on 'Porcelain Reimagined,' NGL is a well-edited portrait of an artist whose name inspires squeals of 'Queen!' for good reason: this diminutive diva with formidable pipes' skill still very much speaks for itself. — REBECCA MILZOFFKali Uchis' fifth studio album is what we affectionately call 'house-cleaning music.' A new generation of kids will hear the violin and harp strings trickle down from heaven while they're half asleep on a Saturday morning and will automatically know what time it is: You know your parents don't play about this album, so get up and get to cleaning. Sincerely, is a ride and must be listened to straight through to be able to appreciate the full scope of it. The crib will be spotless by the time 'ILYSMIH' fades off into the distance. — ANGEL DIAZWith Mayhem, Lady Gaga achieved what so many veteran hitmakers set out to do but rarely accomplish – creating a brand-new album that somehow evokes the best of their earliest hits while feeling wholly original and modern, delighting casual fans and die-hards alike. Nowhere is that link between the old and new clearer than on 'Perfect Celebrity,' a flawless sequel to 2009's 'Paparazzi,' which pre-fame Gaga created before understanding just what she was signing up for in the coming years. But 'Perfect Celebrity' was written with eyes wide open ('You love to hate me,' 'I'm made of plastic like a human doll') – Lady Gaga has lived every moment of this life, and even as she fully understands all the pitfalls and dark sides of fame, she's here to be our 'Perfect Celebrity.' Fittingly for an album with a signature hit called 'Abracadabra,' Gaga pulled off a magic trick with this project. — KATIE ATKINSONEmbarking on a new romance can be equally thrilling and terrifying, perhaps even more so when it's with a dear friend and bandmate — and you're pouring it all into your solo album. Such is the case with Lucy Dacus's fourth studio album, Forever Is a Feeling, a dreamy revelation of her romantic relationship with fellow Boygenius member Julien Baker. Whether sharing her partner's physical proclivities — 'Pull me by the ankles to the edge of the bed/ And take me like you do in your dreams' — or her own long-running infatuation — 'I notice everything about you, I can't help it/ It's not a choice, it's been this way since we met' — Dacus tips her hand but doesn't overshare, keeping some details to herself. The album is musically gentler than much of her previous work, though when she finally lets the guitar rip on Forever closer 'Lost Time,' it's a cathartic payoff. — CHRISTINE WERTHMANMuch has been made of Maren Morris' decision to leave the country music industry behind, and how such a departure could affect her future in music at large. Consider Dreamsicle a resounding rebuttal to that speculation, as Morris harnesses her singular power as a versatile singer-songwriter to its full effect. The singer transforms the turbulence of her personal life into a diaristic pop masterpiece, as she crashes out in the privacy of her automobile ('Cry in the Car'), shoos a one-night stand out the door ('Bed No Breakfast') and finds her own sense of self-worth post-divorce ('Too Good'). Dreamsicle, much like its titular treat, offers something sweet and refreshing just when you need it most. — Cyrus has accomplished a tremendous amount in her now-nearly-two-decade-long career in pop music, but the one thing fans still wanted from her was an album that was undeniably more than the sum of its parts, a coherent front-to-back listen that demanded to be ingested in full. Consider that final item checked off the resumé with Something Beautiful, a spellbinding set that flows beautifully from the psych-rock power balladry of its title track to the stomping '70s soul-pop of 'Easy Lover' to the peak disco throwdown of 'Walk of Fame' and 'Reborn,' just getting richer as it goes. It hasn't produced a single anywhere near the size of 2023's culture-conquering 'Flowers,' but it doesn't have to — it's much more important for Cyrus' legacy that she has an album that no one song lives above. — a characteristically robust 37 tracks, I'm the Problem continues to offer a picture window into Wallen's late-night musings about relationships, small-town living and, yes, whiskey. And things feel especially diaristic this time around, with Wallen co-writing 22 of the songs, including the Hot 100-topping Tate McRae duet 'What I Want,' which marks his first collab with a woman and provides a much-needed female perspective to his typically navel-gazing views on love. Oh, and if you're looking for the true pinnacle of situationship songwriting, the brooding 'Just in Case' somehow makes casual dating seem romantic — because he's just keeping his bed warm while he waits for his true love to return. But the jam-packed project's ultimate love interest has to be Tennessee, spotlighted across the album – nowhere better than on the cunning 'TN,' which makes excellent use of a series of abbreviations to spell out just how forever intertwined Wallen is with his beloved home state: 'When I take my last breath, that's the dirt that they gonna bury me in/ TN.' When he takes his last breath, we also have a feeling Wallen will still be singing about women, whiskey and the Volunteer State. — Mexican singer-songwriter always finds a way to strike the perfect balance between reinventing herself without compromising her folk essence, sounding worldly while still honoring her Latin American roots. Cancionera is no exception here: a bold offering of son jarocho, tropical and ranchera music that also integrates natural sounds (courtesy of Soundwalk Collective) for an elevated listening experience. The 14-track set is a rich and nuanced musical landscape that sets up Lafourcade for another potential sweep at this year's Latin Grammys. — Choke Enough, the debut album from French singer-producer Marylou Maniel under her Oklou moniker, recalls the icy pop minimalism of Grimes, the hypnotic New Age tranquility of Enya and the experimental dance-R&B thump of FKA Twigs at different points, the synthesis of its influences is so fully realized that nothing else sounds quite like it. Part of that distinctiveness comes from Oklou's fragile yet warm vocal delivery, which is deployed at different distances — on the title track, for instance, she sounds like an echo from a wholly different song, before being shoved into the front of the mix for a breathtaking refrain. — J. LipshutzAfter a five-year layoff, Ovrkast. doled out his first full-length mixtape since 2020's Try Again with May's While the Iron Is Hot. The East Oakland rhymer dazzles over soul-grabbing samples with elastic precision on the set, shining alongside lyrical heroes Saba ('Dog Days') and Vince Staples ('Strange Ways'). Even when 'Kast is playing iso-ball, he lights up the scoreboard on standout tracks 'Spike Lee' and 'NEW ERA,' proving why he has box-office potential akin to another West Coast messiah by the name of Kendrick Lamar. — CARL LAMARREAs part of Animal Collective, Noah Lennox has spent years challenging listeners with experimental pop sounds — but in his own work as Panda Bear, Lennox's music is more like a watercolor painting, with ideas gently bleeding into each other to create the full soft-focus picture. Lennox has shown a penchant for doing more with less in his solo releases, never overcrowding his songs and letting his melodies shine, and this year's Sinister Grift feels like the pinnacle of this approach. This isn't Jimmy Buffett's beach, but the music is beachy, in the breezy, relaxed, bright sense of the word. The easygoing vibe and Lennox's eternally youthful voice hide lyrical undertones of sorrow, regret and a heavy heart that 'bends before it breaks.' Yet Lennox keeps moving, and ends the album with dukes up on 'Defense,' as he and guest Cindy Lee fight against hard times, with electric guitar becoming their Excalibur. — Glory is Perfume Genius' seventh album in 15 years, it's also his first proper studio album in five, one wrung out of pandemic-era depression. The first-blush assessment that Glory is softer and less abrasive than Mike Hadreas' previous album belies the melancholy, nostalgia, uncertainty and other overcast emotions that make up Glory's core. 'Clean Heart' is a twinkling, fragile indie pop song about what you lose and discover as time passes; 'No Front Teeth' alternates between Aldous Harding's gentle, meditative chorus and a grimy '90s alt-rock flavor; while 'Full On' brings an almost medieval musical flavor to some of his most arresting lyrics: 'I saw every quarterback crying/ Laid up on the grass/ And nodding like a violet.' — JOE LYNCHPinkPantheress polishes her Y2K sonics with carefully curated U.K. pop and dance samples and syncopated beats for her sophomore mixtape Fancy That. From the moment her featherlight vocals greet listeners with 'My name is Pink and I'm really glad to meet you' on the bubbly garage opener 'Illegal' to the thumping bassline and sweet come-ons of the Panic! At the Disco-sampling hit single 'Tonight,' the English singer-songwriter-producer beckons us to the dancefloor with reckless abandon and the alluring fantasy of a budding romance. — HERAN MAMOPlayboi Carti's MUSIC pays tribute to his Atlanta roots, earning him back to back No. 1s on the Billboard 200. Hosted by local legend Swamp Izzo, whose ad-libs echo throughout, the album celebrates Carti's rise to the top of the genre. Fusing gritty influences like Lil Wayne and Future with longtime collaborators Skepta and Lil Uzi Vert — plus huge star turns from contemporary pop A-listers Kendrick Lamar and The Weeknd — MUSIC honors Atlanta's legacy while pushing the culture forward, in true Carti fashion. — be hard pressed to find a rapper and a producer that have more chemistry than these two Griselda stalwarts. With Trainspotting, they spun off on their own to give the game a lesson on how to make a modern-era east coast street rap album, with top-tier rhymes and top-shelf beats that only the truest of aficionados can appreciate. There also may be a conversation to be had about whether or not Rome is the current King of New York, but we'll have to leave that for another day. For now, roll something meticulous and enjoy. — British singer-songwriter's debut — on which she co-wrote all 12 tracks, with collaborators like Uffie, Justin Tranter and Cobra Starship alum Ryland Blackinton — calls to mind bits of other beloved dance-pop princesses: the underground rave energy of Charli xcx, the euphoric choruses of Carly Rae Jepsen, the disco coquette purr of Kylie Minogue. But with her big voice, nonchalant humor ('all the good shit in life is always free,' she sings on explosive single 'Free') and assured approach, it's clear Gray has star power all her own. — steered her way into the hearts and playlists of R&B purists earlier this year with her 14-track set FROM FLORIDA'S FINEST. Delivering confessional-style anthems like 'DOWN BAD' & 'CUT UP,' SAILORR's candor can feel SZA-coded for new ears unfamiliar with her talents. Laced with grit, vulnerability and whimsical one-liners that are catchy but maddening to the opposite sex, the Vietnamese-bred singer issues headshots to cheaters and haters. 'BITCHES BREW' best showcases her pop sensibilities, as she takes lyrical swipes at those looking to tear her down. — U.K. has seen precious few new male rockers win over American audiences in recent years, but Sam Fender is poised to break through on these shores. With its 11 hook-laden, guitar-driven, lyrically rich tracks, People Watching has reached a respectable No. 16 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart — but in the U.K. it achieved the biggest opening week for a British solo act since Harry's House from Harry Styles in 2022. The album's title song showcases Fender's anthemic sensibility, perfectly crafted for arena singalongs. — THOM DUFFYThe prolific English funk band Sault returned with a new album less than four months after Acts of Faith, and it's one of their most compelling releases to date — full of knubby bass lines, catlike guitar riffs, stairstep horn lines, and delicately stirring vocals from lead singer Cleo Sol. 'K.T.Y.W.S.' evokes the great Deniece Williams soul ballad 'Free' with more punch, while 'I.L.T.S.' serves as a showcase for Sol, whose tricky, intricate runs keep disrupting the track's head-nod beat. 'Be yourself,' Sol sings. 'Don't apologize.' — ELIAS LEIGHTThe lore goes that back in the early 2010s, a laptop was stolen from Skrillex, with the equipment containing a stash of music intended for an album release and thereafter lost. Whether that's entirely true or not, the fact remains that the final track of Skrillex's April LP, the mighty, tear-jerky 'Voltage,' has been floating around the internet since the producer's breakout years — with the metal-bending intensity that defined Skrillex's genre-evolving early output, and vocals that evoke his even-earlier work as frontman for emo band From First to Last. The track is thus an apt closer to F*CK U SKRILLEX YOU THINK UR ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT!! <3, a pummeling 34-minute mega-mix of cobbled beats and collaborators that nods to Skrillex's earlier dubstep era and also effectively ends it, a glorious goodbye as the star producer's final album of his long tenure at Atlantic Records. — after Think Later and a top five solo hit ('Greedy'), Tate McRae still found herself on the outside looking in when it came to pop's A-list. Well, the Canadian dancing savant drove her sports car into pole position with So Close to What, joining the next class of stars shaping pop music. McRae's songwriting matured, and she made the most of elevated production to develop a clearer artistic identity with the bionic synths of 'Sports Car' and 'Revolving Door' — both of which reached the Billboard Hot 100's top 25. The 21-year-old is making the leap to performing in arenas across America later this year, and now she has the catalog to match. — great blue-eyed-soul singer began the year with a Grammy nod for best new artist and the release of his sophomore album. The punchy 'Bad Dreams,' Part 2's first single, is one of the prime shoulda-been-bigger hits of 2025. It peaked at No. 30 on the Hot 100, simply because 'Lose Control,' the megahit from Swims' first album, refused to recede. The rest of the album features Givēon (on second single 'Are You Even Real'), Muni Long, Coco Jones and GloRilla, an impressive supporting cast that just further solidifies Swims' current leading-man status. – Tesfaye bids adieu to The Weeknd and caps his final trilogy with its third and last installment, Hurry Up Tomorrow. The Canadian Ethiopian superstar reflects on the afflicting nature of fame on 'Drive,' wanting to die at his peak on the Future-assisted 'Enjoy the Show' and leaving it all on the stage on the existential, epic 'Without a Warning,' over his signature synth-pop/R&B production. With the end of the poignant album-closing title track transitioning into the beginning of 'High For This' – the opening track of his 2011 debut mixtape House of Balloons – Tesfaye brings his legendary catalog full circle. — the anthemic rock songwriting on Turnstile's 2022 album Glow On was too undeniable to be contained to the veteran Baltimore band's hardcore-punk fan base, then the experimental ethos of long-awaited follow-up Never Enough was always destined to inspire frustration from genre purists. Yet the band that mixed rap-rock, samba and cowbell breaks on Glow On has simply been given more runway to refute convention on its follow-up: Never Enough rages when necessary on songs like 'Birds,' 'Sole' and the title track, but the synth-pop of 'I Care' and extended dance groove of 'Look Out for Me' are just as compelling, and offer new shades of a band that's coming into its own on a national stage. — J. LipshutzBy the time Valiant reaches his two-year old smash 'Mad Out' at the end of Prove Them Wrong, his second full-length project, the fast-rising St. Andrew, Jamaica-hailing star has already explored hip-hop, trap-dancehall and Spanish guitar-inflected R&B, without ever sacrificing his Patois tongue or slick wordplay. Whether he's working through relationship woes on 'Selfish' or delivering an unruly anthem in the Tommy Lee Sparta-assisted 'Rapid Up,' Valiant spends Prove Them Wrong flaunting his range and versatility, ultimately giving credence to the project's title. — we're only halfway through the year, Ryan Coogler's box office-topping Sinners is already the definitive film of 2025 — and its bluesy soundtrack remains one of its biggest draws. Curated by Oscar winner Ludwig Göransson, Coogler and Serena Göransson, the Sinners soundtrack bolsters both the film's plot and general narrative of the history and influence of Black music through an exploration of Delta blues, early rock n roll, and Irish music. Anchored by stirring orchestral arrangements, true-to-history blues songwriting and Miles Caton's soaring performances on end-credits anthem 'Last Time (I Seen the Sun)' and the Raphael Saadiq-penned 'I Lied to You,' the Sinners soundtrack has cast a supernatural hold on listeners that's even lasted beyond the film's theatrical run. — her Whatever the Weather alias, English IDM producer Loraine James channels some of her most atmospheric impulses, with the conceit that every track is named after a temperature, and to some degree, reflects that temperature. Whatever the Weather II is immersive and hypnotic, like the best ambient music – but it's never monotonous, from the skittering drum tracks that undergird many of its ethereal compositions to the samples of unintelligible chatter and other sound effects that drift in and out of the mix. That unpredictability – much like the meterological phenomena from which James' project takes its name – is what makes the album endlessly rewarding, from its ruminative opening to its curveball folktronica-infused finish. — great songwriter pays tribute to another, as Nelson exquisitely covers works by Rodney Crowell on this set — released in April, just ahead of Nelson's 92nd birthday. The tracks include Crowell's classic 'Shame on the Moon,' previously a hit for Bob Seger. Above the shuffling beat of an ace studio band, with sweet hints of Nelson's picking on his vintage guitar Trigger, he and Crowell duet on the title track, a gentle reflection on the passing of time. 'It's the first and the last of your days flying past,' they sing, 'oh what a beautiful world.' — T.D. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Black America Web
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
GloRilla Drops Inspirational Video For 'Rain Down On Me'
Just two days after headlining Hot 107.9's Birthday Bash, GloRilla has dropped the music video for her track, 'Rain Down on Me!' The inspirational offering from her latest album, Glorious , features gospel mainstays Kirk Franklin, Kierra Sheard-Kelly, Chandler Moore, and Maverick City Music. Sampling Franklin's 'Melodies From Heaven,' the track was a surprise hit from Big Glo, landing at #1 on Billboard's Hot Gospel Songs chart in October 2024. It also debuted at #2 on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs chart. The track received renewed interest earlier this month when it won the 'Dr. Bobby Jones Inspirational/Gospel Award' at the 2025 BET Awards. While many fans were happy for her win, there were some gospel purists (including one notable artist) who thought that BET was 'pandering' to the rap audience by giving her the win. Either way, GloRilla has no problems showcasing the various layers of her being and expressing her gratitude for God, and we wouldn't want her to be any other way! SEE ALSO GloRilla Drops Inspirational Video For 'Rain Down On Me' was originally published on
Tom's Guide
13-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
Glorious Model D2 Pro review
Having the best gaming mouse in your arsenal is a near-necessity if you're a competitive player. The Glorious Model D2 Pro hopes to earn a spot amongst the best of the best, but it just misses out. I've tested its siblings — the Glorious Model D2 and the Glorious Model O2 — and I'd say both are better than the Model D2 Pro. Don't get me wrong: the mouse boasts 4,000Hz (wireless) or 8,000Hz (wired) polling and a maximum DPI of 26,000, lending you an edge. It also utilizes user-friendly companion software for quick and easy customization. But the Model D2 Pro isn't the cheapest mouse, and for the money, it looks and feels a little tacky. Its battery life is also short, and there's no left-handed variant or onboard dongle storage. While I haven't rated the Model D2 very highly either, I'd still recommend it over the Model D2 Pro because, at the end of the day, it doesn't feel very 'pro' and your money could be better spent elsewhere — even on the Model O2, really. For the complete breakdown, read my full Glorious Model D2 Pro review. Specs Glorious Model D2 Pro Price $129 / £119 Max DPI 26,000 Polling rate 1,000Hz / 4,000Hz / 8,000Hz Buttons Six Size 5 x 2.63 x 1.65 inches Weight 2.25oz Colors Black, White Body material Plastic Design Right-handed symmetrical Operating system macOS, Windows Connectivity 2.4GHz dongle, wired Battery Rechargeable Battery life (rated) 80 hours (1,000Hz), 35 hours (4,000Hz) Lighting None The Glorious Model D2 Pro is lightweight and (fairly) comfortable, and offers up to 8,000Hz polling for competitive gaming. Much like its cheaper family members, the Glorious Model D2 ($99) and the Glorious Model O2 ($99), both of which I personally reviewed for Tom's Guide, the Glorious Model D2 Pro is a very lightweight mouse, weighing just 2.25oz. In fact, it's even lighter than the two aforementioned rodents: the Model D2 weighs 2.32oz while the Model O2 weighs 2.39oz. The Model D2 Pro is a comfortable mouse, too. It measures 5 x 2.63 x 1.65 inches, so it's great for those with medium-sized hands like mine. As Glorious claims, the mouse is comfy to use with either a palm or claw grip — both work well for me. I also like how wide the left- and right-click buttons are, as they give my fingers enough room to spread out as and when needed. Overall, the Model D2 Pro is fairly comfortable, but I wish its textured body felt softer under my touch, although I'll discuss that in detail later. There are two models of the Glorious Model D2 Pro available, both of which boast different polling rates. The 1,000Hz model, which is good for casual gaming, costs $99, while the 4,000Hz-8,000Hz model costs $129 / £119, making it ideal for competitive gamers and esports players. Not everyone necessarily needs 8K polling. But if you're an aspiring or established professional, or a highly competitive player, the Model D2 Pro's 8,000Hz polling will ensure there are zero latency issues, giving you a potential edge. The Glorious Model D2 Pro's 8,000Hz polling rate means latency issues are a thing of the past, and I didn't notice any in my testing. The Model D2 Pro utilizes the Glorious BAMF 2.0 sensor to deliver a maximum DPI of 26,000 — the same as the Model O2 and the Model D2. The excellent Fnatic x Lamzu Maya 8K ($119), for comparison, has a maximum DPI of 30,000. But let's be honest, 26,000 is still plenty. Located right behind the left- and right-click buttons is a dedicated DPI button which lets you cycle through four presets (as opposed to six on the Model D2). I love a good DPI button as it lets me quickly swap between a low and high DPI, depending on the game, without having to dive into the companion software. I played a few games to test the Model D2 Pro and it reigned supreme throughout. When using a sniper rifle in Counter-Strike 2 or aiming at an assassination target surrounded by bodyguards in Hitman, I dropped to a low DPI of 400 to fine-tune my movements. Slowing down helped me aim more accurately, and I could execute precise headshots. Pressing the button thrice right after taking headshots let me achieve a higher DPI of 10,000. In Hitman, I could then sprint towards the bodyguards as they drew their guns and shoot them with my rifle, taking several out within a matter of mere seconds. The Model D2 Pro's textured scroll wheel is also highly responsive, making quick work of scrolling through large, crowded inventories in titles like Baldur's Gate 3 (yes, I'm a hoarder who picks up every single item). Overall, the Model D2 Pro is a fantastic mouse for both competitive and casual gaming. You'll need to use Glorious Core software on your Windows machine to customize the Glorious Model D2 Pro. While the mouse works well on macOS machines, the software isn't available on Apple devices (yet). Glorious Core is a no-frills software that sports a clean UI, and it makes customizing the Model D2 Pro very easy. Here, I could quickly set two different polling rates for wired (up to 8,000Hz) and wireless (up to 4,000Hz), assign different values to the dedicated DPI button, adjust the advanced debounce settings and more. The Model D2 Pro's internal memory can also store up to three custom profiles. Unfortunately, the Glorious Model D2 Pro looks cheap, has no onboard dongle storage or left-handed model and its battery life is short, too. If you've followed my coverage of mice at Tom's Guide, you'll know that it always frustrates me when a mouse doesn't have a left-handed variant. Even though I myself am not left-handed, my job is to ensure you're spending your money well. Just like the Glorious Model D2, the Glorious Model D2 Pro is designed for right-handed folks only thanks to the placement of the side buttons. Left-handed people are limited in choice, unfortunately. I recommend picking up the Razer Viper 8KHz ($57), which features, as the name suggests, 8,000Hz polling and buttons along the mouse's right-hand edge. Controversial opinion: I believe that any mouse that comes with a 2.4GHz dongle should have a slot on its body to store the dongle when you're traveling or not using the mouse. You don't want to lose it, as more often than not brands don't sell replacements. The Glorious Model D2 Pro suffers from this issue, just like the cheaper Glorious Model D2. The Model D2 Pro's dongle needs to be plugged into your laptop or computer via a USB-C cable to achieve 4,000Hz polling over a wireless connection. The dongle is bigger than the ones I've seen on most other mice, so I can understand that, realistically, Glorious wouldn't have been able to slot it into the mouse. Still annoying, though. I'm no stranger to lackluster mice, having tested the likes of the Cherry XTRFY M50 ($69) and the Lemokey G1's ($64), and there's nothing wrong with a minimalist design — in fact, I prefer it over honeycomb/perforated mice. The Glorious Model D2 Pro also sports a no-frills design, but it looks and feels cheap, and that's not what you want from a mouse costing $129. The plastic used in the Model D2 Pro construction doesn't scream 'pro' to me, as it isn't soft to touch. My ideal mouse is the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 ($159), but I also appreciate that it's $30 pricier than the Model D2 Pro. I'd recommend the Fnatic x Lamzu Maya 8K ($119) for its soft shell design and fantastic performance. Gaming with 4,000Hz or 8,000Hz polling can be a drain on system resources and a device's battery life, so chances are you'll use the Glorious Model D2 Pro while plugged in. But what if you want to play wirelessly? 4K polling can be achieved over a 2.4GHz wireless connection, of course. The bad news is that the Model D2 Pro's battery life is fairly (and annoyingly) short. When using the mouse with the polling rate set to 1,000Hz, a single charge yields 80 hours of play time. This drastically drops to a measly 35 hours when playing over 4,000Hz. There's also no warning lights when the battery is about to die, so the mouse might turn off in the middle of an important boss fight. Frustrating, infuriating, all the synonyms. If you want longer battery life, it's worth spending some extra money on the Cherry M68 Pro ($139), whose battery life can last up to 90 hours at 1,000Hz and, in our testing, 'drained incredibly slowly.' Or, if you want to save some money, the Lemokey G1's battery life when using 8,000Hz polling is better than the Model D2 Pro's at 40 hours. The Glorious Model D2 Pro is a good gaming mouse if you're right-handed and not short on money. It boasts 4,000Hz polling over a 2.4GHz dongle and 8,000Hz over a wired connection. It's got a maximum DPI of 26,000, too, giving you an edge in competitive gaming. Also, customizing the mouse is a walk in the park, thanks to the user-friendly companion software. However, the mouse doesn't come cheap, and there's no left-handed version. I'm also not a fan of the cheap-looking and cheap-feeling plastic used in its construction. The battery life isn't anything to write home about either. I believe mice like the Fnatic x Lamzu Maya 8K and the Cherry M68 Pro offer better value for money. The Model D2 Pro faces fierce competition and, alas, doesn't do enough to taste glory.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx among honorees at 2025 BET Awards: Full winners list (updating live)
The 2025 BET Awards, hosted by Kevin Hart, took center stage Monday night to honor Black excellence across music, film, television, and sports. Dubbed "Culture's Biggest Night," the star-studded event showcased the best of the best in creative achievement. Heading into the ceremony, Kendrick Lamar led the nominations with an impressive 10 nods, including Album of the Year for GNX, Video of the Year, Viewer's Choice Award, Best Collaboration, Video Director of the Year, and Best Male Hip Hop Artist. Close behind were Doechii, Drake, Future, and GloRilla, each receiving six nominations. Metro Boomin came in with five bids, while SZA and The Weeknd tied with four nominations apiece. More from GoldDerby Billy Bob Thornton on 'Landman's' overnight 'international hit' status and how he's 'afraid' to read reviews 'Sly Stone was way ahead of the game': Questlove explains the 'genius' legacy of the late funk-rock master Pickleball, punchlines, and personal growth: 'Hacks' stars Megan Stalter and Paul W. Downs on their bond and what's next Lamar's fellow Album of the Year nominees are Chris Brown for 11:11 (Deluxe), Doechii for Alligator Bites Never Heal, Beyoncé for Cowboy Carter, GloRilla for Glorious, the Weeknd for Hurry Up Tomorrow, Drake and PartyNextDoor for Some Sexy Songs 4 U, and Future and Metro Boomin for We Don't Trust You. The eight films nominated for Best Movie are Bad Boys: Ride or Die, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Luther: Never Too Much, Mufasa: The Lion King, One of Them Days, Rebel Ridge, The Piano Lesson, and The Six Triple Eight. Adding to the night's celebration, BET previously announced that Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dogg, and Kirk Franklin will receive the prestigious BET Ultimate Icon Award. The honor recognizes their decades of groundbreaking contributions to music, entertainment, advocacy, and community impact. The 25th annual BET Awards will air live on BET from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles at 8 p.m. ET/PT. See the full list of 2025 BET Awards winners below. ALBUM OF THE YEAR 11:11 (Deluxe) — Chris Brown Alligator Bites Never Heal — Doechii Cowboy Carter — Beyoncé Glorious — GloRilla GNX — Kendrick Lamar Hurry Up Tomorrow — The Weeknd Some Sexy Songs 4 U — Drake and PartyNextDoor We Don't Trust You — Future and Metro Boomin VIDEO OF THE YEAR '3AM in Tokeyo' — Key Glock 'A Bar Song (Tipsy)' — Shaboozey 'After Hours' — Kehlani 'Denial Is a River' — Doechii 'Family Matters' — Drake 'Not Like Us' — Kendrick Lamar 'Timeless' — The Weeknd featuring Playboi Carti 'Type Shit' — Future and Metro Boomin featuring Travis Scott and Playboi Carti VIEWER'S CHOICE AWARD 'Residuals — Chris Brown 'Denial Is a River — Doechii Nokia — Drake 'Like That — Future and Metro Boomin featuring Kendrick Lamar 'TGIF — GloRilla 'Not Like Us — Kendrick Lamar 'Luther — Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA 'Brokey — Latto BEST COLLABORATION '30 for 30' — SZA featuring Kendrick Lamar 'Alter Ego' — Doechii featuring JT 'Are You Even Real' — Teddy Swims featuring Giveon 'Beckham' — Dee Billz featuring Kyle Richh, Kai Swervo and KJ Swervo 'Bless' — Lil Wayne, Wheezy and Young Thug 'Like That' — Future and Metro Boomin featuring Kendrick Lamar 'Luther' — Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA 'Sticky' — Tyler, the Creator featuring GloRilla, Sexyy Red and Lil Wayne 'Timeless' — The Weeknd featuring Playboi Carti BEST MALE R&B/POP ARTIST Bruno Mars Chris Brown Drake Fridayy Leon Thomas III Teddy Swims The Weeknd Usher BEST FEMALE R&B/POP ARTIST Ari Lennox Ayra Starr Coco Jones Kehlani Muni Long Summer Walker SZA Victoria Monét BEST FEMALE HIP HOP ARTIST Cardi B Doechii Doja Cat GloRilla Latto Megan Thee Stallion Nicki Minaj Rapsody Sexyy Red BEST MALE HIP HOP ARTIST BigXthaPlug Bossman Dlow Burna Boy Drake Future Kendrick Lamar Key Glock Lil Wayne Tyler, the Creator BEST NEW ARTIST 41 Ayra Starr BigXthaPlug Bossman Dlow Dee Billz Leon Thomas III October London Shaboozey Teddy Swims BEST GROUP 41 Common and Pete Rock Drake and PartyNextDoor Flo Future and Metro Boomin Jacquees and Dej Loaf Larry June, 2 Chainz and the Alchemist Maverick City Music BET HER AWARD Beautiful People — Mary J. Blige Blackbiird — Beyoncé Bloom — Doechii Defying Gravity — Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande Heart of a Woman — Summer Walker Hold On — Tems In My Bag — Flo and GloRilla VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR Anderson .Paak B Pace Productions and Jacquees Benny Boom Cactus Jack Cole Bennett Dave Free and Kendrick Lamar Dave Meyers Foggieraw Tyler, the Creator BEST GOSPEL/INSPIRATIONAL AWARD 'A God (There Is)' — Common and Pete Rock Feat. Jennifer Hudson 'Amen' — Pastor Mike Jr. 'Better Days' — Fridayy 'Church Doors' — Yolanda Adams Feat. Sir The Baptist and Donald Lawrence (Terry Hunter Remix) 'Constant' — Maverick City Music, Jordin Sparks, Chandler Moore and Anthony Gargiula 'Deserve to Win' — Tamela Mann 'Faith' — Rapsody 'Rain Down on Me' — Glorilla Feat. Kirk Franklin, Maverick City Music BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT Any Gabrielly (Brazil) Ayra Starr (Nigeria) Bashy (United Kingdom) Black Sherif (Ghana) Ezra Collective (United Kingdom) Joé Dwèt Filé (France) Mc Luanna (Brazil) Rema (Nigeria) Sdm (France) Tyla (South Africa) Uncle Waffles (Swaziland) BEST NEW INTERNATIONAL ACT Abigail Chams (Tanzania) Ajuliacosta (Brazil) Amabbi (Brazil) Dlala Thukzin (South Africa) Dr Yaro (France) Kwn (United Kingdom) Maglera Doe Boy (South Africa) Merveille (France) Odeal (United Kingdom) Shallipopi (Nigeria) Txc (South Africa) BEST MOVIE Bad Boys: Ride or Die Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F Luther: Never Too Much Mufasa: The Lion King One of Them Days Rebel Ridge The Piano Lesson The Six Triple Eight BEST ACTOR Aaron Pierre Aldis Hodge Anthony Mackie Colman Domingo Denzel Washington Jamie Foxx Joey Bada$$ Kevin Hart Sterling K. Brown Will Smith BEST ACTRESS Andra Day Angela Bassett Coco Jones Cynthia Erivo Keke Palmer Kerry Washington Quinta Brunson Viola Davis Zendaya YOUNG STARS AWARD Akira Akbar Blue Ivy Carter Graceyn 'Gracie' Hollingsworth Heiress Harris Melody Hurd Thaddeus J. Mixson Tyrik Johnson Vanvan SPORTSWOMAN OF THE YEAR A'ja Wilson Angel Reese Claressa Shields Coco Gauff Dawn Staley Flau'jae Johnson JuJu Watkins Sha'Carri Richardson Simone Biles SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR Aaron Judge Anthony Edwards Deion Sanders Jalen Hurts Jayson Tatum LeBron James Saquon Barkley Stephen Curry SIGN UP for Gold Derby's free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby Brandon Scott Jones on CBS' 'Ghosts': 'I enjoy playing characters that are desperate' 'She's got tunnel vision': Wendi McLendon-Covey reveals what she loves most about her character Joyce on 'St. Denis Medical' Marlon Wayans on laughing through tragedy in 'Good Grief' and why social media has made comedy 'toxic' Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Here Are the Performers & Presenters for 2025 BET Awards
BET has enlisted top talent to appear on its 25th annual BET Awards show, which will air live from Peacock Theatre at L.A. Live in Los Angeles on Monday, June 9, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET. Comedian Kevin Hart is set to host the show. It's his second time fronting the ceremony, having previously hosted in 2011. More from Billboard Kendrick Lamar Leads 2025 BET Awards Nominees With 10 Nods Jon Bellion Was Tired of Songwriters Getting 'Paid F-king Dirt' - So He Flipped the Script With 'Father Figure' Elvis Crespo, Elena Rose, Kapo & More: Vote for the Best New Latin Music This Week Lil Wayne, Teyana Taylor, GloRilla, Playboi Carti and Leon Thomas are set to perform. GloRilla is one of this year's leading nominees, with six nominations, including album of the year for Glorious. Playboi Carti has one of the most successful albums of 2025; Music (which was released after the eligibility period for the 2025 BET Awards ended) topped the Billboard 200 for three weeks in March and April. Four top stars — Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx, Snoop Dogg and Kirk Franklin — are set to receive the Ultimate Icon Award. Living legend Stevie Wonder joins the list of presenters and participants, along with Busta Rhymes, Ciara, Quinta Brunson, Kerry Washington, Keke Palmer and more, Billboard can exclusively reveal. Other participants include Tyler Perry and LeToya Luckett-Coles and Devon Franklin from the cast of Divorced Sistas, a spinoff of the BET comedy series Sistas. The spinoff is set to premiere on BET+ on June 10. As previously announced, BET will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the launch of its music video countdown show 106 & Park with a special tribute. 106 & Park aired on BET from 2000-14. There are reports that a reboot of the show will premiere by September. Kendrick Lamar leads the 2025 BET Awards nominations with 10 nods. Doechii, Drake, Future and GloRilla are tied with six nominations, Metro Boomin earned five, and SZA and The Weeknd are tied with four each. Connie Orlando — evp of specials, music programming and music strategy at BET — serves as the executive producer for BET Awards 2025, with Jamal Noisette, svp of tentpoles and music community engagement, for BET. Jesse Collins Entertainment is the production company for the show, with Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay also serving as executive producers. Lil Wayne Teyana Taylor GloRilla Playboi Carti Leon Thomas Mariah Carey Jamie Foxx Snoop Dogg Kirk Franklin LeToya Luckett-Coles (Divorced Sistas) Devon Franklin (Divorced Sistas) Tyler Perry Keshia Chante (106&Park Tribute) Terrence J (106&Park Tribute) Free (106&Park Tribute) Julissa Bermudez (106&Park Tribute) DC YoungFly Big Tigger (106&Park Tribute) Crystal Renee Busta Rhymes Ciara Tyler James Williams Quinta Brunson Drew Sidora (Cast of Run) Marques Houston (Cast of Run) Annie ilonzeh (Cast of Run) Erika Pinkett (Cast of Run) Erica Mena (Cast of Run) Ken Lawson (Cast of Run) Claudia Jordan (Cast of Run) Kerry Washington Deon Cole Druski Kai Cenat Mariah the Scientist Keke Palmer LaLa Anthony Diamond White T.I.P. Xavier Smalls Ashley Nicole Moss Cam Newton Stevie Wonder Tichina Arnold Tisha Campbell Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
