Jermaine Dupri hit the 2025 MTV VMAs carpet with high hopes for Black performers, but like many online, he couldn’t help but notice the “lack” of Black talent represented on stage. While Doja Cat delivered a performance, and honorees Mariah Carey and Busta Rhymes got their well-deserved flowers, Dupri still felt the show was missing more of the culture’s heavy-hitters.
“The vmas is showing how black ppl are being pushed out of the mainstream. They gave 12 random white people main stage slots and no black artists…. And no the legend tributes dont count!,” wrote one viewer on X.
While speaking with VIBE on the red carpet, the So So Def mogul expressed his admiration for Mariah and Busta before naming a few stars he’d love to see grace the VMAs stage again — including Chris Brown, Beyoncé, and Usher. He also stressed the importance of highlighting the Black artists who’ve contributed to MTV’s legacy and deserve a spot on that stage year after year.
“I think all the Black artists, they need to come back, you know what I mean? That’s what I’m seeing a lack of in here tonight.”
Watch below.
In addition to the scarcity of Black performers, presenters included Ciara, Ice Spice, and Latto.
As far as nominees, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, Playboi Carti, Doechii, Beyoncé, Shaboozey, Ayra Starr, Lay Bankz, Jordan Adetunji, Leon Thomas, SZA, Chris Brown, Freddie Gibbs, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Asake, Travis Scott, Burna Boy, MOLIY, Skillibeng, Shenseea, Rema, Tems, Wizkid, Brent Faiyaz and BigXthaPlug were all up for awards.
However, only Doja Cat, Mariah Carey, and Tyla took home a Moonman. Busta Rhymes also left with the first-ever Rock The Bells Visionary Award, presented by LL Cool J. Carey received the 2025 Vanguard honor.
Speaking of the latter, Dupri recalled the first time he met Mariah. “She came to the studio and she brought me the Wu-Tang record ‘Cream,’ and she was like, ‘This is what I wanna sing over,’ and I was like, what the f**k. I wasn’t prepared for that. I didn’t actually know why she chose to work with me, but I wasn’t prepared for that and I learned that day who she was.”
Recognizing Busta’s creativity and influence, Dupri added, “Just watching him find his video directing partner with Hype [Williams] and how they took videos from this place to that place. I feel like that award is late for Busta because he gave this station a lot of content that nobody else was given,” he said.
Take a look above to see Jermaine Dupri speak on the 2025 VMAs.
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