Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs to Receive Global Icon Award and Perform at MTV’s VMAs

Today, MTV has announced that Sean “Diddy” Combs will be honored with the prestigious Global Icon Award at this year’s Video Music Awards. Set to be broadcast live from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on September 12 at 8 p.m. ET, this event holds special significance for the music mogul as it marks his first live performance on the VMAs stage since 2005.

Introduced in 2021, the Global Icon Award has become MTV’s highest recognition for artists whose influence transcends borders. The “Gotta Move On” maestro is set to join the ranks of past recipients, including Foo Fighters and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Early in his career, Diddy was known as the visionary behind the inception of Bad Boy Records in 1993. Today, he has not only nurtured legendary talents like the late Notorious B.I.G. but has also excelled as an artist in his own right. Diddy’s discography boasts two No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 chart and five chart-topping singles on the Hot 100.

Adding to the excitement, Diddy’s forthcoming album, “The Love Album: Off the Grid,” is scheduled to drop just days after his appearance at the VMAs. The album will feature collaborations with Jazmine Sullivan, Summer Walker, Ty Dolla $ign, Coco Jones, Mary J. Blige, and many others. It was also recently revealed that The Weeknd will make his final guest appearance on the LP.

This year, the New York native has received four VMA nominations. His tracks “Creepin’ (Remix)” featuring Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, and 21 Savage, and “Gotta Move On (Queens Remix)” with Bryson Tiller, Ashanti, and Yung Miami are both competing in the Best Collaboration category. Additionally, the former is up for Best R&B, while the latter is nominated for Best Hip Hop.

Diddy’s history with MTV dates back to 1997 when he graced the MTV stage with a touching tribute to Biggie just months after the legendary rapper’s tragic passing. He even hosted the Video Music Awards and the Europe Music Awards in the early 2000s. His return to the VMAs this time coincides with rumors of a special 50th-anniversary salute to hip hop.