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Travis Scott Returns to the Stage at Billboard Music Awards

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Six months after the Astroworld tragedy, Travis Scott returned to the stage at Sunday’s Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas.

Following an introduction from Diddy and French Montana, the Houston rapper performed “Mafia,” one of two songs he dropped last year, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Wearing fur pants and wraparound sunglasses, he transported viewers to the Alps during his icy performance.

Joined by a DJ and model Jazelle, La Flame also gave fans a peak into Utopia with an unreleased song called “Lost Forever,” for which snippets previously leaked online.

Earlier in the evening, Travis hit the red carpet with Kylie Jenner and their daughter Stormi.

This marks his first awards show performance since the Astroworld Festival in November, which resulted in 10 deaths. Travis, who previously performed at a paid gig during Race Week in Miami, is slated to headline the Primavera Sound festivals in South America this November.

Travis appears to be in comeback mode as he readies his long-awaited album Utopia. Last month, he teamed up with Future on Southside’s single “Hold That Heat.”

Mary J. Blige Receives Icon Award at Billboard Music Awards

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All hail the queen.

Mary J. Blige was in the spot as she received the Icon Award at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas on Sunday. Janet Jackson made a surprise appearance to present the award to her friend.

“Mary J. Blige represents truth. Her work has always given us comfort because she sings me, she sings you,” said Janet.

During the video montage, more of Mary’s friends and collaborators shared tributes including H.E.R., Kiana Ledé, Ella Mai, Taraji P. Henson, Queen Latifah, and Missy Elliott.

With Diddy holding her hand, the icon herself took the stage to accept the award in a stunning cutout dress. “I’m in a dream right now,” she said.

Mary, who has sold 75 million albums throughout her career, reflected on her journey to becoming the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul after Andre Harrell and Diddy signed her to Uptown Records in 1991.

“It was the beginning of a movement. Every inner city girl was recognizing their own and could relate to everything I was saying,” she said. “Every female artist that came into the game wanted to do everything I was doing and still does to this day.”

In addition to thanking the late Andre Harrell, Diddy (“one of my biggest inspirations”), and her fans, Mary said she realized her greatest gift of all, self love.

“I finally found that real love and that real love is me,” she said.