Trevor Noah to host 2025 Grammy Awards for the fifth year in a row, Chris Brown sues Warner Bros. Discovery for $500 million over docuseries, Lewis Hamilton takes his first test in Ferrari F1 car at Fiorano. Stay in the know with our Rave News Digest, which summarizes five of the hottest global news stories you need to catch up on, saving you time and energy. Consider it your daily news fix.
1. Trevor Noah to host the 2025 Grammy Awards for the fifth year in a row
Trevor Noah to Host 2025 Grammy Awards, Where He Is Also a Nomineehttps://t.co/YhZvN3jFo4
— billboard (@billboard) January 21, 2025
South African comedian Trevor Noah will make Grammy history as he returns to host the 67th Grammy Awards for the fifth year in a row. The prestigious event is scheduled for February 2, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, despite the city’s recent struggles with devastating wildfires. This year’s ceremony will not only celebrate musical excellence but also focus on supporting wildfire relief efforts and honoring first responders. In a joint press release, The Recording Academy and CBS announced a $1 million pledge to aid individuals in the music industry and launched the Los Angeles Fire Relief Effort to assist those affected.
Trevor Noah’s fifth consecutive stint as host of the Grammy Awards solidifies his unique legacy, making him the first comedian to achieve this milestone. While Noah is no stranger to the pressure of performing for music’s biggest names, he humorously acknowledged the challenge of entertaining icons like Beyoncé, emphasizing the high stakes of hosting the Grammys. This year, Noah also wears the hat of a producer for the live show, all while being nominated for Best Comedy Album for his Netflix special “Where Was I.” The ceremony promises a star-studded night, with Beyoncé leading the nominations for her album “Cowboy Carter” and notable nods for Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift. Fans worldwide eagerly anticipate the celebration of music, resilience, and community.
2. Chris Brown sues Warner Bros. Discovery for $500 million over docuseries
Chris Brown is suing Warner Bros. for $500 million, alleging he’s being falsely labeled as a serial rapist and abuser in their docuseries ‘Chris Brown: A History of Violence.’ pic.twitter.com/YGt9p4yTTp
— Pop Base (@PopBase) January 22, 2025
Grammy-winning artist Chris Brown has filed a $500 million lawsuit against Warner Bros. Discovery, accusing the company of defamation following the release of “Chris Brown: A History of Violence” which aired on Investigation Discovery on October 27, 2024. The series highlights allegations of sexual abuse that Brown denies, calling them false and damaging. In court documents, Brown cited evidence disproving claims made in the series, including allegations by a Jane Doe, whose 2020 rape case against him was dismissed after inconsistencies emerged.
Brown criticized the series for harming his career and reputation, undoing years of efforts to rebuild his image after his 2009 assault case involving Rihanna. He claims the defamation has resulted in lost business opportunities and irreparable damage to his livelihood. Brown also announced plans to donate a portion of any settlement to support victims of sexual abuse. Warner Bros. Discovery has yet to respond to the lawsuit.
3. Ruger teases collaboration with Zlatan ahead of new album
Ruger × Zlatan got one 🔥😮💨 pic.twitter.com/L2wsdEe4q6
— Episode77 Africa (@episode77africa) January 21, 2025
Nigerian music star Ruger has thrilled fans with a teaser of his upcoming collaboration with rapper Zlatan. He shared a glimpse of the track on his Instagram story, hinting it will feature on his sophomore album, “Blown Boy,” set for release in March. Ruger praised Zlatan’s verse on his X account, calling it “incredible.” The announcement follows the release of Ruger’s singles “Luv Again” and “Make Way,” building anticipation for the new album.
“Blown Boy” is Ruger’s second release since leaving Jonzing World in 2023 to launch his Blown Boy imprint. The album follows his 2024 joint project “RnB” with BNXN, a collaboration that showcased their chemistry. Since his breakout in 2020 with the “Pandemic” EP, Ruger has established himself as a force in Afrobeats, blending Dancehall and R&B with Afrobeats. With hits like “Bounce” and “Asiwaju,” he has solidified his place as one of the genre’s most versatile stars.
4. Kanye West teases daughter North’s “Elementary School Dropout” album
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Kanye West is stepping back into the studio, this time as a proud dad and producer for his 11-year-old daughter, North West, who is working on her debut album, “Elementary School Dropout.” On Monday, January 20, the 24-time Grammy winner shared a glimpse into their creative process via Instagram, posting photos of North at a keyboard dressed in vintage polo attire. “This little girl made me love music again 🥲,” West wrote, revealing he’s crafting beats on his ASR-10 specifically for her album, which includes tracks like “Talking” and “Bomb.”
North, who made her Hollywood Bowl debut during The Lion King’s 30th anniversary last May, is receiving guidance from family collaborator WRLDFMS Tony Williams. A second Instagram post titled “TRAINING 2.0” showed North heading to a makeshift studio with Williams. The project marks a new chapter for Kanye, who credited North with reigniting his passion for music after announcing the album during the “Vultures 2” listening party last year. Fans eagerly await the father-daughter duo’s creative collaboration.
5. Lewis Hamilton takes his first test in a Ferrari F1 car at Fiorano
Lewis Hamilton drives a Ferrari F1 car for the first time at his new team’s test track in Italy 🔴 pic.twitter.com/5Qbt1jcsSN
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) January 22, 2025
Lewis Hamilton has completed his first test in a Ferrari Formula 1 car at the team’s Fiorano test track, marking a significant step in his transition to Ferrari. The seven-time world champion, who joined Ferrari after an illustrious career with Mercedes, drove a 2023 Ferrari F1 car on Wednesday as part of his acclimatization with his new team. The test followed two days of work at Ferrari’s Maranello factory, with Hamilton’s running finishing by 11:00 local time. The test was conducted in typical cold and foggy conditions at Fiorano, with crowds of fans gathering to catch a glimpse of the F1 icon behind the wheel of the famous red car.
Hamilton’s test will help him familiarize himself with Ferrari’s engine and establish working relationships with his race engineer, Riccardo Adami. Adami, who has previously worked with Carlos Sainz and Sebastian Vettel, will guide Hamilton as he adapts to Ferrari’s complex engine and performance modes. Under F1’s regulations, Hamilton is limited to 1,000km of testing with previous cars, but his time behind the wheel will be crucial for him to adjust to Ferrari’s distinct engine software and cockpit control systems. Hamilton is also set to continue testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya before the team’s 2025 model debut on February 19.
Featured Image: White House Correspondence Association
Our Weekday News Digest summarizes five of the hottest news topics worldwide–including celebrity news from Hollywood to Nollywood, the latest trending global headlines from American reports to top African news today, and the best sports stories in 2024.
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