Kendrick Lamar leads American Music Awards (AMA) nominations with 10 nods, 2Face Idibia given political appointment in Benue, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo ranked among the highest paid athletes of all time. 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.
Here is a rundown of five of the hottest news topics…
1. Kendrick Lamar leads American Music Awards (AMA) nominations with 10 nods
Kendrick Lamar leads the 2025 American Music Awards with 10 nominations 🔥
He’s up for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year — and he snagged three of the five spots for favorite hip-hop song 👑
Post Malone follows with eight nods, while Billie Eilish,… pic.twitter.com/o4rESN572M
— billboard hip-hop/r&b (@billboardhiphop) April 23, 2025
The nominees for the 51st American Music Awards (AMA) have been revealed, and Kendrick Lamar has emerged as the clear frontrunner, racking up a staggering 10 nominations—the most of any artist this year. Among the standout categories he’s recognized in are Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, for his critically acclaimed “GNX,” and Song of the Year for his explosive chart-topper “Not Like Us.” Lamar also dominates the Favorite Hip-Hop Song category, scoring three of the five available spots with “Not Like Us,” “Like That” (with Future and Metro Boomin), and “Luther” featuring SZA.
Already a three-time AMA winner, Lamar’s sweep of the nominations cements a historic year for the rapper, coming off the heels of his groundbreaking success at the 67th Grammy Awards, where he became only the second Hip-Hop artist to win both Song and Record of the Year. Other top contenders this year include Post Malone with eight nods, Shaboozey with seven, and SZA, Bruno Mars, and Taylor Swift—an all-time AMA record-holder—each with six. The 51st AMAs promise a thrilling showdown, but all eyes will be on Lamar as he continues his reign at the top of the music industry.
2. 2Face Idibia given political appointment in Benue
VIDEO: Moment Benue gov appoints 2baba as technical adviser
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has appointed renowned musician Innocent Ujah Idibia, popularly known as 2Face or 2Baba, as his Technical Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach.
The announcement… pic.twitter.com/qWUqjywl1b
— The Nation Nigeria (@TheNationNews) April 23, 2025
Nigerian music icon 2Face Idibia has been appointed as the Technical Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach to the Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia. The announcement was made during the singer’s visit to the Government House in Makurdi, where the governor praised 2Face’s consistent support of his administration. Governor Alia emphasized the singer’s influence and potential to impact lives positively, noting that the appointment was also in recognition of 2Face’s endorsement for his 2027 campaign.
The appointment adds to 2Face’s deepening ties with his home state, Benue. Hailing from Okpokwu Local Government Area, the artist recently introduced his fiancée, Hon. Natasha Osawaru, to the Idoma traditional council during the Idoma Nation Peace and Unity Symposium at the Och’Idoma Palace in Otukpo. The couple later traveled to Okpokwu to meet with elders and seek their blessings, reflecting 2Face’s growing commitment to his roots and community development.
3. Pope Francis lies in state in open casket at St. Peter’s Basilica as Catholics line up to pay their respects
Thousands of mourners witnessed the body of Pope Francis being moved through St. Peter’s Square and into St. Peter’s Basilica, where it will lie in state for three days until his funeral. CNN’s Anderson Cooper reports from Vatican City. pic.twitter.com/RCIVydca7A
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) April 23, 2025
A solemn wave of mourning has swept through the Vatican as thousands of Catholics gather to pay their final respects to Pope Francis, who passed away earlier this week. His body, carried from the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta—his Vatican residence—was placed in an open casket inside St. Peter’s Basilica early Wednesday morning. The quiet yet powerful procession through St. Peter’s Square began at 9:00 a.m. local time and lasted just under 40 minutes, with over 20,000 mourners present, according to the Vatican. As his coffin ascended the steps into the Basilica, the crowd responded with soft, reverent applause.
The late pontiff will lie in state for three days, with the public invited to file past the open casket beginning at 11:00 a.m. daily. Comparisons have already been drawn to the 2022 passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, which saw similar massive turnouts. Pope Francis’s funeral will take place on Saturday, April 26, with world leaders in attendance, including U.S. President Donald Trump and Prince William, representing the British royal family. After the funeral, the beloved pope will be laid to rest at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, his favored place of worship in Rome.
4. Tyla leads AMAs 2025 nominations for African artists
Tyla has been nominated at the 2025 American Awards for #AMAs:
-Favourite Female R&B Artist
-Favourite Afrobeats Artist🔗 Vote now : https://t.co/HnfE0kpzJg pic.twitter.com/r69xnCZQMT
— Tygers Access (@TygersAccess) April 23, 2025
South African music sensation Tyla has emerged as the most-nominated African artist at the 2025 American Music Awards (AMAs). Following the official announcement of this year’s nominees, Tyla secured two nominations in the R&B and Afrobeats categories, setting her apart from her peers and solidifying her growing international acclaim. This recognition reflects her remarkable run over the past year, during which she has continued to break boundaries and gain global recognition for her unique sound and style.
Other African stars also making waves include Wizkid, Rema, Tems, and Asake, each receiving a nomination in the Favorite Afrobeats Artist category. Their inclusion highlights the growing influence of African music on the global stage and the AMAs’ increasing acknowledgment of Afrobeats as a powerful cultural export. The 2025 edition of the AMAs is shaping up to be a historic one for African representation, with Tyla leading the charge.
5. Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo ranked among the highest-paid athletes of all time
Michael Jordan remains untouchable—on and off the court.
The GOAT tops @Sportico’s all-time list of highest-paid athletes with a staggering $4.15 billion in inflation-adjusted earnings. In 2024 alone, MJ pulled in $300 million, largely from Nike, whose Jordan Brand generated $7… pic.twitter.com/c7F9ohQrYo
— Boardroom (@boardroom) April 22, 2025
Soccer legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have once again made headlines, this time for their staggering career earnings. According to Sportico, Ronaldo ranks third on the all-time list of highest-paid athletes with an estimated $1.83 billion in total earnings, while Messi follows closely in fifth place with $1.49 billion. The list includes income from salaries and sponsorships but excludes investment returns. NBA icon Michael Jordan tops the rankings with a jaw-dropping $4.15 billion, followed by golf legend Tiger Woods at $2.79 billion, and LeBron James in fourth with $1.88 billion.
Despite soccer’s global popularity, the sport is underrepresented on the list, with only four current or former players making the top 50. Inter Miami’s Messi and Al-Nassr’s Ronaldo are joined by David Beckham in eighth place, though his stake in Inter Miami, valued at $1.19 billion, was not included in the calculations. As both superstars near the twilight of their playing careers, they remain financial powerhouses. Messi is reportedly close to signing a one-year extension with Inter Miami, while Ronaldo could ink a new deal with Saudi club Al-Nassr, ensuring their continued dominance both on the pitch and in the bank.
Featured Image: Hip Hop Hero
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 2025.
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