Sean “Diddy” Combs kicked off the 2022 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday (May 15) with a rousing medley, which included the debut of his new single “Gotta Move On,” featuring Bryson Tiller. Shortly after, the BBMAs host and executive producer took to the stage and injected positive energy into the Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena.

“I am a frequency. I’m the mood curator. Black Brother Thunder, Chocolate Boy Wonder,” Diddy said during his six-minute monologue. With his mother seated in the front row, he reflected on the ‘full loop’ moment that accompanied the night’s awards ceremony, given that he had lifted his first BBMA trophy 25 years ago. Diddy was also thrilled to be making music again and relishing the return outdoors after the pandemic temporarily halted live events in 2020 and 2021. “We’ve had a second chance at life,” he said. he declares.

Ahead of the ceremony, Diddy addressed the controversial decision to have Morgan Wallen and Travis Scott play at the event in an interview with Billboard. For Scott, the night marked his first awards show since a surge of crowds at his Astroworld festival in Houston last November killed 10 people. As for Wallen, it’s also his first time on a major awards show stage since he was filmed saying the N-word in 2021.

“It’s time to forgive,” Diddy said at the time. “So that Morgan and Travis can come back and hit the stage again with the mindset of having a second chance at life. Everyone in the room has a second chance at life, you know, because we We’re back outside without a mask. We need love, and I’m excited to celebrate that.

The Billboard Music Awards are produced by MRC Live & Alternative, a division of MRC. MRC and Penske Media are co-parent companies of Billboard.