This 12 months will finish because it started, with an all-star Grammy salute to hip-hop. On Sunday, Dec. 10, CBS will air the stay, two-hour live performance particular A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop. An prolonged “50 Years of 50-Hop” phase was one of many highlights of the sixty fifth annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 5. That kicked off a 12 months of hip-hop celebrations that has underscored the significance and dominance of the style.
The lineup consists of Black Thought, LL Cool J and Queen Latifah, all of whom had been additionally a part of the Grammy telecast salute, in addition to Bun B, Widespread, De La Soul, Jermaine Dupri, J.J. Fad, Talib Kweli, The Woman of Rage, MC Sha-Rock, Monie Love, The Pharcyde, Questlove, Rakim, Remy Ma, Uncle Luke and Yo-Yo. Extra performers will probably be introduced within the coming weeks.
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson of Two One 5 Leisure and LL Cool J may even function govt producers of the particular, which tapes Nov. 8 on the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, Calif. The present was initially set to tape on Aug. 11, which was the fiftieth anniversary (to the day!) of a back-to-school get together in The Bronx that many level to as the start of hip-hop tradition.
A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop is produced by Jesse Collins Leisure. Collins, Shawn Gee, Dionne Harmon, Claudine Joseph, Fatima Robinson and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay additionally function govt producers. Marcello Gamma serves as director.
Questlove curated the 15-minute spot on the Grammy telecast, which featured three dozen rap acts. Collins, Robinson and Gee (Questlove’s supervisor and president of LNU) had been additionally among the many producers of that phase.
The phase drew common reward. Billboard’s Joe Lynch pegged it because the greatest efficiency on the 2023 Grammys telecast. “Whereas it’s an unattainable job to sum up 50 years of any style (a lot much less one which fought for many years to get a modicum of mainstream respect and finally grew to become the dominant style in American music), this electrifying medley delivered to vivid life the charged personalities, thumping grooves, deft deliveries and unpredictable thrives that make hip-hop a world pressure.”
Whereas many will assume that the success of the spot on the Grammy telecast led CBS to rush a particular into manufacturing, the particular was within the works earlier than anybody knew there can be a phase on the telecast, in accordance with a supply.
Harvey Mason jr., CEO of the Recording Academy, hinted on the upcoming particular in an announcement saying the telecast phase. “For 5 many years, Hip Hop has not solely been a defining pressure in music, however a significant affect on our tradition,” he stated. “Its contributions to artwork, vogue, sport, politics, and society can’t be overstated. I’m so proud that we’re honoring it in such a spectacular approach on the Grammy stage. It’s only the start of our year-long celebration of this important style of music.”
The Grammys haven’t at all times been hip-hop supporters. The awards present didn’t have a devoted class for rap or hip-hop till the 1988 awards, which had been offered Feb. 22, 1989. D.J. Jazzy Jeff & the Contemporary Prince’s genial pop hit “Dad and mom Simply Don’t Perceive” was the primary hip-hop recording to win a Grammy (greatest rap efficiency). However they weren’t invited to carry out on the present that 12 months.
A 12 months later, on Feb. 21, 1990, the duo grew to become the primary hip-hop act to carry out on the Grammys. “We’d prefer to dedicate this efficiency to all of the rappers final 12 months that stood with us and helped us to earn the correct to be on this stage tonight,” Will Smith stated earlier than he and D.J. Jazzy Jeff launched into “I Suppose I Can Beat Mike Tyson.”
CBS, which has broadcast the Grammy telecast since 1973, aired one other Grammy-branded particular – A Grammy Salute to The Seashore Boys – on April 9. That particular was taped on Feb. 8 on the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop airs Dec. 10 from 8:30-10:30 p.m. ET/8-10 p.m. PT on CBS. It streams on Paramount+ (stay and on demand for Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Important subscribers the day after the particular airs).
The hyperlink to buy tickets will probably be obtainable to most of the people at Ticketmaster.com on Saturday, Oct. 14 starting at 10 a.m. PT.