8 Best Moments of Hip Hop 50 Live: Nas, Run-D.M.C., Fat Joe & More

The pioneer of beatboxing as we all know it, Doug E. Contemporary, reminded the world why he’s nicknamed the “Human Beat Field.” Throughout Snoop Dogg’s set, Doug E. Contemporary sauntered towards the center of the stage and proceeded to ship almost 5 minutes of uninterrupted beatboxing. Oozing with depth and clearly working in an area of otherworldly expertise, he captivated Yankee Stadium not like some other act at Hip-Hop 50. All through his solo showcase, rows of individuals continued to rise to their toes, merely hooked on the uncooked expertise and verve on show.

Highbridge-bred rapper A Boogie Wit da Hoodie held down many a New York summer time in the course of the 2010s, and he acquired a much-deserved likelihood to indulge in his success and impression at Friday evening’s live performance. From “Look Again At It” and “Drowning” to “Jungle” and “My S—,” A Boogie represented up to date hip-hop amidst a setlist that skewed closely in direction of the old-fashioned. Watching him carry out on the legendary Yankee Stadium only a few blocks down from the place he grew up was one of many evening’s most touching moments. A Boogie additionally obtained a proclamation from the Hood Caucus courtesy of Bronx Councilman Kevin Riley, one other testomony to the impression of his voice.

Maybe the largest takeaway from Hip Hop 50 Stay was simply how deadly the outdated heads nonetheless are in terms of rapping dwell. Forgotten lyrics and heavy backing tracks are inclined to muddy some up to date hip-hop performances, however giants of the style like Ghostface Killah — who hilariously donned a Crimson Sox cap at Yankee Stadium — don’t fall sufferer to these issues. Given the intensely collaborative nature of Wu-Tang Clan’s solo endeavors, it was solely proper that Ghostface introduced out Methodology Man, Cappadonna, and Inspectah Deck. The Wu-Tang Clan members carried out classics comparable to “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing ta F— Wit,” “Shimmy Shimmy Ya,” and “Ice Cream.” Their set additionally offered some nice moments of camaraderie between the members — particularly Ghost and Meth.

At Hip Hop 50 Stay, Snoop Dogg delivered probably the most beloved units of the evening. From “Drop It Like It’s Sizzling” to “Gin and Juice,” Snoop Doggy Canine saved the hits flowing, however, in true hip-hop vogue, his efficiency was about his personal legacy simply as a lot because it was about honoring rap’s pioneers and highlighting the place the style is headed. Snoop introduced out hip-hop pillars EPMD, “Blow the Whistle” rapper Too $hort, and the legendary Slick Rick, who got here decked out in his trademark eyepatch and a dramatically tilted fedora, and allowed every act to take up house with their particular person sounds and basic information. The West Coast rap icon additionally confirmed some like to new faculty stars Flo Milli and Scar Lip, who delivered a characteristically fiery efficiency of her rousing “This Is New York.”

A part of Snoop’s set merged with Wiz Khalifa’s. The 2 carried out “Younger, Wild & Free” earlier than launching into “See You Once more,” which served because the soundtrack for the second in-memoriam-esque phase of the evening — a reminder that celebrating 50 years of hip-hop additionally means remembering the staggering variety of artists we’ve misplaced over the previous few many years.

For a tradition that continues to grapple with a lot misogyny and misogynoir, it’s nothing in need of poetic that Black girls are at present among the style’s strongest voices. It’s additionally no shock that Black girls delivered among the finest all-around performances of Hip Hop 50 Stay.

Bronx rapper Remy Ma delivered a set that flaunted her commanding stage presence and solo hits like “Immodest.” Trina reminded the stadium why she is the blueprint for a complete subgenre of Southern feminine rap with a scintillating set that includes renditions of “Da Baddest B—-” and “Right here We Go.” Breakout Brooklyn-bred rapper Lola Brooke additionally popped out for a short efficiency of her signature hit “Don’t Play With It.”

Nonetheless, it was Lil’ Kim who delivered probably the most fully-realized set of the Queens of Hip-Hop phase. Launched by a royal courtroom setup full with flags emblazoned along with her iconic album covers, Lil Kim emerged from the underside of the stage and handled followers to performances of “All In regards to the Benjamins” and “Large Momma Thang.” Kim spent nearly all of her set interacting with the group, really taking in simply how monumental Yankee Stadium is — and what it means for hip-hop to occupy such an iconic venue.

Greater than some other performer’s, Fats Joe’s set really highlighted the variety and breadth of hip-hop tradition. Preceded by a short efficiency by Loopy Legs of Rock Regular Crew and famed bboy Gravity, Fats Joe entered the stage with large Puerto Rican flags waving in entrance of him. The rapper, who was visibly overcome with a deep reverence for the second, ran by way of hits like “What’s Luv” and “All of the Method Up,” bringing out Ashanti, Terror Squad, and paying tribute to Large Pun within the course of.

Infamous for his wider body, Fats Joe flaunted his slimmer physique as soon as he took off his shirt and carried out the second half of his set utterly topless. Concurrently, a real celebration of the Latinx affect on hip-hop’s creation and a testomony to the sprawling affect of Terror Squad, Fats Joe’s set was among the best moments of Hip-Hop 50 Stay.

Simply earlier than 1:30 a.m. EST, Kings of Rock Run-D.M.C. lastly took the stage at Hip Hop 50 Stay. Though the present had been working for round eight hours earlier than the legendary hip-hop duo graced the stage, followers remained glued to their seats for the possibility to bask within the last efficiency from probably the most necessary musical acts of the final fifty years.

For his or her last present, Run and DMC carried out with the identical vigor and spunk that helped them develop into probably the most necessary names in hip-hop historical past. The 2 rappers ran up and down the stage as they carried out seminal hits like “It’s Tough” and “Stroll This Method.” As hip-hop and capitalism have develop into more and more married all through the style’s evolution, it was attention-grabbing to look at Run-D.M.C. flaunt their revolutionary Adidas partnership with complete sections of the group holding up the three-striped shoe in honor of the group. At a number of factors in the course of the evening, Run requested that every one the stage lights be reduce, casting the stadium in darkness till the primary few notes of their greatest hits blasted by way of the audio system. Run-D.M.C. might have been doing this since ’83, however they nonetheless know the right way to placed on a rattling good present.

For Nas, who just lately launched his fifth Hit-Boy-produced album in simply three years, the phrase “slowing down” shouldn’t be in his vocabulary. Certainly one of Billboard’s 2023 Hip-Hop Corridor of Fame inductees, Nas is celebrating his fiftieth birthday this 12 months, alongside each hip-hop and the Timberland boot, two intrinsic parts of his artwork and persona. The Queens rapper celebrated the momentous event with a fascinating set that paid a heartfelt tribute to hip-hop’s pioneers, held house for Ms. Lauryn Hill and Fugees, and centered what makes him so beloved — the conviction of each his lyrics and his supply of them.

Along with bringing out hip-hop large Kool G Rap, Nas additionally introduced out DJ Kool Herc, Cindy Campbell, and their mom Nettie Campbell. Watching Nas, a legend in his personal proper, humbly thank DJ Kool Herc and Cindy Campbell for his or her seismic contributions to artwork and tradition was the one defining second of Hip-Hop 50 Stay. An unparalleled degree of real admiration and reverence stuffed the stadium, particularly as soon as Nas kissed the hand of Ms. Nettie Campbell. The “N.Y. State of Thoughts” rapper additionally introduced out Ms. Lauryn Hill, who wowed followers with a shock medley of classics like “Prepared or Not,” “Doo Wop (That Factor),” and “Fu-Gee-La,” whereas donning a scorching pink tutu ensemble with towering black stilettos.

It was Nas’ rendition of “One Mic,” nevertheless, that actually elevated his set above the remainder of the live performance. From the brooding crescendoes of the music’s dwell association to the timeless lyrics that glorify the microphone — arguably the first software for transposing the facility and necessity of hip-hop’s fearless truth-telling to the world — “One Mic” shone because the crown jewel of Nas’ set. Rapping with a peerless conviction for the sanctity of the tradition, Nas delivered an unforgettable efficiency to have a good time 50 years of hip-hop.