A slew of hip-hop stars took the stage on the Grammys on Sunday night time for a high-energy efficiency celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of hip-hop.
Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah, Run-DMC, Lil Wayne, Large Boi, Grandmaster Flash, Technique Man, Public Enemy, Salt-N-Pepa and Spinderella and Busta Rhymes have been amongst these participating within the all-star tribute, which was produced by Questlove, who additionally served as musical director. Music was offered by The Roots, with Black Thought narrating.
LL Cool J launched the efficiency, which got here in the course of the third hour of the reside broadcast on CBS. “Questlove has curated one thing spectacular, a flash-forward by way of a half-century of one of many best ongoing musical tales ever advised,” LL Cool J mentioned.
Beginning with the beginning of hip-hop in 1973, the 13-minute efficiency noticed quite a few hip-hop artists carry out a few of their most iconic songs. Black Thought kicked off the tribute, adopted by Grandmaster Flash with Barshon, Mele Mel, Rahiem & Scorpio performing “Flash to the Beat” and “The Message.”
Run-DMC then hit the stage with “King of Rock,” adopted by LL Cool J with “I Can’t Dwell With out My Radio,” who was then joined by DJ Jazzy Jeff (sans former rapping associate Will Smith, aka the Recent Prince) with a snippet of “Rock the Bells.” As they carried out, a number of names of influential hip-hop artists have been projected behind them.
Salt-N-Pepa (“My Mic Sounds Good”), Queen Latifah (“U.N.I.T.Y.”), Missy Elliot (“Lose Management”) and GloRilla “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” represented the feminine artists of the style.
Different highlights included Chuck D & Taste Flav (carrying his signature outsized clock necklace) performing “Insurgent And not using a Pause”; Technique Man performing “Technique Man” whereas Jay-Z rapped alongside within the viewers (Jay-Z, actually, visibly loved the efficiency, with the digicam slicing to him a number of occasions as he was seen smiling and dancing together with the music); and Busta Rhymes (performing with Spliff Star) receiving loud applause for performing his ultra-fast rap from “Take a look at Me Now.”
Different artists who took half have been De La Soul (“Buddy”), Scarface (“My Thoughts’s Enjoying Tips on Me”) , Ice-T (“New Jack Hustler (Nino’s Theme)”), Large Boi (“ATLiens” ), Nelly & Metropolis Spud (“Sizzling In Herre”), Too $hort (“Blow the Whistle”), Swizz Beatz & The Lox (“We Gonna Make It”), Lil Wayne (“A Milli”), Lil Child (“Freestyle”) and Future (“F*ck Up Some Commas”).
The efficiency is a part of Paramount International’s initiative to honor the fiftieth anniversary of hip-hop; the trouble additionally consists of new and returning content material choices and different initiatives. CBS will broadcast a particular hip hop music occasion in partnership with the Recording Academy later this 12 months.
Instantly earlier than the tribute, LL Cool J offered the inaugural Dr. Dre International Affect Award to the individual for which the award was named — Dr. Dre.
Accepting the award, Dr. Dre talked about how “hip-hop grew to become a lifeline for me rising up in Compton,” which led to a “40-year profession doing what I like.” He additionally thanked his collaborators through the years in addition to those that’ve supported him all through his life in the course of the troublesome occasions.
“What I like about this award is that it makes use of my title to encourage the subsequent era of producers, artists and entrepreneurs to succeed in for his or her greatness and demand that of all people round you and by no means compromise your imaginative and prescient in any respect,” he mentioned.
The Grammys befell Sunday night time on the Crypto.com area in Los Angeles. See a full listing of winners right here.
