The 2023 Grammy Awards honor the fiftieth anniversary of hip hop this 12 months with a tribute efficiency co-curated by Questlove and label Mass Appeal. Before the occasion, Questlove teased audiences would see “some of the biggest names from the genre coming together to celebrate hip-hop history — its past, its present, its future,” and the efficiency certainly didn’t disappoint.
Following the introduction of the Dr. Dre Impact Award, LL Cool J launched the tribute efficiency, which started with Black Thought taking the stage. Soon after got here Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, then Run DMC and LL Cool J himself (with a fast wardrobe change).
The efficiency transitioned with some DJ scratches from Jazzy Jeff earlier than Salt N Pepa took the stage. Rakim spat a number of bars; then Public Enemy took the stage earlier than passing it off to LL and Thought as soon as once more. The Ghetto Boyz’s “Straight from da Ghetto” started to play as we transitioned into the ’90s, the place acts like Ice T, Queen Latifah, and Method Man carried out.
Busta Rhymes then carried out “Put Ya Hands Where My Eyes Can See” earlier than Busta did some traces from his featured monitor “Look At Me Now.”
As we entered the 2000s, Nelly appropriately took the stage, adopted by The LOX waving a Ruff Ryders flag. Finally, the act entered the trendy period, with Lil Baby representing first, adopted by GloRilla and Lil Uzi Vert, full with spikey hair.
According to Questlove, who spoke to Variety, Will Smith was meant to take part within the tribute however needed to again out as a consequence of scheduling conflicts. The occasion supposedly coincided with manufacturing for Bad Boys 4.