A selection of rappers paid tribute to the genre’s 50th anniversary at the 2023 Grammy Awards. Six-time GRAMMY winner Questlove helped curate the performance.
The segment included dozens of artists who have helped put hip hop where it is today. Performers include Big Boi, Busta Rhymes with Spliff Star, De La Soul, DJ Drama, Missy Elliott, GloRilla, Grandmaster Flash, Ice-T, Lil Baby, Method Man, Nelly, Public Enemy, Queen Latifah and Rakim.
Busta Rhymes
Before trending for throwing a drink on a woman, Busta Rhymes became well known as one of the most influential rappers of all time. He started out as a member of the group Leaders of the New School, and went on to release some of hip hop’s greatest records. He also had a long career as an actor, including a role in the hit movie Higher Learning.
He was born Trevor John Smith on May 20, 1972 in Brooklyn, New York. He later moved to England, where he became a life guard at a swimming pool near his home town of Lancaster.
After a couple of years, he returned to the U.S.A to pursue his career in rapping and acting. He was signed to Elektra Records in 1989. He released the debut album A Future Without a Past in 1991.
The album received positive reviews and was hailed as “high-energy hip-hop” that “recaptures some of the giddy joys of rap.”
He then released Extinction Level Event (Final World Front) in 1998, and its first single, “Gimme Some More,” reached the US Top 5. It was followed by the catchy “What’s It Gonna Be?!” featuring Janet Jackson, which reached both the US and UK Top 10.
In 1999, Rhymes went on to record a solo album, The Coming, which featured a number of guest appearances. The album soared to the top of the charts, thanks in large part to its big hit single “Woo-Hah!! Got You All In Check.”
He has since gone on to release a number of successful albums, including Anarchy, Genesis and It Ain’t Safe No More. In addition to his impressive achievements, he boasts multiple Grammy Award nominations. This year, he celebrated the 50th anniversary of hip hop with a star-studded performance at the Grammys.
Lil Baby
The Grammys recently celebrated hip hop’s 50 year anniversary with a jam-packed and star-studded 15-minute segment. The performance featured snippets of various iconic songs from the genre’s early days, as well as modern-day tracks by LL Cool J, Queen Latifah, GloRilla and Lil Baby.
LL Cool J introduced the segment, and Questlove served as musical director. Throughout, The Roots provided music.
One of the first rappers to break through was Dominique Armani Jones, better known as Lil Baby. He is an American rapper, singer and songwriter. He rose to prominence in 2017 after the release of his mixtape Perfect Timing.
In 2018, he unveiled his inaugural album “Harder Than Ever.” The album peaked at number 3 on the US Billboard 200.
After a stint in prison for selling drugs, he returned to Atlanta and started working on his debut mixtape. He also established his own label ‘Quality Control’ with his childhood friends Pierre Thomas (Pee) and Kevin Lee (Coach K).
Climbing to number 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100, his first single “Yes Indeed,” featuring Drake, made an impressive debut. He also released a series of mixtapes in 2017.
A black guy from the city outskirts, Lil Baby grew up in a disadvantaged neighborhood, where most of his neighbors were involved in petty crimes. When he heard gangsta rap, it influenced him and encouraged him to pursue music as a career.
He eventually became a successful artist, earning three Grammy awards and two American Music awards. He also received seven BET awards and was nominated for two MTV Video Music awards. He is a rising star of the international hip-hop industry and is credited for pioneering the trap music genre.
Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne is one of the most renowned American rappers and is a leader in the southern hip hop genre. With an astounding record of over 120 million worldwide sales and four prestigious Grammy Awards under his belt, he stands as an undisputed musical powerhouse. He is also known for his charitable work and has established a foundation to help urban youth.
Born as Dwayne Michael Carter Jr in New Orleans on September 27, 1982, he came into this world when his mother was just 19 years old. Unfortunately, at the tender age of 2, his father left them, leaving behind a challenging journey for the young boy and his mother.
The young boy started rapping at the age of 8 and has since become an iconic figure in the music industry. His debut album ‘Tha Block is Hot’ went platinum and earned him a place among the world’s top selling music artists.
In 2005, he founded ‘Young Money Entertainment’ which has helped numerous rap artists such as Drake and Nicki Minaj gain global popularity. The label also helps urban youth develop their skills and talents.
After a stint in jail, Lil Wayne returned to the music industry in 2010 with his debut album ‘Rebirth’. The album was criticized by many critics but eventually went gold.
He has received four Grammy Awards and was voted the best MC of 2010. His songs are filled with lyrical references to Prince and Kurt Cobain.
Throughout his career, he has launched numerous albums, with one standout being ‘Tha Carter III.’ This exceptional album not only sold over a million copies within its first week but also earned him the esteemed ‘Grammy Award’ for ‘Best Rap Album’. He is currently a successful businessman and has built up his own record label ‘Young Money’ which helped him achieve success in the music industry.
Lil Uzi Vert
The Grammys hosted a star-studded tribute to hip hop on Sunday night to celebrate the music genre’s 50 year anniversary. The segment featured rappers from multiple generations, ranging from Big Boi to Lil Uzi Vert.
The segment began with a medley of classic tracks, kicking off in 1973 at a party in The Bronx when a DJ played the beats that laid the foundation for hip hop. The line-up then moved into the ’90s and ’00s with hits from Queen Latifah, Method Man and Nelly.
It then went to a more modern era with artists like GloRilla and Lil Baby. Then LL Cool J came out and performed a song that reminded people of the genre’s roots.
He then closed the segment with his TikTok favorite “Just Wanna Rock,” bringing the celebration to a close. The performance was a joyous medley of hip hop music and was directed by The Roots’ Questlove.
Throughout his career, Lil Uzi Vert has released several mixtapes and albums. He has been nominated for a Grammy award in the Best New Artist category.
Soaring to the top spot on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart, his first album, Luv Is Rage 2, showcased an impressive debut. It was followed by a number of successful EPs.
The rapper has also been credited with contributing a feature to Migos’ hit “Bad & Boujee.” He has collaborated with Young Thug, Chief Keef and the A$AP Mob on various tracks. He has also appeared in the music videos of songs such as XO Tour Llif3, The Way Life Goes Remix, and Do What I Want. He is known for his androgynous fashion, eccentric hairstyles and facial piercings. The estimation of his net worth stands at $25 million.
Nelly
Nelly stands among the most celebrated rappers in history, having sold millions of albums and garnered multiple Grammy awards for her exceptional talent. She has also been nominated for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 2023, she will be celebrating hip hop’s 50 year anniversary at the Grammy Awards. She will perform a special segment that will showcase her and other rappers from the past, present and future.
The segment will be produced by Questlove. He will produce it alongside Jesse Collins, Patrick Menton of Fulwell 73, creative producer and choreographer Fatima Robinson, and his manager Shawn Gee.
Among the artists that will be performing in the celebration are Big Boi, Busta Rhymes with Spliff Star, De la Soul, DJ Drama, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Missy Elliott, Future, Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, Furious 5, Ice T, Lil Baby, Method Man, Raheim, Run-DMC, Salt N Pepa and Too Short.
Before the performance, LL Cool J introduced the segment by awarding Dr. Dre the inaugural 2023 Global Impact Award and nodding to DJ Kool Herc’s famous party at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in 1973.
After LL’s introduction, the performance started with a history lesson from Black Thought and then moved on to various musical moments. The music spanned the genre’s entire existence, starting with Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s “The Message.” It then jumped to Hollis, Queens for Run-DMC.
This is a great way to celebrate the many ways that hip hop has contributed to culture. From high fashion to political causes, the music has influenced every aspect of our lives. This segment of the Grammys is a perfect example of how important it is to celebrate the legacy of hip hop.
