‘A GRAMMY Salute To 50 Years Of Hip-Hop’ Attempted The Impossible
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With a lineup featuring rap acts representing nearly all regions, eras, and subgenres, A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop nearly achieved the impossible: celebrating a five-decade history without glaring omissions.
A moderately warm November night set the stage for hundreds of Hip-Hop fans to gather in celebration of the culture. Under the moonlight, ticketholders patronized food trucks and on-site bars ahead of showtime at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, Calif.
As host LL Cool J noted in the beginning, including every performer in Hip-Hop’s storied history was an unattainable dream, but the Queens native still promised a good night. Between Queen Latifah, Remy Ma, Uncle Luke, and Yo-Yo, it was only right to anticipate a legendary concert.
“Are you all ready to celebrate the music that changed the world forever?” LL asked the excited audience. Seats were filled with parents teaching their children about living icons, couples on dates in intimate embraces, and friends who traveled west to see their favorite acts perform for the first time.
A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop opted for a non-chronological presentation, instead categorizing the acts by style, gender, region, or affiliation. The show opened with the genre’s queens, a fitting approach due to the industry’s current landscape where women are leading.
DJ Spinderella, Monie Love, Queen Latifah, MC Sha-Rock, Roxanne Chante, JJ FAD, Mc Lyte, Remy Ma, and Latto lit up the stage as the audience stood in applause. Each act rapped a segment of one of their biggest hits. The set ended with all the ladies demanding: “Who you callin a bi**h?”
The concert continued with a Dirty South segment introduced by Chloe Bailey and featuring Jeezy, Jermaine Dupri, T.I., Bun B, DJ Greg Street, GloRilla, Three 6 Mafia, Boosie, Uncle Luke, and the 2 Live Crew. Seth Rogan introduced a West Coast rap tribute featuring DJ Battle Cat, Warren G, Luniz, Lady Of Rage, Yo-Yo, Tyga, YG, E-40, Too $hort, DJ Quick, Cypress Hill, Roddy Ricch, and Mustard.
“Nothing can be a bigger deal for me than doing this tonight,” shared Rogan, describing the setlist as his high school mixtape brought to life.
Additional performances include a portion of the show described by Jennifer Hudson as a tribute to the fact that “Hip-Hop is freedom.” A celebration of the Native Tongues collective began with the Jungle Brothers, Kool DJ Red Alert, Common, Queen Latifah, Arrested Development, Talib Kweli, De La Soul, and The Pharcyde, shining on the library-themed stage setting.
The lengthy night also included performances from Technician the DJ, Big Daddy Kane, Black Thought, and Rakim—who literally left the microphone in flames. A party-ready segment featured the likes of Nelly, Coi Leray, Rick Ross, Chance The Rapper, Gunna, DJ Diamond Kutz, and 2 Chainz. Another highlight of the show came when LL Cool J introduced the “truth tellers” who came to “bring the noise”—Flavor Flav and Chuck D—and performed with no additional guests.
In an effort to bridge Hip-Hop to Africa, the show included a standalone set featuring Akon, championing a message: “Music has always been a preservation of our heritage, the sounds of drums and beats.” While the followup performance was musically sound and featured Styles P, Jeezy, and rising talent Blaqbones, the set felt misplaced and never-ending.
Recognizing musicians who have passed away, DJ D Nice and Doug E. Fresh performed together with the goal to uplift despite the somber moment.
“If you happy to be alive make some noise,” announced Doug E. Fresh. “Out of respect for those that are not here, stand up and honor them. Not as a memorial but as a celebration. We about to do our thing and start this off.”
While Fresh’s unearthly beatbox skills and DJ D Nice’s effortless blending proved entertaining, the digital memorial itself felt rushed. In an attempt to include everyone’s names projected across the screen, there was little time for true homage, leaving the tribute feeling impersonal and stale.
Though it’s unfathomable to include everyone, the lack of recognition for Midwestern, Caribbean, Latinx, and queer Hip-Hop musicians was blaring. There was also minimal inclusion of female rappers of the late ’90s and early 2000s who are all hard to ignore.
Additionally, the lack of political commentary felt inauthentic to a Hip-Hop 50 event. The closest the show came to speaking on current events came when Ladybug Mecca of Digable Planets wore the Palestinian flag on her sweater.
Still, in the areas where the show won, it earned gold medals. A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop closed with a memorable performance from Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff, bringing the venue to its feet. It was a fitting choice to close the show as the duo won the first Rap GRAMMY in 1989.
“In a night full of Hip-Hop moments this is a big one,” shared Questlove, explaining their historic win and subsequent boycott.
The men shined together in Phillies gear, proving that decades later their chemistry is still undeniable. All performers of the night returned to the stage to dance, rap, and embrace one another as members of a movement bigger than music.
“50 years of Hip-Hop baby!” declared Smith as a confetti canon signaled the night’s end.
Watch A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on the CBS Television Network. The show will also be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.
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