Hip Hop 50th Anniversary

KRS-One Launches New Series For Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary

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KRS-One, is paying it forward to Hip Hop by launching an in-person event series and website for its 50th anniversary. The website Birthplaceofhiphop.nyc will host a Hip Hop masterclass and pop-up exhibits at the Community Center, the birthplace of Hip Hop, August 11th. The location 1520 Sedgewick Ave was home to DJ Kool Herc’s Back To School Jam in August 1973. The party played a critical role as the origin story for the birth of Hip Hop. In a statement, KRS said the 50th anniversary is a global movement that celebrates the grit, voice, and power that brought culture to life.

Secondly, the rap legend will launch a logo competition on April 28th. Inviting creatives, designers, and graffiti artists to create the official logo of Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary. KRS-One’s Birthplaceofhiphopnyc.com will serve as a community-based initiative. It’ll showcase Hip Hop’s origins and inspire future generations to continue to grow the genre and push the culture forward. Furthermore, the Hip Hop masterclass and pop-up exhibits will help educate everyone on the culture’s roots and how it became a global movement. Not only that, but the visual arts competition will also inspire creatives to showcase their best representation of Hip Hop in the official logo of the 50th anniversary.

KRS-One Gives Back To Hip Hop

KRS 1, Fat Joe and Big Daddy Kane attend TrillerVerz Featuring KRS 1 vs Big Daddy Kane at Barclays Center on October 17, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images)

While KRS has been giving back to Hip Hop, Hip Hop has also given back to KRS-One. Early this year the Hip Hop forefather received his own mural in the neighborhood where he was once homeless. Moreover, the mural was painted by Italian artist Jorit at 2nd St. near 1st Ave. In honor of Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary, the mural depicts the rapper’s image and is a testament to his success and roots. KRS told Fox NY that despite all the success, nothing compares to being immortalized in a mural.

Overall, KRS-One’s contributions to Hip Hop are nothing shy of major and significant. This initiative to celebrate Hip Hop turning 50 is a great opportunity for novices and enthusiasts to learn about the culture. Not only that creatives and artists alike will showcase their talent and celebrate Hip Hop’s origins. Are you excited about this new initiative? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Swizz Beatz Teases JAY-Z & Lil Wayne Collaboration

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Swizz Beatz shared a preview of his upcoming collaboration with JAY-Z and Lil Wayne on Instagram, Monday. The song is featured on the tracklist to the producer’s upcoming EP, Hip Hop 50: Vol. 2. It is the second EP released for Mass Appeal’s Hip Hop 50: The Soundtrack initiative commemorating Hip Hop’s 50th birthday.

“SWIZZ X WAYNE X HOV THIS SHIT RIGHT HERE DROP 4/21 off my new EP,” Swizz wrote in his caption. “Life begins at the end of your comfort Zone Let’s Go! Happy Monday! Updated EP track list coming soon!!!!! It’s on…..” Swizz has worked with both JAY-Z and Lil Wayne numerous times over the years, including on JAY’s “On To The Next One,” and Wayne’s “Uproar.”

Swizz Beatz Performs With JAY-Z

PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 01: Swizz Beatz and Jay-Z perform during the Budweiser Made In America Festival Benefiting The United Way – Day 1 at Benjamin Franklin Parkway on September 1, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

Reactions to the preview were mostly positive. The Game commented on the clip, “‘No hootie n no fish sticks’ is nuts.” In another popular comment, one fan praised Wayne’s lyricism: “The thing I like about Lil Wayne is that even if you don’t like rap, if you listen to his lyrics you just have to appreciate it. It’s skill. Poetry is poetry.”

Besides new music, Swizz Beatz is also busy working on the next iteration of Verzuz, which is on hiatus for the time being. Speaking with Vibe for a recent interview, Swizz Beatz explained that “something is cooking.” He elaborated: “Big, big, big announcements. The world know if they haven’t heard nothing from Verzuz for this long that, sh*t, something’s cooking. That’s a smart person [that’s] thinking that something is cooking. It’s been fun. We just.. Me and Tim wanted to reevaluate. We started in the basement and it went global, worldwide and sometimes you’ve got to pull it in and give the 2.0 version because you know what people want, you know, what you could have done different. You know, it’s like starting in a Mom & Pop’s store. Now, it’s like a major thing, so we’ve got to make it an even more major thing.”

Swizz Beatz Teams Up With JAY-Z & Lil Wayne

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DJ Cassidy talks Uniting New York Icons for Upcoming 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop “Pass The Mic Live!” Concert Performance at Radio City Music Hall

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DJ Cassidy to host hip hop 50th anniversary celebration

Hip-hop is turning 50 and DJ Cassidy and some of the genre’s biggest icons will be turning up to celebrate this July at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall.

On Friday, July 21st, Cassidy will be hosting a special “Pass The Mic Live!” concert where he will unite 25 New York native icons of Hip Hop’s Golden Age on the same stage including Big Daddy Kane, Doug E. Fresh, Rakim, and Slick Rick, with Black Sheep, Brand Nubian, CL Smooth, Dana Dane, DoItAll of Lords Of The Underground, EPMD, Fu-Schnickens, Grandmaster Melle Mel & Scorpio, Kid ‘N Play, Kool Moe Dee, Kurtis Blow, MC Serch, MC Shan, Milk Dee of Audio Two, Monie Love, Nice ‘N Smooth, Onyx, Roxanne Shante, Special Ed, The Sugarhill Gang, Treach of Naughty By Nature, and in the tradition of “Pass The Mic,” special surprise guests.

Artists for the historic lineup were personally selected by Cassidy himself. He explains that as a way to celebrate Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary, he set out on a mission “to unite the most iconic, most comprehensive, most definitive line-up of legendary New York artists who defined the Golden Age of Hip Hop (from the early 1980s to the early 1990s) together on one stage for the first and only time.”

While Radio City Music Hall has hosted hundreds of icons of all genres over the years, Cassidy’s event will be unique because it will combine elements the spirit of his “Pass The Mic” television specials on BET with the added excitement of a live concert experience.

“The music is continuous. The pace is relentless. The performance is interactive. The Radio City show, however, is unique from all other “Pass The Mic Live!” shows by the mere quantity of icons sharing one stage,” Cassidy states.

One of “Pass the Mic’s” defining features is that Cassidy emphasizes the importance of seamlessly blending individual artists’ contributions into a larger performance, like pieces of a puzzle.

“Every song performed will be a piece to a puzzle,” Cassidy explains.

“Together, these emcees laid the foundation for what was to transform global culture. Each of these artists were my childhood idols. Sharing the Radio City stage with twenty-five of my Hip Hop heroes in their hometown, my hometown, and the birthplace of Hip Hop, will be my greatest honor.”

The event, which will be presented by Martell Cognac and Power 105.1, is being produced in partnership with the Black Promoter’s Collective and is one of several upcoming live “Pass the Mic” experiences that the group is putting on.

On May 12th, Cassidy will kick off “Pass The Mic Live!,” a series of one-night-only events, each with one-night-only lineups, at the Prudential Center arena in Newark, Jersey. Expected performers for that event include Ashanti, Fabolous, Ja Rule, Lil Kim, Ma$e, Ne-Yo, Robin Thicke, 112, and special surprise guests. The show at Radio City Music Hall will be the second in the series.

Cassidy explains that he hopes to bring an entirely new spirit to the traditional concert experience. “‘Pass The Mic Live!’ is the real-life manifestation of the series that began in my living on July 2nd, 2020. My dear friend, legendary music mogul, and “Pass The Mic” collaborator, Steve Rifkind, told me then that “Pass The Mic” would change my life. He was right. It’s quite surreal, to say the least,” states Cassidy in explaining what fans can expect at his upcoming events.

Tickets will be on sale to the general public starting Friday, April 14th at 10:00am EST. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.

The event is produced in partnership with the Black Promoters Collective (BPC), a coalition of six of the nation’s top independent concert promotion and event production companies. As a 100% Black-owned business, its mission is to be the world’s leading producer and provider of culturally relevant live entertainment experiences.

The post DJ Cassidy talks Uniting New York Icons for Upcoming 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop “Pass The Mic Live!” Concert Performance at Radio City Music Hall appeared first on The Source.

Birdman Thinks CEOs Should Be Saluted During Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary

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We hope you aren’t growing tired of hearing about Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary because Birdman is weighing in. We’ve continued to celebrate the culture in all forms regardless of the year, but 2023 is extra special. This year marks five decades of Rap, and artists from all generations are sharing their thoughts on Hip Hop’s history. Today (February 28), Birdman helped close out Black History Month by dropping off a few thoughts on Instagram.

The Louisiana icon isn’t one who spends much time on social media. Unlike his peers, appearances online are scarce, so when he does surface, fans immediately pay attention. At the Grammy Awards, the Hip Hop tribute was filled with artists who have contributed significantly to the culture. However, Birdman believes that this yearlong celebration also needs to include movers and shakers.

What About The CEOs?

MIAMI, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 01: Birdman and Lil Waune attend Lil Wayne’s “Funeral” album release party on February 01, 2020 in Miami, Florida (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images for Young Money/Republic Records)

Undoubtedly, it takes more than a talent to create a star. Labelheads, managers, A&Rs, publicists, assistants, producers, videographers, photographers, and more have aided in Hip Hop becoming the global influence that it is today. “Im confused about 50yrs of hip hop where they salute legendary artists which is well respeked,” Birdman wrote. “Also I think CEOs who kept these artists alive to be great showed them how to keep hip hop alive should be saluted in a major way.”

“I remember wen they said hip hop was dead and we Kept it alive,” he continued. “YMCMB 20plus summers respek our hussle CEO s kept hip hop alive frfr @cashmoneyofficial #RICHGANG #STUNNAMAN🐍💚🐊🦅🐐.” It looks like Birdman hopes the public will also recognize the power players behind the scenes who turn everyday talents into superstars. Young Money and Cash Money were the voice of an era. They carved out the careers of Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Drake, and more.

Lil Wayne Is No. 1, According To Him

Weezy seemingly acknowledged his contributions to Hip Hop in a recent interview. He spoke on the Top 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time list that captivated fans, but Wayne was placed 7th. The top spot was taken by Jay-Z, but Wayne told Zane Lowe that no one was higher than him.

Ice-T Stopped Making Solo Records Because Rap Became “Goofy”

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He’s been around the Hip Hop block with a career that has outlasted several of his peers, and Ice-T dropped off an interesting opinion about the evolution of the culture. It has shaped up to be a busy season for the hitmaker as he has celebrated his accolades. Ice-T received his star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame amid the Grammys tribute in honor of Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary. Understandably, outlets have been clamoring to speak with him about where the genre has landed in this generation.

In a chat with Variety, the outlet noted that Ice-T received a Grammy nomination as recently as 2020. It was in connection with his group Body Count, but Ice was asked why he stopped making solo records after 2006. “Hip Hop changed. The music got goofy to me,” said the Rap icon. “The kids started looking weird. It all turned into something I wasn’t comfortable with.”

Ice-T Reflects On The Shift In Hip Hop

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 17: Ice-T attends a ceremony as he is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 17, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)

“There was a point where I was selling tons of records, then it cooled off. I felt a certain way,” Ice continued. However, he recognized he wasn’t the only artist with that problem. “Then I realized Public Enemy, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, and Wu-Tang Clan weren’t selling records, either. There was a paradigm shift. These kids got softer, and soft is not something I’m able to give audiences.”

“The first word in Hip Hop is ‘hip’ so how something stays hip for over ten years is difficult,” he continued. “Besides, I still do my ‘Ice-T: Art of Rap’ shows, which is my legacy Hip Hop. Think of it like seeing Frank Sinatra. You want to hear the classics.” Elsewhere, he also acknowledges he has been acting in various aspects of his career since its inception, including his 1990s hit, “Cop Killer.” Ice-T is one of the longest-running actors on Law & Order, and he told Variety his talents stretched to his music career.

Ice-T Explains Acting In His Music Career

CHICAGO – 1988: Rapper and actor Ice-T poses for a photo after his performance at the Regal Theater in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

“I’m acting in both. I never killed a cop. In ‘Cop Killer,’ I play a man who was mad at the police,” said Ice-T. “Snapped and went after them based on police brutality. That’s acting. Where the media glossed it, is when they said that it was really Ice-T saying to go kill the police. I didn’t do that. The same is true of SVU. I’m not a cop. I’m the furthest thing from a cop. As far as the dilemma with police now — yeah, it is difficult.”

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Ice-T Says Lil Wayne Was Supposed To Perform For Grammy’s Hip Hop 50th Tribute

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There were dozens of our favorite Hip Hop acts on stage at this year’s Grammy Awards, and Ice-T claims Lil Wayne should have been one of them. Missy Elliott, Public Enemy, Method Man, Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, Grandmaster Flash, Scarface, Lil Uzi Vert, and more came together to celebrate Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary. It was a show unlike any other as generations of the culture banded together, and Weezy was close to adding his name to the list.

“When we did the show, Lil Wayne was in the show, but then he didn’t actually do the performance,” Ice-T shared while on the Holdin’ Court podcast. “Something happened on the red carpet. Future was sitting at my table. He was supposed to perform, he didn’t perform. So, a lot of—” The host interrupted to suggest it was “a little bit of a mess.” Ice replied, “It’s live TV.”

Ice-T Almost Didn’t Perform At the Grammys

Several artists were asked to perform but didn’t make the show. Ice-T recently said that his scheduling conflicts with Law & Order almost kept him from making an appearance. “I get a call from Questlove and he says, ‘We’re doing a thing in L.A. this weekend. I say, ‘I can’t make it,’” the Rap icon told PEOPLE. “He says, ‘The Grammys.’ And I go, ‘Eh.’ And he goes, ‘You don’t wanna be sitting home Ice, watching it—all your homies—and saying I was invited but I didn’t go. And I got my Black ass on the plane. He put it in perspective. The Grammys didn’t even respect hip-hop for so long. And now, to be here and to be honored like this, we’ll take it.”

Questlove also fired off tweets about the difficulties in rallying these hitmakers. Fans complained in droves, questioning why this or that artist didn’t perform. According to The Roots icon, many were already booked, some simply didn’t want to, and for the third group, Quest didn’t detail those responses. He did suggest there was an August taping that others agreed to, but not the Grammys. Quest was the co-curator for the performance and suggested he struggled with the team to create a full line-up. In the end, most fans seemed more than thrilled, regardless.

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Nicki Minaj, Eminem & More Included In Billboard’s Top 10 Rappers Of All Time

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Billboard and Vibe just published their list of the top ten rappers of all time, ending their list of the top 50 MCs in honor of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. While many on social media voiced disappointment, that always happens in a list of any capacity. Everybody’s GOAT list looks a little different, and this list reflects a wide variety of criteria. For example, some rappers made the list for their lyricism, influence, catalog, or for their commercial success. Still, the consensus online seems to agree on it being a solid list, though many would change the order around. The ranking includes Biggie Smalls, Drake, Eminem, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, Nas, Nicki Minaj, Snoop Dogg, and Tupac.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: (L-R) Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar attend the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

Moreover, Nicki Minaj placed at No. 10, Snoop Dogg at No. 9, and Drake at No. 8. Many might question Drizzy’s inclusion, given that he’s as much of a pop star as he is an MC. Still, he hasn’t left that love behind, as best evidenced by his most recent album Her Loss. However, these rappers share a few factors such as commercial viability, unique flows and styles, and most importantly, influence. Following them are Lil Wayne at No. 7, Biggie Smalls at No. 6, Eminem at No. 5, and Tupac at No. 4. Furthermore, Young Money dominated this list with three members, and Weezy in particular is the Southern representative here. Also, Nicki is the only female rapper included in this list.

However, what people really chose to focus in on was the list’s top placements. According to Billboard, Nas is the third-greatest rapper of all time. Such an honor is fitting for one of the most impressive careers in hip-hop that continues to redefine himself. Through his King’s Disease series and album Magic, all Hit-Boy collaborations, he added four more excellent albums to the conversation. As such, Nas might be the most enduring legend on this list when it comes to quality and consistency. Although the Queens rapper has quite the repertoire, Kendrick Lamar at No. 2 represents how the newer generation carries the torch. Between his top-tier lyricism, untouchable discography, and appeals to both pop and underground tastes, he seems like the definitive hip-hop career.

Meanwhile, the No. 1 spot went to Jay-Z. Many of these MCs best qualities seem wrapped up in Hov’s trajectory, and he has the added moniker of trailblazer. Whether we talk about commercial viability, business acumen, lyrical skill, excellent catalog, or business extracurriculars, Jay has it all. Still, many people felt that this list needs some rearranging. “Jays not #1 he top 5 but he ain’t #1,” one user wrote, with another adding “This list needs to be switched up! Love the list but the placement is incorrect.”

On the other hand, some users wanted to see other rappers make the list. “Any list that doesn’t have JCole in the top 10 is made by people who don’t know rap,” one user claimed. For what it’s worth, he landed at No. 15 on Billboard‘s list. Check out the full list for yourself down below and let us know what you think about it and your own top ten rappers in the comments. As always, come back to HNHH for the latest on hip-hop culture and history.

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Questlove Details Why Some Artists Didn’t Perform For Hip Hop 50th Grammy Tribute

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It was a massive celebration of Hip Hop on the Grammy stage last weekend, and Questlove is answering fans questions about the performance. Dozens of hitmakers from varying generations of the culture joined together to revisit our favorite classics. This year marks Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary, so it was expected to be a performance unlike any other we’ve seen at the ceremony. Questlove helped co-curate the event, and after it aired, he was inundated with queries about why certain artists were noticeably absent.

Quest went into detail about the process on Twitter. Off the bat, he said missing artists were either 1) already booked, 2) declined the offer, or 3) “a third option im not gonna get into.” He added, “Or we made a decision to wait for the 2 hour August taping.” The Roots icon also explained why they decided not to do a memorial tribute for those that passed away.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Questlove performs onstage during the 65th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by JC Olivera/WireImage)
Read More: LL Cool J Hosts Star-Studded Hip-Hop Tribute At Grammys

According to Questlove, it was more important to honor the artists who are still living. Additionally, “For starters I learned with VH1 Honors not all rappers are good MCs and bad karaoke is a danger slope. And WAY too many legends passed so someone’s estate was gonna be heated. this went through a crazy evolution. all my suggestions were 20 min presentations with Breakbeats/Graf Legends/Dancers/DJ/Beatboxers—-you’ll be shocked how fast 25-40 secs goes by and you don’t even get the halfway mark of 1995l remember 1973 to 2023 was the goal.”

There were also conversations about having all women, but Quest suggested that tensions kept that from materializing. “[And] this is NOT leading to a tired narrative that women don’t get along because there MORE concerns on the men side of things too (happiest moment seeing LL & Ice T just chillin—)—but yeah the most asked question was ‘who all gone be there?’ which is understandable.”

Read More: Jay-Z Performs “GOD DID” With Lil Wayne, DJ Khaled, & More At Grammys

“We had a criteria we wanted to follow: alive? harmonizing? turntablism? fighting shape? NYC? LA? BAY? ATL? NAWLINS? HOUSTON? MIDWEST born before 1960? born after 1995? Superlyrical? Stylistic? Original? generally known by at least 2 generations?” Later, someone questioned why there wasn’t any representation of artists from the 2010s. Questlove replied, “Because they said ‘no’, or they walked out.” Check out Questlove answering fans’ questions below.

Questlove Reveals Why Will Smith Skipped Grammys Hip Hop 50th Tribute

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We know your timelines must be overrun with Grammys highlights, and we’re offering another from Questlove. The Roots icon helped co-curate the ceremony’s tribute for Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary, and it was a sight to behold. Generations of the culture shared the stage as pioneers revisited their classic hits. Younger artists like Lil Uzi Vert even did their famed TikTok dances. It’s just one of the many ways Hip Hop will be celebrated this year, but fans noticed there were hitmakers missing from the Grammy honor.

Understandably, not everyone could be included in the tribute. Some artists have already taken to social media to verbalize their disappointment after being excluded. According to Questlove, Will Smith was supposed to join the dozens of other Hip Hop pioneers on stage. However, his prior engagement kept him from the Grammys this year.

Read More: Kendrick Lamar’s Kids React To Grammy Win For “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers”: Watch

“I’ll give the spoiler alert away. Will Smith was a part of the festivities tonight, but they started shooting ‘Bad Boys 4’ this week,” Quest told Variety while on the Grammys red carpet. “There were a lot of preliminary shots that he had to do, so we had to lose Will.” He also recognized that getting Smith was a “shot in the dark” because the actor consistently works on films. Additionally, others like LL Cool J, Ice-T, and Queen Latifah dipped out on filming their television shows to make the tribute.

When chatting with Essence, Questlove further shared that the original collaborative performance was slated for a longer running time. “It took about four weeks to put this together,” he said. “My first draft was closer to 20 minutes, and Jesse Collins wasn’t having that. He was like, ‘There’s not enough budget in the world to clear all these songs and all these flights.’”

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA FEBRUARY 5: 65th GRAMMY AWARDS An array of rappers perform a tribute to the 50th anniversary of hip hop at the 65th Grammy Awards, held at the Crytpo.com Arena on February 5, 2023. — (Photo by Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Read More: Grammy Voters Didn’t Cast Ballots For Beyoncé Because She Wins Too Many Awards

Although he may not have received the time he wanted, he made it work. “Still, it’s 14 minutes and we’re starting from the beginning. From Grand Master Flash to Future — from Flash to the Future and everything in between. And I’m glad that I started out when Hip-Hop was taboo and now we not only have a seat at the table, we are the table.”

Smith’s appearance at the Grammys would have been his first live music performance since his infamous Oscars moment. Last year’s controversy set him in a negative light, but it seems that he has put it all behind him.

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Willie D Blasts Grammys For Including Scarface, But Not Geto Boys, In Hip-Hop Tribute

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While it’s impossible to fit every hip-hop icon into one performance for its 50th anniversary, some omissions feel easily avoidable. Willie D just called out the Grammys for inviting Scarface to perform, but not the rest of the Geto Boys. Moreover, Scarface delivered his verse on the 1991 classic “Mind Playing Tricks On Me.” The fantastic homage at the 65th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on Sunday (February 5). Also, the near-14-minute show included many legends, from Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five to Nelly and even Lil Baby. However, when Scarface delivered the medley’s first Southern staple, his fellow Geto Boy Willie D was nowhere to be seen.

ST. LOUIS – OCTOBER 1991: Rappers Willie D. (William James Dennis) and Scarface (Brad Terrence Jordan) of The Geto Boys performs at The Arena in St. Louis, Missouri in October 1991. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)

Afterwards, Willie took to Instagram to express his frustrations. Moreover, he’s the only other living member of the Houston group, as Bushwick Bill passed away in June of 2019. “A reminder to the Grammys and all the rest of y’all out there trying to hustle the Geto Boys brand by only including Scarface, who had a stellar solo career: How in the hell are you gonna have a 50-year tribute to Hip Hop and not include Geto Boys the group?” Willie asked. “If you forgot, the group includes Scarface and Willie D. How you gonna use a performance that includes a song that I co-wrote but not even have the decency, the respect to reach out to me and ask me if I wanted to participate? Y’all are some clowns for that. All the way out of pocket. Whoever made the call, y’all some clowns… No more talking.”

Also, he captioned his post with ““Disrespectful Mofos!!! No mo’ talk.” In fact, some people even questioned why Scarface himself didn’t give him a call or decline performing without him. Still, Questlove clearly curated this spectacle with a lot of heart and passion. With that in mind, we don’t know who was directly responsible for this specific decision. Regardless, the Roots drummer partnered with Nas’s Mass Appeal to bring hip-hop’s fifty years to life. “Hip Hop has been a driving force in the music and the culture,” he expressed. “It’s had an immeasurable impact on our culture and our world and I’ve had the great privilege of co-curating this thing with the Roots and many others that are gonna join us that night.”

Meanwhile, LL Cool J finished the performance with a hopeful gaze towards the future, and by acknowledging the long journey. “From The Bronx to the five boroughs, to the West Coast to the Heartland; overseas to Europe, to Africa, to Asia; TikTok, whatever’s next,” he said. “Because thanks to the 33 Hip Hop artists on stage and the countless more we love, Hip Hop is a global platform today. We’re celebrating. Happy 50th anniversary to Hip Hop, baby!” Come back to HNHH for the latest news on the Grammys, hip-hop history, and underrepresented legends.

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