The Recording Academy and CBS are celebrating 50 years of hip-hop with one of many greatest musical occasions of the yr, and ET is solely giving followers a peek into the magic behind the scenes.
A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop encompasses a star-studded lineup of hip-hop legends and GRAMMY-winning artists coming collectively, together with Black Thought, Bun B, Widespread, De La Soul, Jermaine Dupri, J.J. Fad, Talib Kweli, The Woman Of Rage, LL COOL J, MC Sha-Rock, Monie Love, The Pharcyde, Queen Latifah, Questlove, Rakim, Remy Ma, Uncle Luke, Yo-Yo, and plenty of extra.
The music superstars will grace the stage to honor the fiftieth anniversary of hip-hop and showcase the style’s profound historical past and monumental cultural influence worldwide.
As LL Cool J asks in ET’s unique look backstage, “Are you ready to celebrate the music that changed the whole world forever?”
The 2-hour live performance particular will function a few of the style’s greatest pioneers reuniting on the stage to provide once-in-a-lifetime performances, together with Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff, who will reunite onstage.
“We’re celebrating 50 years of hip-hop. The goal was always to elevate and really celebrate the culture,” LL Cool J, who serves as a performer and government producer of the live performance particular, tells ET. “I just wanted to take a step back and bring these artists to the forefront, give them their moment to shine.”
He added, “I’m here as a fan, singing every song. A lot of people are going to rediscover a lot of music they fell in love with many years ago.”
Jesse Collins, Shawn Gee and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson of Two One 5 Leisure, Dionne Harmon, Claudine Joseph, Fatima Robinson and Jeannae Rouzan-Clay function government producers alongside LL Cool J, and Marcello Gamma serves as director of the particular.
The 2023 GRAMMY Awards hosted an analogous celebration earlier this yr, with LL Cool J serving as an emcee.
The sixty fifth annual awards present’s tribute featured The Roots’ Black Thought providing highly effective phrases earlier than the performances commenced. From Run-D.M.C., Rakim and Public Enemy’s Chuck D and Taste Flav to Ice T, Queen Latifah, Wu-Tang Clan’s Technique Man and Too $hort, all of them took half in a hip-hop medley showcasing their finest hits.
From Busta Rhymes proving he is nonetheless the quickest rapper alive to Nelly bringing again the Band-Support on his cheek, it was a sight to see. Performers additionally included Huge Boi, Spliff Star, De La Soul, DJ Drama, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Missy Elliott, Future, GloRilla, Grandmaster Flash, Grandmaster Mele Mel & Scorpio/Ethiopian King, Ice-T, Lil Child, Lil Wayne, The Lox, Rahiem, Salt-N-Pepa and Spinderella and Scarface.
“Multi-generational. Fifty years. From the Bronx to TikTok, to the whole world. We love you, baby,” LL Cool J stated to wrap the unimaginable tribute to hip-hop. “We started in the Bronx and ever since then it’s gone everywhere — to the Five Boroughs, to the West Coast, to the heartland, overseas, to Europe, to Africa, to Asia, TikTok. What else is next?!”
A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop airs Sunday, Dec. 10 at 8:30 p.m. ET/8:00 p.m. PT on CBS and can stream stay and on-demand on Paramount+.
RELARED CONTENT: