33 artists from different generations, including Busta Rhymes, Ice-T, Missy Elliott, GloRilla, Salt-N-Pepa, Queen Latifah, take the stage for a 13-minute performance, which was curated by Questlove.
- Feb 6, 2023
AceShowbiz - The 2023 Grammy Awards, which took place on Sunday, February 5, honored the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with an all-star tribute. LL Cool J, a two-time Grammy winner and seven-time nominee, was tapped to lead the tribute which included epic performances by Busta Rhymes, Ice-T, Questlove, Missy Elliott, GloRilla, Salt-N-Pepa, Queen Latifah and Too $hort among others.
Prior to the performance, LL Cool J took the stage to present the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award to Dr. Dre. The award was established by the Recording Academy and the Black Music Collective. "The recipient of this inaugural award is none other than an icon who helped define West Coast hip-hop and has become one of the most impactful success stories of our time," LL Cool J said.
During his award acceptance speech, Dr. Dre noted, "Never compromise your vision at all. Pursue quality over quantity and remember that everything is important." The "Still Dre" hitmaker continued, "[This award] uses my name to inspire the next generation of producers, artists and entrepreneurs to reach for their greatness and demand that from everyone around you."
Later, 33 artists from different generations took the stage for a 13-minute performance, which was curated by Questlove. It started with narration by Black Thought before transitioning into three separate chapters. It covered as much ground as it could in a short amount of time. Each act, including Salt-n-Pepa, DJ Drama, The Roots, Nelly and Too $hort, received a quick few bars of their iconic hits.
The audience was seen fully enjoying the performance. Jay-Z looked amazed to see artist after artist taking the stage. As for DJ Khaled, the "Another One" rapper could be seen holding a lighter up. Concluding the star-studded performance, LL Cool J shouted, "For the culture!"
"For five decades, hip-hop has not only been a defining force in music, but a major influence on our culture," Harvey Mason Jr., the CEO of the Recording Academy, said in a statement. "Its contributions to art, fashion, sport, politics, and society cannot be overstated. I'm so proud that we are honoring it in such a spectacular way on the Grammy stage. It is just the beginning of our yearlong celebration of this essential genre of music."
Meanwhile, fans and several celebrities took to Twitter to praise the artists involved in the show-stopping performance. "The Women of HipHop!!" "Abbott Elementary" actress Sheryl Lee Ralph gushed. The "Sister, Sister" star Jackee Harry tweeted, "This is a fantastic reminder that hip hop has produced more than beautiful artists. The #Grammys2023 stage is full of inventors and visionaries!"
