VH1 Hip Hop Homors airs October 13 check local listings for times.
via press release
NEW YORK, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The 6th annual "VH1 Hip Hop Honors" shook up Brooklyn, New York last night as some of the biggest names in entertainment gathered to commemorate the
25th anniversary of Def Jam Records -- one of the most celebrated hip hop labels in the music industry.
Taped at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Howard Gilman Opera House on Wednesday, September 23rd in Brooklyn, New York and hosted by
Tracy Morgan ("30 Rock"), talents from across all artistic genres came together to celebrate this significant milestone in American hip hop music. The show paid tribute to the architects of
Def Jam Records including
Bill Stephney, Chris Lighty, Julie Greenwald, Kevin Liles, L.A. Reid, Lyor Cohen, Michael Kyser, Rick Rubin, Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter and
Russell Simmons. Performances by
Ashanti, Chrisette Michele, DJ Chuck Chill Out, DJ Clinton Sparks, DMX, Eminem, EPMD, Fabolous, Foxy Brown, Gym Class Heroes, DJ Jaycee, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Ghostface, Ja Rule, Judacamp Choir, Kid Rock, KRS One, Ludacris, Mary J. Blige, Method Man, DJ Nonstop, Onyx, Public Enemy, Redman, The Roots, Rick Ross, DJ Sam Sneak, Scarface, DJ Scratch, The Street Sweeper Social Club, Trey Songz, Wale and
Warren G brought down the house celebrating
Def Jam Records.
The show kicked off with
The Roots, Eminem and
DJ Jazzy Jeff performing
LL Cool J's classic "
Rock the Bells," proving that Brooklyn was "in the house."
The crowd went crazy as
Public Enemy were accompanied by
S1W, The Street Sweepers Social Club, and
The Roots performing "
Rebel Without a Pause" -
Public Enemy's hit single from "
It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back," one of the most celebrated and revered albums in hip hop.
The next performance rang true at BAM as
Travis McCoy, Wale and
KRS One with
Gym Class Heroes covered
Beastie Boys' iconic "
No Sleep Till Brooklyn."
The momentum kept going as
Gym Class Heroes joined the chart-topping rap group
Onyx with a rendition of
Onyx's Billboard chart hit "
Slam."
The legacy of
Def Jam continued to be celebrated as best-selling artist
DMX collaborated with
Gym Class Heroes for his 1999 hit single "
Party Up."
Tracy Morgan introduced rapper
Rick Ross who took the stage to perform "
Hustlin" - one of the first songs off his debut album that catapulted him into hip hop fame.
Next, the rap duo that shook the hip hop world reunited as
Method Man and
Redman took the stage to perform "
Da Rockwilder."
The Queen of Hip Hop Soul,
Mary J. Blige, took to the stage in front of a hyped audience as she joined
Method Man for a rendition of their Grammy award-winning single "
I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By."
The legends of hip hop continued to represent as
Warren G was joined by
Trey Songz to perform "
Regulate" in honor of
Def Jam Records and
Warren G's triple-platinum album that solidified him as hip hop royalty.
Eve introduced
Ja Rule and
Ashanti as they performed their hits "
Down for You" and "
Always On Time" in true
Def Jam style.
Two of the South's heavy hitters,
Ludacris and
Scarface, united onstage to perform "
Guess Who's Back" and "
Southern Hospitality."
Bringing the show to an unforgettable end,
The Roots, Kid Rock, Foxy Brown, Fabolous, Ghostface, Chrisette Michele, DJ Jazzy Jeff and
Eric Sermon all ripped the stage with an unbelievable medley performing some of
Def Jam's most iconic hits.
2009's "
Hip Hop Honors" demonstrated how
Def Jam Records and its architects
Bill Stephney, Chris Lighty, Julie Greenwald, Kevin Liles, L.A. Reid, Lyor Cohen, Michael Kyser, Rick Rubin, Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter and
Russell Simmons transformed American pop culture by bringing hip hop to the world.
Photos:
Arrivals
Film Magic 1Film Magic 2Getty Images 1Getty Images 2Wire Image 1Wire Image 2WENN PhotoBackstage and Audience
Film MagicGetty ImagesWire ImageShow
Film MagicGetty Images 1Getty Images 2Wire Image 1Wire Image 2Pre-Party
Getty Images Hip Hop Media Coverage:
All Hip Hop - Pictures of Def Jam's Legendary NightXXL - VH1 Honors Def Jam’s 25th Anniversary in BrooklynRap Radar - Def Jam Vignette: LL Cool J’s Origins from inside the awards show videoRap Radar - Eve Speaks On Ruff Ryders Reunion on The Red Carpert videoRap Radar - Ghostface Killah & Brett Ratner Reunion on The Red Carpet videoRap Radar - Warren G Speaks On XXL Cover Red Carpet Interview videoRap Radar - Meth x Mary “All I Need” performance videoRap Radar - DMX On “DMXing” The Game on The Red Carpet videoRap Radar - Eminem x Black Thought “Rock The Bells” performance videoVisit VH1 Hip Hop Honors home page for updates:
2009 VH1 Hip Hop Honors
