Grammys hip-hop tribute

The last time Questlove and Will Smith were on the same stage it was controversial, but anyone looking for Smith in the hip-hop tribute produced by ...

After the slap Rock presented Questlove with the for best documentary feature Academy Award for the film “Summer of Soul.” “There were a lot of preliminary shots that he had to do, so we had to lose Will.” Will Smith was a part of the festivities tonight, but they started shooting ‘Bad Boys 4’ this week,” Questlove said.

50-year anniversary of hip-hop performance at the #GRAMMYs by some of the greats including RunDMC, LL Cool J, Salt N Peppa, Ice T, Queen Latifah, Wu-Tang, Big ...

The Grammys recruited Questlove for the gig around Christmas, meaning he had just over a month to make it happen. “It took a lot of cajoling for this particular generation to come to a function that has systematically treated them as stepchildren,” Questlove told the Times. [last night’s all-star tribute to 50 years of hip-hop history](https://www.stereogum.com/2212800/grammys-hip-hop-tribute-performance-video/news/).

Ice-T took a break from his reign as the longest-running male actor in a TV series to celebrate hip-hop's 50th anniversary at the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards!

[65th Annual GRAMMY Awards](https://www.etonline.com/awards/grammys) was broadcast and streamed live on CBS and Paramount+. That means that the culture has really broadened to where the people in power are our children." I'm so proud that we are honoring it in such a spectacular way on the GRAMMY stage. The people that were raised by us are now the people making the decisions, and so what a difference a day makes. They got everybody, they got all the hoodlums in here. "Real talk, unfortunately, that's usually the only time we all get together and see each other," Ice-T shared. "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. I was invited but I didn't show up.' And [so] I got my Black a** on a plane." It's a big performance, I got you in the lineup,'" he recalled. We love you, baby," LL Cool J said to wrap the incredible tribute to hip-hop. Then, the performances kicked off, with musical legends from Run-D.M.C., Rakim and Public Enemy's Chuck D and Flavor Flav to Ice T, Queen Latifah, Wu-Tang Clan's Method Man and Too $hort all taking part in a hip-hop medley showcasing their best hits. The West Coast rapper, who began his career as an underground rapper in the '80s, joined Sunday night's [star-studded showcase](https://www.etonline.com/grammys-2023-50-years-of-hip-hop-celebration-to-feature-star-studded-performances-198418) celebrating the genre's rich history and continued global influence.

Ice T's epic appearance in the 2023 Grammys hip-hop 50th anniversary tribute almost didn't happen.

[he told TODAY](https://www.today.com/today/amp/rcna67237), “because Fin would be able to rap as good as I rap. Go behind-the-scenes, stay on top of breaking news, hang with the stars, and much more. He also shared a behind-the-scenes snap of from his seat in the star-studded audience. Now, I got to draw the line somewhere.” "I get a call from Questlove and he says, 'We're doing a thing in L.A. He continued, "The Grammys didn't even respect hip-hop for so long. "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. As it turns out, Ice T revealed that he almost didn't do the show, but it was Questlove who convinced him. [#2023GrammyAwards](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/2023grammyawards/)," he said in a caption. He put it in perspective." I say, 'I can't make it,'" Ice T performed his 1991 hit “New Jack Hustler (Nino’s Theme)” alongside other stars like LL Cool J, Queen Latifah, Run-D.M.C., Missy Elliot, and more.

If you asked the nice folks at the Recording Academy, they'd probably say the first rap Grammy szs a big deal in hip-hop history.

Well, [welcome to the Grammys](https://www.vulture.com/2023/02/grammys-2023-recap-best-worst-performances-winners.html). Indeed, less than a week ago, [ Smith confirmed he was reuniting with Martin Lawrence](https://www.vulture.com/2023/01/bad-boys-4-cast-release-date-trailer.html) for the movie. “I’ll give the spoiler alert away,” he [told Variety](https://variety.com/video/will-smith-grammys-hip-hop-tribute-questlove/) on the red carpet.

Sunday's Grammys celebrated the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with legends such as Big Boi, Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J and Scarface.

“It’s only right,” Queen Latifah told Cox and E! in the Bronx in 1973. 1 on the Billboard charts, [The Times’ LZ Granderson](https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-02-01/hip-hop-history-50-years-old-racism-censorship) wrote recently in a column celebrating the genre’s 50th birthday. “It was DMC gushing over Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. [the Grammys didn’t televise the rap award presentation](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-grammys-hip-hop-20171128-story.html). She’s among the most honored artists in Grammy history, but has never won album of the year. “At the end of the night, I might have Obama-gray hair,” Questlove — whose real name is Ahmir Khalib Thompson — jokingly told E! Smith [boycotted the 1989 Grammys](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-02-23-mn-228-story.html) to protest the Recording Academy’s cold-shouldering of rap during the broadcast. “This is 14-year-old Ahmir bringing his jukebox of what he was listening to as a kid. is a special moment.” DJ Khaled also nodded approvingly, at one point lifting and waving a lighter during Busta Rhymes’ performance, before the Brooklyn legend launched into one of his signature rapid-fire deliveries from the 2011 hit “Look at Me Now.” Representing the 2000s were artists Nelly, Big Boi of Outkast and DJ Drama.

The star-studded segment, celebrating the genre's 50 years, was produced by Questlove and included dozens of artists.

Dre Global Impact Award, introduced by the Recording Academy in coordination with the Black Music Collective. In addition, LL Cool J presented a brand new award, the Dr. Method Man, “Method Man” Lil Baby, “Freestyle” Run-DMC, “King of Rock” Grandmaster Flash, “Flash to the Beat”/“The Message”